The 25-year-old used the money to pay for her daughter's childcare and her mobile phone bill.

The mother of one, who lives in a four-room HDB flat and earns $2,600 a month, is among more than 2.2 million Singaporeans who received these GST credits last year, with more going to the needy.

These credits, along with the Senior Citizens' Bonus - a payout to older Singaporeans - meant that about $630 million was given out by the Government last year, the Finance Ministry said yesterday.

The payouts are part of a $4 billion Government package to help Singaporeans cope with the hike in the GST, from 5 per cent to 7 per cent in July last year.

In all, more than 2.2 million Singaporeans benefited. They made up almost 97 per cent of the 2.3 million Singaporeans who were eligible, and had signed up by the deadline on Dec 31.

The 2.2 million include more than 97 per cent of Singaporeans living in one- to three-room flats.

All adult Singaporeans are eligible for the GST credits. The amount they receive depends on their assessable income - salary plus income from other sources - and the annual value of their home.

The payouts can range from $100 to $1,000.

The Straits Times understands that most Singaporeans would have received GST credits payouts of $200 to $250.

But Singaporeans aged 55 and above would have received more if their assessable income is $100,000 or less a year. They are eligible for the Senior Citizens' Bonus.

The ministry said more than 95 per cent of Singaporeans aged 55 and above received the GST credits and the bonus.

Despite the high take-up rate, there were 79,000 who did not register. More than half of these live in private properties with annual values in excess of $10,000, said the ministry.

One of those who decided to forgo the cash is Mr Peter Koh, 60, managing director of a dormitory operator. He earned about $30,000 a month last year as the principal officer of an insurance company. He left in September to start his current business.

'I didn't see the need for the payout,' said Mr Koh, who lives in a condominium. 'I think the money should go to those who need it more than I do.'

The credits and bonus are to be paid over four years - from last year till 2010. Eligible Singaporeans can expect a letter in May to inform them of how much they can receive in this year's payout.

Those who signed up last year need not do so again.