Starting in 2025, Singapore’s Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) scheme will be significantly enhanced to offer greater financial support to lower-wage workers. Eligible individuals, including employees, self-employed persons, and platform workers, could receive up to S$3,267 annually under the revised scheme.

The changes aim to strengthen Singapore’s social safety net, especially for older workers and persons with disabilities, while promoting retirement adequacy through increased Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions.

Increased Support for Lower-Wage Workers

The enhanced WIS scheme marks a substantial rise from the current maximum payout of S$2,800. Workers aged 60 and above, and persons with disabilities, will be eligible for the full amount of S$3,267 a year.

The WIS is designed to supplement the incomes and CPF savings of Singaporean workers who earn lower wages, thus encouraging them to stay employed and save for retirement.

More information about the Workfare Income Supplement scheme can be found on the CPF Board’s official website.

Monthly Payouts for Platform Workers

In a notable change, platform workers such as food delivery riders and private-hire drivers will start receiving WIS payments monthly, instead of annually.

Under this new system:

• Work done in a given month will result in a WIS payout two months later. For example, work completed in January 2025 will lead to a payout by end-March 2025.
• This shift helps platform workers access government support more regularly, improving their financial stability.

This change is in line with Singapore’s broader efforts to enhance protections for gig economy workers. The CPF Board will automatically assess platform workers’ eligibility based on income data submitted by their respective platform operators, meaning that no separate application is needed.

Cash and MediSave Allocation

For platform workers and self-employed persons, the WIS payout will be split between cash and MediSave contributions:

• 10% of the payout will be disbursed in cash to workers.
• 90% will be credited directly into their MediSave accounts to help pay for healthcare needs and insurance premiums.

This approach supports both immediate financial needs and long-term healthcare security.

Strengthening CPF Contributions

Alongside changes to WIS, platform operators will be required to deduct and contribute to workers’ CPF accounts starting in 2025. Contributions will be phased in gradually and will match those of traditional employees by 2029.

This measure ensures that platform workers enjoy similar retirement and healthcare benefits as regular employees, strengthening their financial resilience over time.

The CPF contribution changes for platform workers are part of broader reforms announced by Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower, detailed here.

Eligibility Criteria for WIS in 2025

To qualify for WIS starting in 2025, workers must meet the following conditions:

• Age: Must be at least 30 years old by 31 December 2024 (except for persons with disabilities who are exempted from the age criterion).
• Income: Must earn a monthly income of at least S$500 and not exceed S$3,000. In addition, the average monthly income over the past 12 months must not exceed S$3,000.
• Residency: Must live in a property with an annual value of S$21,000 or below and own no more than one property.
• Spouse’s Income (for married workers): The spouse’s assessable income must not exceed S$70,000 annually.
• CPF Contributions: Workers must have made CPF contributions during their work period.

These criteria are aimed at ensuring support is directed to those who need it most.

Full eligibility details are available on the Workfare Income Supplement page.

How to Receive WIS

Eligible employees and self-employed persons are automatically considered for WIS based on their CPF contributions and reported income. No separate application is required.

For platform workers, the platform operators will submit workers’ income records to the CPF Board monthly, facilitating automatic WIS assessments and payouts.

Workers are encouraged to ensure their personal information and bank account details are up to date with the CPF Board to avoid any payment delays.

Conclusion

The 2025 enhancements to Singapore’s Workfare Income Supplement scheme represent a major step forward in the country’s efforts to uplift lower-wage workers and close social protection gaps. By offering higher payouts, monthly support for platform workers, and stronger CPF contributions, the government aims to build a more inclusive and resilient workforce.

For more information or to check your eligibility, visit the official CPF WIS page or call the CPF Board’s hotline at 1800-227-1188.