The impact of rising living costs, the Singapore government is rolling out a support scheme in 2025 that will provide eligible citizens with up to $1,300 in financial assistance. This package includes various payouts such as the GST Voucher – Cash, U-Save rebates, and Assurance Package (AP) Cash.
Targeted at lower- and middle-income Singaporeans, the scheme forms part of the larger Assurance Package and GST Voucher scheme, both of which were introduced to ease the transition to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) hike and provide broad-based support amid inflationary pressures.
What Is the $1,300 Payout Scheme?
The total payout of up to $1,300 is not a single lump-sum payment, but a combination of several government support components. These include:
- GST Voucher – Cash: Up to $500
- U-Save Rebates: Approximately $200 over the year
- Assurance Package (AP) Cash: Up to $600
These amounts are meant to assist with everyday expenses, particularly for households with lower incomes or residing in lower-valued properties.
Who Is Eligible?
Eligibility for the scheme is determined based on several criteria. To receive the full payout, individuals must meet all of the following:
- Be a Singapore Citizen
- Aged 21 and above in 2024
- Annual Assessable Income (AI) for Year of Assessment 2023 must not exceed $34,000
- Own no more than one property
- Reside in a property with an Annual Value (AV) not exceeding $21,000
Those who do not meet all the criteria may still receive partial benefits, depending on their income and property ownership.
To verify your eligibility, the government provides an official Support For You Calculator on its LifeSG portal. This tool allows citizens to estimate their benefits under various government schemes based on their personal data.
Payment Breakdown and Schedule
The support payout will be delivered in phases throughout 2024 and 2025, with exact timelines tied to each component.
GST Voucher – Cash
The GST Voucher – Cash component will be disbursed in August 2024 as follows:
- PayNow-NRIC: From 1 August 2024
- Bank Credit: From 12 August 2024
- GovCash: From 22 August 2024
To receive the payout via PayNow-NRIC, ensure your NRIC is correctly linked to your bank account before 23 November 2024. Those opting for bank crediting must update their bank details by 27 November 2024.
U-Save Rebates
Designed to help households offset their utility bills, U-Save rebates are automatically credited to utilities accounts on a quarterly basis:
- January
- April
- July
- October
These rebates benefit HDB households and are tiered based on flat type.
Assurance Package (AP) Cash
The Assurance Package (AP) Cash payment will be made in December 2024:
- PayNow-NRIC: From 5 December 2024
- Bank Credit: From 16 December 2024
- GovCash: From 24 December 2024
For the full timeline and payment instructions, visit the Assurance Package page.
Do You Need to Apply?
Most eligible Singaporeans do not need to apply to receive these benefits, as the payouts are automatically credited based on government records.
However, if you have not previously signed up for government payouts (such as the GST Voucher), you will need to register by 20 June 2025. Registration can be done online via the GSTV e-services portal.
GovCash recipients typically those without a bank account can access their funds at OCBC ATMs using the LifeSG app for digital verification. A step-by-step guide is available on the GovCash site.
How to Prepare
To ensure you receive your benefits smoothly:
- Link your NRIC to PayNow with your bank if you haven’t already
- Update your contact details and bank information via Singpass
- Use the Support Calculator to estimate your total benefits
If you’re unsure of your current eligibility or payment method, you can log in to the GovBenefits portal using your Singpass credentials to review your status.
Final Thoughts
The 2025 $1,300 support scheme is part of Singapore’s broader social safety net aimed at helping citizens navigate economic uncertainty. While the payouts are not uniform across all recipients, they provide meaningful support to those who need it most.
By ensuring your personal information is up to date and checking your eligibility early, you can avoid delays and make the most of the assistance available to you.
Pankaj Kumar is a journalist at Chandigarh X, covering admit cards, recruitment, and government schemes. His articles provide readers with detailed insights into application processes, eligibility, and exam updates.
Outside of work, Pankaj enjoys traveling, fitness, and cricket, often participating in local matches on weekends.