Latest news with #AssurancePackage
New Paper
15 hours ago
- Business
- New Paper
Some 950,000 Singaporean households to get U-Save, S&CC rebates in July
Close to a million Singaporean HDB households will receive rebates to their utility and conservancy bills in July, as part of a government scheme to help them with cost of living. Depending on their HDB flat type, eligible households will receive up to $190 in U-Save for their utility bills, and a maximum of a month of rebates for their service and conservancy charges (S&CC), the Ministry of Finance said in a statement on June 30. For example, people living in a four-room flat will get $150 and half a month respectively in rebates for their U-Save and S&CC. Those in one- and two-room flats will get $190 and a month respectively. The utility and S&CC rebates will be automatically credited to the eligible household's accounts with grid operator SP Services and the town councils, respectively. These rebates are part of a permanent GST Voucher scheme and the enhanced Assurance Package to help lower- and middle-income households cope with the increasing cost of living and increase Goods and Services Tax. They are disbursed every three months - in April, July, October and January - each year. In total, eligible Singaporean HDB households will receive up to $760 of U-Save rebates in fiscal year 2025. Meanwhile, eligible households can expect to receive a total of up to 3.5 months of S&CC rebates in fiscal year 2025. To be eligible for the U-Save rebate, there must be at least one Singaporean owner or occupier in the household if the flat is partially rented out or not rented out. If the entire Housing Board flat is rented out, there must be at least one Singaporean tenant. Households with people who own more than one property are not eligible for U-Save rebates, said the Finance Ministry. The following households are not eligible for the S&CC rebate: Those with no Singaporean flat owner or occupier in the flat Those whose flat owners or essential occupiers own or hold interest in a private property Those who have rented out the entire flat To check on their eligibility for S&CC rebates, members of the public can log in to the My HDBPage with their Singpass. In its statement, the ministry also reminded the public that government officials will not ask them to transfer money or disclose banking details over a call.
Online Citizen
18 hours ago
- Business
- Online Citizen
Nearly 1 million HDB households to receive rebates in July as energy tariffs fall
SINGAPORE: Close to a million Singaporean households living in HDB flats will receive rebates for utilities and service charges in July. The disbursement is part of ongoing efforts by the government to address cost-of-living pressures amid rising prices. According to the Ministry of Finance (MOF) on 30 June 2025, the rebates are part of the permanent GST Voucher scheme and the enhanced Assurance Package. Eligible households will receive up to S$190 in U-Save rebates for utility bills and up to one month's worth of service and conservancy charges (S&CC) rebates. The amounts vary according to flat type. Households in one- and two-room flats will receive the maximum of S$190 in U-Save and a full month's S&CC rebate. Those living in four-room flats will receive S$150 in U-Save and a half-month of S&CC rebates. The rebates will be automatically credited. U-Save rebates go to households' SP Services accounts, while S&CC rebates are sent to town council accounts. In total, eligible households can receive up to S$760 in U-Save rebates and up to 3.5 months' worth of S&CC rebates in the 2025 financial year. The rebates are distributed quarterly in April, July, October, and January. Eligibility is based on citizenship status and property ownership. For U-Save rebates, a household must have at least one Singaporean owner or occupier. If the flat is entirely rented out, there must be at least one Singaporean tenant. Households where individuals own more than one property are not eligible for U-Save rebates. To qualify for S&CC rebates, there must be a Singaporean flat owner or occupier, and none of the owners or essential occupiers should own private property. Flats that have been fully rented out are also ineligible. Residents can check their eligibility for S&CC rebates through My HDBPage using their Singpass. The Finance Ministry also issued a reminder that officials will never request money transfers or personal banking information via phone calls. Separately, national grid operator SP Group announced that electricity tariffs will decrease for the quarter from July to September 2025. The fall is attributed to lower energy costs, following steady rates in the previous quarter. Electricity tariffs will drop by 2.3 per cent, equivalent to a reduction of 0.65 cent per kWh before GST. This will bring the new electricity tariff to 27.47 cents per kWh before GST. As a result, families in HDB four-room flats can expect a reduction of about S$2.36 in their average monthly electricity bill, before GST. City Energy, the gas supplier, also announced a decrease in gas tariffs. The rate will drop from 22.72 cents per kWh to 22.28 cents per kWh, also due to lower fuel costs. Both SP Group and City Energy review tariffs quarterly, under guidelines from the Energy Market Authority (EMA). SP Group explained that the energy cost component of electricity tariffs is based on average natural gas prices in the first 2.5 months of the previous quarter. Tariffs are susceptible to fluctuations due to global fuel price volatility, which can be affected by geopolitical events, such as ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. Electricity tariffs consist of four components: energy costs paid to power generation companies, network costs paid to SP Group, market support service fees, and a fee to the Energy Market Company for operating the electricity wholesale market.
