SMU Associate Professor of Law and NMP Eugene Tan commented on the debate among academics, MPs and social workers about whether the government should provide benefits for the Pioneer Generation Package according to the person's ability to pay. He agreed that a study should be done to find out the person’s ability to pay as the public accepts the principle that the needy require more. He also thinks that the government should consider the other needs of the pioneer generation excluding healthcare, and attend to their psychological needs.