CDC VOUCHERS worth a total of $800 are coming to all Singaporean households in May 2025 and January 2026.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who is also Minister for Finance, detailed this help for cost of living during his Budget 2025 speech (18 Feb).
“While inflation is expected to ease further this year, prices remain high,” said PM Wong. “Therefore, in this Budget, I will provide additional support for Singaporeans.”
Decisive action against the rising global cost of living
Source: Lawrence Wong, Facebook
The much-loved CDC voucher scheme returns to help Singaporeans with the cost of living. All Singaporean households will receive $500 in May 2025. Another tranche of $300 will be disbursed in January 2026.
Eligible HDB households will also receive up to $760 of U-Save rebates this year to help pay for utilities.
“It will cover about six months of utilities expenses for those living in one- and two-room flats, and three months of utilities expenses for those living in three- and four-room flats,” detailed PM Wong.
Larger HDB flats will also get U-Save rebates.
The ComCare Assistance rate will also increase to support lower-income households.
“A 1-person household on Long-Term Assistance will receive an additional $120 each month, bringing the monthly cash assistance to $760,” said PM Wong. “Those who are supported by Short-to-Medium-Term Assistance will also receive more than before, based on the household’s composition, needs, and income.”
The Singapore Allowance, which some pensioners receive, will also increase to $390 monthly from $350.
The monthly pension ceiling will also increase to $1320.
PM Wong and the PAP Government are determined and committed to help Singaporeans succeed. These decisive actions will help lessen the burden of rising global cost of living on Singaporeans.
Helping all families to thrive
Budget 2025 also signals a refreshed commitment by PM Wong and the PAP Government to nurture a caring and inclusive society.
As such, families who have gone through hard times will get added support. These include an enhanced Fresh Start programme, which gives eligible families a $75,000 grant (up from $50,000) to buy a new Standard 2-room Flexi or Standard 3-room flat.
Families living in rental flats will now also be allowed to buy shorter-lease subsidised flats through Fresh Start.
All parents will also enjoy lower fees for Government-supported preschools. Monthly fees will be capped at $610 for Anchor Operator centres and $650 for Partner Operator centres.
All families will get cost-of-living help. Families with children will receive $500 in LifeSG per child aged 12 and below. Plus, every Singaporean aged 13 to 20 years old will have a $500 top-up to their Edusave account.
PM Wong also introduced a landmark Large Families Scheme. This will support married couples with three or more children.
The scheme involves an extra $5,000 in the Child Development Account First Step Grant for each third and subsequent child. It also deposits another $5,000 into the mother’s MediSave account for each of these children. Lastly, families will receive $1,000 of LifeSG credits annually, during the child’s first to sixth year.
All in all, this Large Families Scheme means that families can receive $16,000 for their third child.
Rallying Singaporeans together
Source: Lawrence Wong, Facebook
PM Wong also announced an SG60 package which recognises the contributions of all Singaporeans.
All Singaporeans aged 21 and above will receive $600 of SG60 vouchers in July; seniors aged 60 and above will receive $800 of these vouchers. These vouchers are exactly like CDC vouchers; usable at supermarkets, hawkers and participating heartland merchants.
A Personal Income Rebate of 60 per cent, capped at $200, is also in effect for 2025. Hawkers in centres managed by the Government, or by Government-appointed operators will enjoy a $600 rental rebate for 2025. This is about half the median monthly rent for hawkers.
An $100 SG Culture Pass for Singaporeans aged 21 and above, as well as $100 of SG60 ActiveSG credits for all ActiveSG members, also comes with the SG60 package, so that Singaporeans can enjoy arts and sporting events respectively.
At the macro level, SG60 also includes $1 billion of funds to upgrade and build new hawker centres over the next 20 to 30 years. There is also a $100 million top-up to the Cultural Matching Fund, a $250 million SG Gives grant and a $270 million top-up to this Enhanced Fund-Raising Programme; these will together boost the financial capabilities of Singapore’s charities.
All these are funds for national unity. They should not be overlooked during this tumultuous global era, where the polarising forces of tribalism and populism are on the rise.
“We are all Singaporeans, living on this tiny red dot, as one big family. When we rally together as one, there is no challenge we cannot overcome,” said PM Wong. “This unity is what keeps us resilient, thriving, and moving forward, even in an uncertain and troubled world.”
These initiatives — and the overall Budget — are vital parts of a plan that will take Singaporeans, as PM Wong titled Budget 2025, “Onward together for a better tomorrow”.
