The Singapore government has set lifeline financial assistance schemes to help citizens cope with the rising costs of living in 2025. The cash payouts from S$400 to S$850 are specifically geared toward lower- and middle-income households.
This guide curates the little-known facts about the schemes, eligibility, payment structures, and how the money will be disbursed to be well informed to get your eligible support.
Key Programs under Support
Financial assistance from Singapore flows mainly through two major schemes; the GST Voucher (GSTV) – Cash and Cost-of-Living (COL) Special Payment, which was introduced to mitigate uncertainties facing the economy. Both schemes offer significant financial relief to eligible citizens.
GSTV-Cash is the annual cash payment to relieve the GST burden on Singaporeans. In August 2024, more than 1.5 million Singaporeans received between $450 and $850. Eligibility criteria include being a Singapore Citizen who is above 21 years old in 2024, an Assessable Income not exceeding $34,000 for the Year of Assessment 2023, and no more than one property with an annual value not exceeding $25,000.
Thus, those claiming for houses with an annual value of up to $13,000 get $850; for houses with an annual value from $13,001 to $25,000, the amount received was $450. Meanwhile, under Budget 2024, the COL Special Payment brought additional one-time payouts to more than 2.4 million Singaporeans in September 2024. The payouts varied from $200 to $400 based on income with three tiers capped at $100,000.
How are You Going to Get Your Payment?
The citizenry of Singapore can enjoy easy and speedy disbursement of the funds. PayNow-linked citizens received payments directly and instantly into their bank accounts, making it the preferable option. For the rest, GIRO payments were made if they had bank details registered with the authorities.
Those without bank accounts or PayNow access could still claim their cash using GovCash. This means that citizens could withdraw money at any OCBC ATM island-wide by using their NRIC and payment reference number. Most cases required no application into these schemes, as they automatically credited funds based on official records.
Added Benefits to Reduce the Burden of Costs
Apart from the cash support, Singapore has been able to provide yet additional benefits through which every household was awarded CDC Vouchers to the tune of $600-per-grand, disbursed in two disbursements of $300 redeemable at hawker centers, mom-and-pop shops, and supermarkets. The first disbursement is in June 2024 and the second in January 2025.
HDB households will similarly receive enhanced U-Save rebates that will be credited directly to their utilities on a quarterly basis with the rebate amounts dependent on type of flat. Households were also entitled to Service and Conservancy Charges (S&CC) rebates, which included a special half-month rebate to be added in January 2024.
Stay Alert and Claim What’s Yours
Singapore ensured that all eligible citizens got the payment automatically and did not have to apply. Notifications were made through the official channels such as the Singpass app or “g-ems.