S$1.3 billion worth of GST voucher payments will be disbursed from June, benefiting about 1.4 million Singaporeans and 950,000 households. The vouchers combine regular payments as well as one-off payments that are part of the S$900 million Household Support Package introduced to help families during this period of uncertainty amid COVID-19. In addition, some 950,000 Singaporean households in Housing Board flats will receive their quarterly GST Voucher – U-Save rebates and special payment in July.
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.
About 575,000 Singaporeans aged 65 and above this year will receive a top-up to their CPF MediSave accounts of up to $450 each from July 30, said MOF. In total, the top-ups will amount to about $170 million.