ABOUT 86,000 Singaporeans missed the first round of Growth Dividends paid out last Wednesday because they failed to sign up for it.

But they have up to Dec 31 to do so, to get the full sum that is being given in two stages.

These non-recipients form 4 per cent of some 2.4 million Singaporeans aged 21 and older who are eligible for the dividends totalling $865 million.

Last week, 2.3 million Singaporeans received the first payout totalling $407 million, the Finance Ministry said in a statement on Monday.

The Growth Dividends are from the large surplus accumulated from last year's Budget.

Those who signed up will also receive their GST credits and senior citizens' bonus on July 1, as well as the second round of dividends on Oct 1.

The GST credits are given to offset last July's two-point hike in the goods and services tax (GST) while the senior citizens' bonus is for those aged 55 and older and earning $100,000 or less a year.

Last year, nearly 80,000 people did not sign up for GST credits. More than half lived in private property, Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said in January.

Among the HDB dwellers, more were people with higher incomes.

Of the 2 to 3 per cent living in one to three-room HDB flats, Mr Tharman said no effort was spared to reach them, including grassroots leaders going from door to door to tell people about signing up.

The amount of Growth Dividends people can receive range from $400 for low-income earners to $100 for those earning more than $100,000 a year. Those aged at least 60 and all national servicemen are given extra.

People who want to sign up can do it online at www.gstoffset.gov.sg or by completing forms available at such places as community clubs, Community Development Councils and CPF service centres.

Those who wish to receive their first round of dividends and GST credits by July 1, must submit the forms by June 15, or sign up online by June 25.

chinlian@sph.com.sg