Some 348,000 low-wage workers will receive their fourth and final payout under the Workfare Special Bonus scheme by Dec 1, the Ministry of Finance announced on Friday.

The bonus scheme was announced in 2011. The first two instalments amounting to 50 per cent of employees' Workfare Income Supplement were given that year for work done in 2010, followed by another instalment of 25 per cent for work done in 2011, which was paid in December last year.

Eligible employees receiving Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) will get the money in cash. A worker aged 60 and earning $1,000 a month, for example, will receive $700 come Sunday, on top of the $2,800 he would have received in WIS this year.

Self-employed persons who declare their income and contribute to their CPF Medisave accounts will receive half the bonus in cash, and the other half in their Medisave account. Those who did not make Medisave contributions by 31 October 2013 may still qualify but must make the contributions by Dec 31, 2014.