A total of 1.57 million eligible citizens will receive notifications on their GST voucher (GSTV) and Medisave top-ups in 2017, said a statement by the Ministry of Finance (MOF) today.
Those eligible can view their benefits online by logging in with SingPass at www.gstvoucher.gov.sg.
This year’s vouchers and top-ups will cost the government SGD1.2 billion. About 1.37 million Singaporeans will get up to SGD500 in SGD500 in GSTV – Cash, which comprises up to SGD300 in August and a one-off special payment in November.
As for Medisave top-ups, some 450,000 Singaporeans aged 65 years and above are eligible to receive them. Each of them will get up to SGD450 in August. Pioneers will also receive their Pioneer Generation (PG) top-ups of SGD200 to SGD800 in July.
In addition, Singaporeans born on or before Dec 31, 1959 (58 years and above in 2017) and do not receive PG benefits will receive a Medisave top-up of up to $200 this year and in 2018.
The top-up in 2017 is expected to benefit 520,000 Singaporeans and will be credited in August.
Households are also set to receive a permanent increase of between SGD40 and SGD120 to the annual U-Save rebate – given every three months to help offset utilities bills directly – from July.
Following the increase, the rebate will cost about SGD265 million and benefit about 880,000 HDB households.
There is also an extension to the one-off service and conservancy charges (S&CC) rebate, which was announced for Budget 2017.
The rebate will be raised by half a month across all flats, which sees around 880,000 eligible HDB households get 1.5 to 3.5 months of S&CC rebate this year, depending on their flat type.
Younger Singaporeans will be notified via mobile SMS notifications from June 27-29 if they have updated their mobile numbers with SingPass. Others will receive letter notifications.