Over 2.4 million adult Singaporeans to get special $400-$600 cash payment in September
This is part of nearly $1 billion set aside to help those most affected by price increases.
Over 2.4 million Singaporean adults will receive a special cash payment ranging from $400 to $600 in September to help cope with rising living costs, according to the Ministry of Finance (MOF). This Cost-of-Living Special Payment is part of a larger $1 billion initiative aimed at assisting those most impacted by price increases and supporting households and businesses.
To qualify, recipients must be Singaporean citizens residing in the country, aged 21 or above in 2026, with no assessable income exceeding $100,000 in the 2025 tax year, and owning no more than one property. The payment amount varies based on the annual value of the individual's home, with those owning homes valued at over $31,000 receiving $400, and those with homes valued at up to $15,000 and an assessable income of up to $22,000 receiving $600.
Eligible citizens can verify their eligibility through the govbenefits website using their SingPass and are advised to link their NRIC to PayNow by August 30 for earlier disbursement. Other recipients will receive the payment via GIRO by September 17 and GovCash by September 24. Notifications will be sent via SMS prior to and after the payment is credited to the account. Citizens without a SingPass-registered mobile number will be informed through a letter sent to their NRIC address.
The $1 billion package complements the $155 billion already allocated in Budget 2026, the largest budget ever recorded for Singapore. Previously, active platform workers, private-hire drivers, and taxi drivers began receiving $200 in cash in early September to help offset the impact of fuel price hikes due to recent geopolitical events.
Additionally, in June, the government advanced the distribution of $500 in CDC vouchers by six months for approximately 1.38 million households to alleviate daily expenses. On July 29, further government support was announced, with households and businesses set to receive an additional $900 million to counteract high energy prices stemming from Middle East uncertainties.
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