1.6 million Singaporeans to get special top-ups, rebates: MOF

A cleaner sweeping and clearing rubbish at the void deck of a HDB flat at Bukit Panjang. -- PHOTO: ST FILE 
A cleaner sweeping and clearing rubbish at the void deck of a HDB flat at Bukit Panjang. -- PHOTO: ST FILE 

The Ministry of Finance (MOF) announced on Monday that 1.6 million Singaporeans will receive letters in the first week of July informing them of the various Budget 2014 benefits they are eligible for.

These include: the 2014 GST Voucher (GSTV), the 2014 GSTV Special Payments, the 5-Year Medisave top-up, as well as the Service and Conservancy Charges (S&CC) rebates.

MOF said about 1.3 million Singaporeans will receive the GST voucher cash on Aug 1.

In addition, within this group, about 660,000 Singaporeans aged 55 and above will receive the GST voucher-cash: Seniors' Bonus.

This means that these seniors will get double the GST voucher cash amount in 2014.

The GST voucher cash and GST voucher cash for seniors' bonus will cost the Government $505 million.

-- Photo: Ministry of Finance

About 380,000 Singaporeans aged 65 and above will also receive the GST voucher-Medisave top-up on Aug 1.

This will cost the Government $115million, the MOF said in its statement.

The regular GST voucher-U-Save, which is given out quarterly, will also see a special payment that will be disbursed in July 2014 and January 2015. The GST voucher-U-Save and Special Payment will offset utilities directly and cost $290 million in total. This July, 800,000 households will receive $90 to $195 each in rebates, depending on their flat type.

-- Photo: Ministry of Finance

-- Photo: Ministry of Finance

Singaporeans born on or before 31 Dec 1959 (i.e. aged 55 and above in 2014) and who do not enjoy Pioneer Generation benefits will receive Medisave top-ups of $100 or $200 annually over the next five years. About 530,000 Singaporeans will benefit from it. MOF said the vast majority, or those living in HDB flats who do not own more than one property, will get the higher top-up of $200 a year.

Most Singaporeans will automatically receive their GSTV payouts and 5-year Medisave top-ups. For the small number of citizens who have not signed up for past government payouts and/or are not CPF members, the letters will inform them of the actions they need to take to receive their benefits. They will have until Dec 31 to do so.

-- Photo: Ministry of Finance

More information on the GST Voucher can be found at www.gstvoucher.gov.sg.

For more details, you can call 1800-2222-888 or email gstvoucher@cpf.gov.sg. For more information on U-Save scheme, you can call 6671-7117 or email spservices@singaporepower.com.sg

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