Singapore is enhancing its support for senior citizens in 2025 through a suite of upgraded financial, healthcare, and housing schemes aimed at boosting retirement adequacy and easing the cost of living for older Singaporeans.

Announced during Budget 2024, these initiatives include higher cash payouts under the Assurance Package (AP) Seniors’ Bonus, a more generous Silver Housing Bonus (SHB), a new Matched MediSave Scheme, and expanded subsidies for long-term care.

The move comes as part of Singapore’s ongoing efforts to adapt to a rapidly ageing population and to ensure that seniors, particularly those from lower-income households, are not left behind.

Assurance Package Seniors’ Bonus: Cash Payouts in 2025

Around 850,000 Singaporean seniors aged 55 and above will receive cash payouts of S$200 to S$300 in February 2025 under the Assurance Package. This is part of a total bonus of S$600 to S$900 spread over three years from 2023 to 2025.

To qualify, recipients must:

• Be Singapore citizens
• Reside in Singapore
• Own no more than one property
• Have a property with an Annual Value (AV) of S$31,000 or less
• Have an Assessable Income (AI) not exceeding S$34,000 for Year of Assessment 2023

Additionally, all Singaporeans aged 20 and below, and 55 and above, will receive a S$150 MediSave top-up in February 2025, bringing the total to S$450 over three years.

More details are available on the Ministry of Finance website

Silver Housing Bonus: Boost for Right-Sizing Seniors

From December 1, 2025, the Silver Housing Bonus will be improved to offer better support for seniors who right-size their homes.

Key changes include:

• No Cash Top-Up Needed: Seniors now only need to top up their CPF Retirement Account (RA) using the proceeds from selling their home (up to S$60,000) to qualify for the bonus.
• Increased Payout: Seniors moving to a 2-room flat or smaller can receive up to S$40,000, up from the current S$30,000.
• Wider Eligibility: Those moving from private property with an AV of S$21,000 to S$31,000 can receive up to S$10,000 or S$20,000, depending on the size of their new flat.

This update aims to help seniors monetise their housing assets more effectively, while still ensuring they have stable retirement income.

Matched MediSave Scheme: Incentivising Health Savings

A new Matched MediSave Scheme will be introduced in 2025 to encourage voluntary top-ups for healthcare needs. The scheme offers dollar-for-dollar matching grants of up to S$1,000 per year for eligible seniors aged 55 to 70.

To qualify, individuals must:

• Own no more than one property
• Have a MediSave balance below half of the Basic Healthcare Sum
• Live in a home with AV of S$21,000 or less
• Have a monthly income of S$4,000 or less

The scheme is expected to benefit around 184,000 Central Provident Fund (CPF) members, supporting their long-term healthcare planning.

Expanded Long-Term Care Subsidies

From July 2026, the government will raise subsidies for long-term care services. This includes both residential care (nursing homes) and home/community care services.

Changes include:

• Up to 15 percentage points increase in existing subsidies
• Additional 5 percentage points for seniors (born 1969 or earlier) in residential care
• Additional 15 percentage points for seniors in home/community-based care
• Higher income threshold: From S$3,600 to S$4,800 per capita household income

These measures aim to better support seniors with significant care needs and ensure affordability of long-term services.

Payout Methods and Timeline

Eligible seniors will receive their cash payouts in February 2025 through the following channels:

• PayNow-NRIC (credited by Feb 5, 2025)
• GIRO (credited by Feb 13, 2025)
• GovCash (available by Feb 21, 2025)

To receive payments via PayNow or GIRO, seniors must register their bank details by January 27, 2025, on govbenefits.gov.sg. Notifications will be sent via SMS or physical mail.

A Commitment to Senior Wellbeing

These changes reflect Singapore’s proactive stance on senior welfare, aiming to ensure that older citizens can enjoy a secure, dignified, and healthy retirement. With a comprehensive approach covering financial aid, healthcare affordability, and housing flexibility, the 2025 enhancements represent a significant step forward in the nation’s ageing strategy.

Final Thought

Singapore’s upgraded senior support schemes in 2025 reflect a thoughtful, forward-looking commitment to ensuring no elderly citizen is left behind. By strengthening financial assistance, encouraging healthcare savings, and making housing right-sizing more rewarding, the nation is reinforcing its social compact with seniors supporting them not just to age, but to age with dignity, security, and peace of mind.