Cash payouts of up to $300 from Aug 1; those 65 and above to also get Medisave top-ups of up to $450
By Cheryl Tan, The Straits Times, 2 Jul 2020
About 1.4 million Singaporeans will benefit from $570 million in goods and services tax (GST) vouchers next month, in the form of cash payouts and Medisave top-ups.
Eligible Singaporeans will receive text messages by tomorrow to inform them of their benefits, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) said yesterday. Some have received letters since yesterday.
Around 1.4 million Singaporeans will receive cash payouts of up to $300, credited directly into their bank accounts from Aug 1.
Those who have not provided their bank account numbers can do so at www.gstvoucher.gov.sg by July 22, and they will receive their payouts via bank transfer on Aug 1.
The rest will receive cheques sent to their official address by Aug 17.
MOF added that a small number of citizens who qualify for the benefits of the GST Voucher scheme have not signed up for the government payouts in the past. They will be invited to do so via SMS or letter before May 31 next year.
Singaporeans aged 21 and above whose assessable income for year of assessment 2019 did not exceed $28,000 will get $150 or $300, depending on their home's annual value as of Dec 31 last year.
Those who own more than one property are not eligible for GST vouchers.
About 545,000 Singaporeans aged 65 and above this year will also receive GST vouchers in the form of Medisave top-ups of up to $450 from Aug 1.
They will receive between $150 and $450, depending on their age and annual value of their home.
Cash payouts for GST vouchers will amount to around $410 million, while Medisave top-ups will total $160 million.
The GST Voucher scheme was introduced in 2012 to help lower-and middle-income Singaporeans offset some of their GST expenses.
The annual scheme comprises three components: cash, Medisave and U-Save.
The cash payout helps lower-income citizens with their immediate needs, and is paid every August.
Similarly, the Medisave top-ups paid every August help support Singaporeans aged 65 and above with their medical needs.
The U-Save vouchers provide lower-and middle-income Housing Board households with a rebate to offset their utility bills every January, April, July and October.
Eligible HDB households will receive double their regular U-Save vouchers this year, through a one-off special payment.
Eligible households with five or more members will get 21/2 times their regular U-Save rebate this year.
The U-Save payments - amounting to about $630 million - will benefit around 940,000 Singaporean households living in HDB flats.
In addition, around 940,000 households will also receive 11/2 months to 31/2 months of service and conservancy charges (S&CC) rebates between April this year and March next year, depending on their HDB flat type.
The S&CC rebates will be disbursed on a quarterly basis in April, July and October this year and January next year.
These rebates have been paid annually by the Government since 2013, in a bid to directly offset HDB households' S&CC payments.
By Cheryl Tan, The Straits Times, 2 Jul 2020
About 1.4 million Singaporeans will benefit from $570 million in goods and services tax (GST) vouchers next month, in the form of cash payouts and Medisave top-ups.
Eligible Singaporeans will receive text messages by tomorrow to inform them of their benefits, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) said yesterday. Some have received letters since yesterday.
Around 1.4 million Singaporeans will receive cash payouts of up to $300, credited directly into their bank accounts from Aug 1.
Those who have not provided their bank account numbers can do so at www.gstvoucher.gov.sg by July 22, and they will receive their payouts via bank transfer on Aug 1.
The rest will receive cheques sent to their official address by Aug 17.
MOF added that a small number of citizens who qualify for the benefits of the GST Voucher scheme have not signed up for the government payouts in the past. They will be invited to do so via SMS or letter before May 31 next year.
Singaporeans aged 21 and above whose assessable income for year of assessment 2019 did not exceed $28,000 will get $150 or $300, depending on their home's annual value as of Dec 31 last year.
Those who own more than one property are not eligible for GST vouchers.
About 545,000 Singaporeans aged 65 and above this year will also receive GST vouchers in the form of Medisave top-ups of up to $450 from Aug 1.
They will receive between $150 and $450, depending on their age and annual value of their home.
Cash payouts for GST vouchers will amount to around $410 million, while Medisave top-ups will total $160 million.
The GST Voucher scheme was introduced in 2012 to help lower-and middle-income Singaporeans offset some of their GST expenses.
The annual scheme comprises three components: cash, Medisave and U-Save.
The cash payout helps lower-income citizens with their immediate needs, and is paid every August.
Similarly, the Medisave top-ups paid every August help support Singaporeans aged 65 and above with their medical needs.
Eligible HDB households will receive double their regular U-Save vouchers this year, through a one-off special payment.
Eligible households with five or more members will get 21/2 times their regular U-Save rebate this year.
The U-Save payments - amounting to about $630 million - will benefit around 940,000 Singaporean households living in HDB flats.
In addition, around 940,000 households will also receive 11/2 months to 31/2 months of service and conservancy charges (S&CC) rebates between April this year and March next year, depending on their HDB flat type.
The S&CC rebates will be disbursed on a quarterly basis in April, July and October this year and January next year.
These rebates have been paid annually by the Government since 2013, in a bid to directly offset HDB households' S&CC payments.
1.2 Million Singaporean Households will be receiving $340 Million in Utilities Support
All Singaporean households to get special $100 utilities subsidy
It will be credited into July or Aug utilities bill, and given on top of U-Save vouchers
By Cheryl Tan, The Straits Times, 3 Jul 2020
Some 1.2 million Singaporean households will receive a total of $340 million in utilities support.
The one-off $100 subsidy, known as the Solidarity Utilities Credit, will be given to all households with at least one Singaporean member in all types of residential properties, said the Ministry of Finance in a statement yesterday.
All Singaporean households to get special $100 utilities subsidy
It will be credited into July or Aug utilities bill, and given on top of U-Save vouchers
By Cheryl Tan, The Straits Times, 3 Jul 2020
Some 1.2 million Singaporean households will receive a total of $340 million in utilities support.
The one-off $100 subsidy, known as the Solidarity Utilities Credit, will be given to all households with at least one Singaporean member in all types of residential properties, said the Ministry of Finance in a statement yesterday.
As announced during the Fortitude Budget, it will be credited into their July or August utilities bill under the SP Group, "so as to thank them for doing their part in staying home for Singapore during the circuit breaker period".
The credit will be given on top of the U-Save (Utilities-Save) GST Vouchers, as well as the U-Save Special Payments which eligible households living in Housing Board flats will be able to enjoy.
About 940,000 Singaporean households living in HDB flats will receive double their regular U-Save vouchers this financial year, through a one-off U-Save Special Payment.
Eligible households with five or more members will receive an additional U-Save rebate.
This will come up to a total of 2.5 times their regular U-Save GST Voucher in the financial year 2020 (FY2020), from April this year to March next year.
This month, households will get a U-Save rebate of up to $300, depending on their HDB flat type, added the Finance Ministry.
Those living in one-and two-room flats will get $300, and those in three-room flats will get $270.
Families living in four-room flats will receive $240, while those in five-room flats will get $210. Residents of executive or multi-generation flats will get $180.
Households whose members own more than one property are not eligible for the GST Voucher.
Annually, households in one-and two-room flats receive U-Save rebates equivalent to about three to four months of their utility bills on average.
For FY2020, these households will receive U-Save rebates equivalent to at least six to eight months of their utility bills on average, the ministry said in its statement.
Those living in three-and four-room flats who usually receive support equivalent to about one to two months of their utility bills will receive support equivalent to at least two to four months of their bills in FY2020.
The U-Save rebate is one of three components under the permanent GST Voucher scheme introduced in 2012. It is disbursed every three months.
The rebates, which are expected to cost the Government about $630 million in FY2020, are meant to help HDB households offset part of their utility bills and reduce their overall household expenses.
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