And although SIA on Apr 24 said the decision is pending on a medical review, some crew members say the allowances are important as it makes up nearly two-thirds of their salary.

One crew member, Farzana Abdul Razak, is recovering well six months after the crash.

But then came the letter regarding the withdrawal of allowances from next month.

She told our reporter, "Frankly my basic is S$950, after the cuts it's $750, and how am I supposed to live with that? I've got to pay for things, travel, if I was to start work, I have to travel to and fro."

The crew members feel SIA had gone back on their initial promise.

Another crew member, who did not wish to be named, said, "One of my senior executive officers informed all of the crew involved in the crash that this basic salary cum average allowance would be given to us indefinitely."

Despite cutting allowances, SIA did offer a one-time compensation to the uninjured crew, but according to one member, none of his colleagues have accepted the US$20,000 offer.

Manuel Ribbeck, a lawyer representing the SQ006 survivors, said, "They make you sign a release in which you agree not to ever sue anybody else for this crash...

"We should not just concentrate on the airline alone, there's other possible defendants in this case, the issue of the Taiwanese authority and their responsibility for this crash", he added.

A crew member asked, "The question is, are our lives worth S$20,000? Can it be measured by a figure?"

As for the four injured crew members, SIA says their compensation is being evaluated by the Manpower Ministry.

According to a Apr 24 CNA report by Asha Popatlal Singapore Airlines (SIA) has already applied for workmen's compensation on behalf of the four cabin crew members injured in last year's SQ006 crash in Taiwan.

The Manpower Ministry will now assess the compensation figure to be given to the crew.

In a media statement on Apr 24, SIA says the company does not usually comment on the compensation issue but it is making an exception due to the public sympathy and media reports on it.

SIA says the crew who survived the crash has each been given US$5000 for immediate expenses.

While the four injured crew members have not received compensation, those not injured got a US$20,000 offer.

Families of crew members who died were offered US$400,000.

SIA says it cannot reveal who has accepted the compensation offers so far.

While the 13 crew members who survived have been paid allowances in full since the accident, SIA says it will discontinue this from next month, subject to a medical review.

It is also awaiting psychological reports on whether they are physically and mentally fit to resume flying duties.

So far, none of the crew members have returned to work.

SIA says it is now working out various options for them, including the possibility of ground jobs.

In addition, it says the cost of future medical treatments related to the accident will be borne by the company.