askST: How can mid-career workers use the $4,000 SkillsFuture credit top-up?
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The $4,000 SkillsFuture Credit top-up can be used only for selected training programmes with better employability outcomes.
PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
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SINGAPORE – From May 1, Singaporeans aged 40 and above started receiving a $4,000 SkillsFuture Credit (SFC) top-up to encourage mid-career workers to refresh their skills and progress in their careers.
The top-up, announced by Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong during Budget 2024,
SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) addresses questions about how the credit top-up works and how Singaporeans can use it.
Q: What courses are eligible for SFC (Mid-Career) and how were they chosen?
A: The list of more than 7,000 courses eligible for the SFC (Mid-Career) is a curated subset of over 30,000 courses eligible for the SFC (Base Tier). Most of these courses are longer-form training to help Singaporeans aged 40 and above receive substantive upskilling or reskilling and stay relevant in a changing economy.
The types of courses that are eligible for the SFC (Mid-Career) include:
Full qualification programmes offered by institutes of higher learning (IHLs), ranging from Nitec, Higher Nitec and diploma to undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes, as well as modules that can stack towards these full qualifications.
Full qualifications subsidised by the Ministry of Education (MOE) from the University of the Arts Singapore and arts institutions such as the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts and Lasalle College of the Arts.
Courses under SSG’s SkillsFuture Career Transition Programme, which is a train-and-place programme to support mid-career individuals’ transition into sectors with good employment opportunities.
Courses that fulfil the training requirements for Progressive Wage Model sectors.
Workplace literacy and numeracy courses.
MOE and SSG will continue to review the course catalogue regularly.
Q: How can one find these courses?
A: The list of courses that are eligible for SFC (Mid-Career) can be viewed on the MySkillsFuture portal on myskillsfuture.gov.sg
Courses that are eligible for SFC (Mid-Career) will carry a “SkillsFuture Credit (Mid-Career)” tag under the Keyword Tags section on the course overview page.
Q: How much of the course fees will the top-up cover?
A: Most of the courses eligible for SFC (Mid-Career) will receive course fee subsidies of up to 90 per cent. The $4,000 credit can cover the majority of the course fees after the subsidies.
For example, for IHL full qualifications, which require a longer-term financial commitment, the $4,000 can fully offset the out-of-pocket course fees of a part-time diploma, as well as those of a post-diploma programme.
The $4,000 credit can offset about half of the out-of-pocket course fees for a part-time undergraduate degree.
The SFC (Mid-Career) can support more than one course for reskilling through the SkillsFuture Career Transition Programme. This is to provide industry-relevant training and employment facilitation support, to help individuals move into job roles in sectors with good hiring demand.
Besides the SFC (Mid-Career), Singaporeans can also use their SFC (Base Tier) for such courses.
The SFC (Base Tier) comprises a $500 opening credit that does not expire. A one-time top-up of $500 was provided to those aged 25 and above in 2020. This top-up will expire at the end of 2025.
For example, the full course fees for the Associate Data Analyst SkillsFuture Career Transition Programme is $19,000. After the 90 per cent SSG course fee subsidies, the net fee payable, excluding GST, is $1,900.
Since this amount can be covered by the $4,000 credit, there will be no out-of-pocket fees for this programme.
Q: Can I use the SFC (Mid-Career) with other existing SSG credits?
A: SFC (Mid-Career) can be used with the existing SFC balance for eligible courses. Approved SFC claims will be deducted from the available SFC balance in the following sequence:
Any initial deduction will be from the one-off SFC top-up of $500 given in 2020 to all Singaporeans aged 25 and above, as this expires on Dec 31, 2025.
The second deduction will be made from the SFC (Mid-Career) for eligible courses.
The last deduction will be made from the opening SFC of $500, which does not expire.
Q: How will the top-up work when I sign up for a course? Do I pay out of pocket first or will the fees be automatically deducted from the credits?
A: You do not need to pay out of pocket if you intend to use the SFC for the course fee.
If you intend to utilise your SFC in part or in full to offset your course fees, you should inform your training provider during the course registration.
You will receive an invoice from your training provider indicating the SFC amount to be utilised. Thereafter, go to the MySkillsFuture portal, log in via Singpass and submit your SFC claim at least 60 days before the course start date.
Q: If I am turning 40 only in July 2025 but want to sign up for a course in January 2025, will I be able to use the SkillsFuture Credit (Mid-Career) top-up or do I have to wait till I am 40?
A: You do not have to wait till your birthday in July 2025 as your SFC (Mid-Career) will be credited to your account on Jan 1, 2025.
Q: Can someone who is currently not working use the top-up to upskill? What if I have to drop out of the course due to an emergency?
A: From May 1, 2024, all Singaporeans aged 40 and above, regardless of their employment status, will receive the SFC (Mid-Career) of $4,000.
If you wish to drop out of the course, inform the training provider immediately so that it can make alternative arrangements for you, if feasible.
If you wish to cancel your course, you will need to log in to the MySkillsFuture portal to cancel your SFC claim at least one day before the course start date.
If you have started the course, consult the training provider on its refund policy.
Correction note: This story has been edited for clarity.
