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SINGAPORE: A total of 940,000 Singaporean households living in Housing and Development Board (HDB) apartments will receive the next installment of the GST Voucher U-Save refund this month, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) announced on Sunday (4 of October).
Of those households, about 155,000 larger families with five or more members will receive 2.5 times their regular U-Save reimbursements in financial year 2020, the MOF said in a press release.
This is U-Save’s third payment this financial year, with the first two payments made in April and July.
In total, all Singapore HDB households will receive double their regular U-Save rebates this financial year, the MOF said.
Typically, 1 and 2-bedroom HDB apartment homes receive annual U-Save rebates equal to roughly three to four months of their utility bills.
Along with the U-Save Special Payment awarded earlier this year, those households will receive rebates equal to at least six to eight months of their utility bills, the MOF said.
Homes in HDB 3- and 4-bedroom apartments typically receive support equivalent to about a month or two of utility bills. Now they will receive support equivalent to at least two to four months of their bills.
Details of the regular GST U-Save voucher and special payment. (Image: Ministry of Finance
The permanent GST Voucher program was introduced in 2012 to help low- and middle-income households offset part of their utility bill and reduce household expenses.
The coupon consists of three components: Cash, MediSave, and U-Save.
U-Save regular rebates are disbursed every three months. The additional reimbursements are part of the Government Care and Support Package announced as part of the 2020 Budget.
In total, the Government will disburse S $ 630 million in U-Save rebates this financial year.
Separately, all Singaporean households, including those not living in HDB apartments, would have received S $ 100 in Solidarity Utility Credit for their July or August utility bill.
“With increased job uncertainty, households are understandably worried about spending,” the deputy prime minister said in a Facebook post on Sunday.
“I hope this additional support will help our households in some way to get through these difficult times,” he added.