Straits Times
a day ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Over 950,000 Singaporean households to get U-Save, S&CC rebates in July
Depending on their HDB flat type, eligible households will receive up to $190 in U-Save for their utility bills. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI Over 950,000 Singaporean households to get U-Save, S&CC rebates in July SINGAPORE - Close to a million Singaporean HDB households will receive rebates to their utility and conservancy bills in July , as part of a government scheme to help them with cost of living. Depending on their HDB flat type, eligible households will receive up to $190 in U-Save for their utility bills, and a maximum of a month of rebates for their service and conservancy charges (S&CC), t he Ministry of Finance said in a statement on June 30. For example, people living in a four-room flat will get $150 and half a month respectively in rebates for their U-Save and S&CC. Those in one- and two-room flats will get $190 and a month respectively. The utility and S&CC rebates will be automatically credited to the eligible household's accounts with grid operator SP Services and the town councils, respectively. These rebates are part of a permanent GST Voucher scheme and the enhanced Assurance Package to help lower- and middle-income households cope with the increasing cost of living and increase Goods and Services Tax. They are disbursed every three months - in April, July, October and January - each year. In total, eligible Singaporean HDB households will receive up to $760 of U-Save rebates in fiscal year 2025 . Meanwhile, eligible households can expect to receive a total of up to 3.5 months of S&CC rebates in fiscal year 2025. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Singapore's CDC vouchers scheme: How to claim and spend your May 2025 CDC vouchers?
Singaporean households can now claim and use their $500 Community Development Council (CDC) vouchers, announced Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Tuesday (13 May) at the Nee Soon South Community Club. The CDC vouchers scheme started in June 2020 to help Singaporean lower-income households defray their cost of living, and at the same time, to support hawkers and heartland merchants affected by COVID-19 pandemic. During Budget 2021, former Minister for Finance Heng Swee Keat announced the $130 million CDC Vouchers Scheme that saw each Singaporean household receiving $100 CDC vouchers. The scheme was continued after the pandemic to help alleviate the impact of rising prices on Singaporeans. The May 2025 tranche of CDC vouchers was announced in Budget 2025 as part of the enhancements to the Assurance Package and is meant to help Singaporeans with daily expenses. Each Singaporean household will receive a total of $800 in CDC vouchers for FY2025 and it will be paid out in two tranches — $500 in May and $300 in January 2026. This is in addition to the $300 CDC vouchers Singaporean households received in January 2025 as part of the enhancements to the Assurance Package announced during Budget 2024. As per previous tranches, the May CDC vouchers will be allocated equally — $250 for spending at participating heartland merchants/hawkers and $250 for spending at participating supermarkets. Do note that the CDC vouchers from January 2025 and May 2025 expire on 31 Dec 2025. Claiming your May CDC vouchers is the same if you've claimed your previous tranches of CDC vouchers before. Simply visit and tap on "CDC Vouchers 2025 (May)", then log in with your Singpass account. Only one household member needs to redeem the vouchers on behalf of the entire household. The person will receive an SMS with the voucher link from " and forward the link to the other members of the household. When you want to use your CDC voucher(s), select which type of voucher and the amount you want to use. Then, show the QR code to the participating merchant for them to scan. To identify which are the participating hawker and heartland merchants, look for the teal decal pictured below. To identify participating supermarkets, look for the yellow decal pictured below. You can also check out to search for the nearest participating hawkers and heartland merchants, and participating supermarkets. If you do not have a smartphone or Singpass, or for further enquiries or assistance, visit your nearest Community Centre/Club (CC) or call the PA Contact Centre at 6225 5322. While you could previously donate all unspent CDC vouchers in 2024, donation details for the 2025 CDC Vouchers Scheme have yet to be announced. According to details will be announced at a later date. All Singaporean households are also encouraged to claim and spend their 2025 CDC vouchers.
