Budget 2021: Households to get GST and S$100 vouchers as part of S$900m support package

• The Government will give more support to all families, with lower- to middle-income families receiving more help
• DPM Heng Swee Keat said this is because economic situation here remains uncertain due to the pandemic
• Eligible households will receive extra GST Vouchers
• All Singaporean households will receive a S$100 voucher to use at heartland shops and hawker centres

SINGAPORE — A S$900 million Household Support Package will be distributed to households across Singapore this year, including Goods and Service Tax (GST) Vouchers and a S$100 voucher to be used at heartland shops and hawker centres.

In announcing the package in Parliament on Tuesday (Feb 16), Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat said that the Government will provide more support to all families, with lower- to middle-income families receiving more help.

This was done since the economic situation here remains uncertain due to the Covid-19 pandemic, he explained.

Included in the Household Support Package are:

1. GST Voucher special payment

Lower- and middle-income Singaporeans who qualify for the GST Voucher will receive an extra one-off cash special payment of S$200.

This is on top of the regular payment that is paid out every August.

In total, this means that lower-income Singaporeans will receive up to S$500 through this voucher scheme this year to help offset daily living expenses.

To be eligible, individuals must be Singaporeans aged 21 years and above in 2021, with an assessable income of not more than S$28,000 for the Year of Assessment 2020.

The annual value of their place of residence as reflected on their national identity card must not be more than S$21,000 as at Dec 31, 2020. The individual must also not own more than one property. 

This scheme will benefit about 1.4 million Singaporeans.

2. GST Voucher-U-Save Special Payment

All eligible Housing and Development Board (HDB) households will receive an added 50 per cent of their regular GST Voucher–U-Save this year through a one-off GST Voucher-U-Save Special Payment.

The U-Save voucher provides lower- and middle-income HDB households with quarterly rebates to offset their utilities bills.

This will be credited in April and July this year, together with their regular GST Voucher–U-Save. 

Each household will receive added utilities rebates of between S$120 and S$200 this year.

The total amount that each household receives will depend on the type of HDB flat in which they live. 

For example, those living in a one- and two-room flat will receive a total of S$595, while those living in a three-room flat will receive S$535. Households living in four-room flats will receive S$475 while those living in five-room flats will receive S$415 in total.

The payouts will benefit about 950,000 Singaporean households.

3. Service and Conservancy Charges Rebate

The Government will extend the service and conservancy charges rebate for all eligible HDB households for another year. These charges are paid by households for the maintenance and upkeep of the common property.

Eligible Singaporean households living in HDB flats will receive rebates to offset between 1.5 and 3.5 months of service and conservancy charges over the financial year of 2021.

This scheme will benefit about 950,000 Singaporean households.

They will receive their rebate over four quarters in April, July, October this year and January next year.

4. Top-ups to government-backed accounts for children

Families with Singaporean children below the age of 21 will receive an extra top-up of S$200 for each child through the Child Development Account, Edusave Account or Post-Secondary Education Account. This will depend on the age of the child or the child's academic level, or both.

These are all accounts under various government ministries that help parents to provide financially for their children's education and savings.  

For instance, parents with children who are aged six and below will receive the top-up in the Child Development Account, while those with children aged between seven and 16 will receive the top-up in the Edusave Account.

Those aged between 17 and 20 will receive the top-up in the Post-Secondary Education Account.

These payouts will be in addition to the annual Edusave Account top-up for children in primary and secondary schools. 

The money is expected to benefit about 780,000 children.

5. Community Development Council Voucher Scheme

All Singaporean households will receive S$100 worth of vouchers each to be used at participating heartland shops and hawker centres.

Mr Heng said that this is being done to thank all Singaporeans for their "sense of solidarity" during the pandemic and to continue to support businesses and hawkers in neighbourhood housing estates.

The Government will partner with the Community Development Councils (CDCs) to disburse the vouchers. 

An extra grant amounting to S$150 million will be given to the CDCs to support this scheme.

More details will be announced by the CDCs at a later date. 

This scheme is expected to benefit about 1.3 million Singaporean households.