Malay Mail
02-05-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Can Lawrence Wong win over a wary electorate? Singapore PM faces first poll test
KUALA LUMPUR, May 2 — Singapore's general election on May 3 will serve as the first major test of public support for Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, as he leads the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) into a new era of leadership and political renewal. With the PAP introducing fresh faces and stepping up efforts to connect with younger voters, Wong's leadership is seen as a signal of generational transition and a move towards modernising party image and governance style. 'This will be the first test of popularity and acceptance for Wong and his portrayal as a different leader and perspective from the Lee family,' said Universiti Malaya (UM) foreign affairs, security and strategy analyst Collins Chong Yew Keat. He added that the PAP also hopes to build on the positive momentum of Wong's leadership to chart a refreshed course for the nation. 'Wong's moves to rejuvenate the Party with younger leadership and fresher visions and ideas might be a key point that can galvanise new hope, but core fundamental concerns will need to be strategically addressed.' As part of these efforts, Wong has introduced 32 new candidates and overseen the retirement of several long-serving figures. While this signals an openness to renewal, Chong noted that voters, particularly the youth, may still prioritise long-standing socio-economic concerns. 'The move to introduce new faces and to retire some veterans is meant to attract the younger demographics, but socio-economic issues and bread-and-butter factors still affect them the most — especially housing, employment opportunities and cost of living — and this artificial move alone will not budge much on the sentiments of the younger groups if the key concerns on socio-economic issues are not addressed,' he said. Wong, who took over as Prime Minister from Lee Hsien Loong last year, is leading the PAP into the 2025 General Election with the slogan 'Changed world, fresh team, new resolve', reflecting his intent to guide Singapore through a period of both domestic transition and global uncertainty. While the PAP remains the dominant political force, Chong noted that observers expect the Workers' Party (WP) and other opposition groups to make inroads in selected constituencies, in line with Singapore's evolving political landscape. The 2020 General Election saw the PAP's vote share decline to 61.2 per cent — its lowest since 2011 — as more voters expressed interest in alternative voices and perspectives. 'The bread-and-butter issues haven't gone away. In fact, they've become more pronounced. Wong's leadership brings fresh optics, but voters will want to see real policy shifts, not just a change in faces. 'Fiscal policy, especially the GST hike from 7.0 to 9.0 per cent, continues to be a hot-button issue. Despite mitigation efforts like the S$8 billion Assurance Package, many Singaporeans feel the economic pinch,' Chong said. Key constituencies to watch include Punggol GRC, East Coast GRC, and West Coast-Jurong West GRC, where both WP and the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) are fielding strong candidates. 'This is not just a popularity contest. It's about whether he can steer the party and the country out of old systemic constraints. The people are asking if Wong will have the audacity to push for deeper reforms.' 'Younger demographics care deeply about jobs, housing, and the cost of living. Cosmetic changes won't shift their sentiment unless backed by policy impact,' he said. Chong opined that any gains by the opposition are unlikely to signal political upheaval, but rather reflect a maturing democratic process, where voters are increasingly seeking greater policy accountability and a broader range of voices. 'Punggol and East Coast are worth watching. The WP has fielded capable teams there, and the ground sentiment is more volatile this time. 'There's an intent to give Wong space to lead. But there's also a rising awareness that the old playbook won't work in a 'changed world' - one where global uncertainties and trade tensions are testing the country's resilience. 'The 2025 election is not just about maintaining stability — it's about whether the PAP can evolve fast enough to meet rising expectations,' added Chong. Meanwhile, campaigning in GE2025 is marked by the return of physical rallies, a development seen as an opportunity for parties to reconnect directly with voters on the ground. 'Rallies provide that personal touch many voters still value, especially the older demographics. This could work to the PAP's advantage. 'At the same time, social media, including podcasts and livestreams, remain key in reaching younger and digital-native voters,' he said. With a hybrid campaign approach now firmly in place, observers say that both traditional and digital channels will shape how Singaporeans engage with the issues that matter most to them. 'Podcasts played a big role in GE2020 and will likely continue to do so, especially among those who are unable or unwilling to attend rallies,' said Chong. — Bernama
