In 2024, the Singaporean government distributed $1.4 billion to lower- and middle-income Singaporeans in the form of Goods and Services Tax (GST) vouchers.

This scheme was introduced by the government in 2012 to help citizens with the cost of living and enhance their well-being.

In this guide, we’ll discuss what the GST voucher scheme is, how to determine if you are eligible, what the application process looks like, and how to make the most of your GSTV benefits.

What Is the GST Voucher Singapore?

The permanent GST voucher scheme is part of a financial assistance program introduced by the Singaporean government, alongside the CDC voucher and Assurance Package.

It helps lower- and middle-income Singaporean households and senior citizens manage the 7% GST expenses they pay on everyday items.

If you're not sure what GST is, this infographic by the Ministry of Finance explains how the tax works:

Singapore GST Voucher infographic — *“Those who spend more, pay more GST.” - Ministry of Finance*

Unlike many other countries, Singapore has a uniform GST system, meaning it does not exempt basic necessities from the tax. This means that all taxpayers (including higher-income households, foreigners, and tourists) contribute to the revenue. The GST collected is then redistributed to those who are most affected by the tax through initiatives like the GST voucher scheme.

The GST voucher scheme involves four types of assistance:

Cash—These are direct cash payments of $450 or $850 given to eligible lower-income Singaporean households to meet their immediate needs. They are made in August each year.
MediSave—Additional funds of up to $450 are added to the CPF MediSave account of senior citizens (65+) to support their medical needs. These are given in August each year.
USave—This provides eligible Housing and Development Board (HDB) households with quarterly utility rebates of up to $950 to help them pay utility bills. These are paid in January, April, July, and October each year.

S&CC Rebate—This includes financial support for HBD households to offset Service and Conservancy Charges, making it easier for residents to manage monthly fees related to public housing. They are paid in January, April, July, and October each year.

Am I Eligible for the GST Voucher?

To qualify for the GST voucher in 2024, you must meet certain eligibility criteria.

Here’s a breakdown of the requirements for each component of the GST voucher scheme:

1. GSTV Cash

To receive GSTV cash payouts, you must meet the following criteria:

Be a Singapore citizen residing in Singapore
Be over 21 years old
Have an Assessable Income (AI) that does not exceed $34,000
Have an Annual Value (AV) of your home (as indicated on your NRIC) that does not exceed $25,000
Own no more than one property

To find out the annual value of your home, refer to the IRAS Check Annual Value of Property portal.

To determine your AI, login to the MyTax Portal at iras.gov.sg.

2. GSTV MediSave Top Ups

To qualify for the 2024 MediSave voucher, you must meet these criteria:

Be a Singapore citizen residing in Singapore
Be over 65 years old
Have an AV of your home that does not exceed $25,000
Own no more than one property

3. GSTV USave

Eligibility for GST USave has the following requirements:

You must be a Singaporean citizen living in an HDB flat
If your flat is partially rented out or not rented out, there must be at least one Singapore citizen owner or occupier
If you rent out the entire HDB flat, there must be at least one Singaporean tenant
All owners and essential occupiers must not own or have any interest in more than one property

4. GSTV S&CC Rebate

To be eligible for the S&CC Rebate, you must meet the following criteria:

Each flat must have at least one Singapore citizen flat owner or occupier
The flat owner and essential occupier must not own or have any interest in another private property
The flat owner must not have rented out the entire flat

If you are an HBD resident, you can check your household’s eligibility by logging in here.

How to Apply for the GST Voucher

Here’s a quick guide on how to apply for the GSTV scheme.

GSTV Cash and MediSave Top Ups

If you have previously signed up for the GSTV scheme (Cash or MediSave), you will automatically receive your payment for the next year. Eligible recipients do not need to apply again.

However, if you have never signed up for the GSTV scheme, you need to apply by logging in to e-services and following the instructions here.

For more information, you may call the GSTV Hotline at 1800 2222 888. Calls are free if made from a regular Singapore landline number.

This infographic explains how eligible recipients can receive GST Cash benefits:

USave Benefits

There is no action required to receive the USave benefits. These are directly credited into your household’s utilities accounts (managed by SP Services) in January, April, July, and October. You can check your status on the SP app or look for hardcopies sent along with your utility bills.

If you have any unused USave rebates, these are simply rolled over to pay your household’s utilities for the next month.

S&CC

You do not have to make an application to receive S&CC benefits. Eligible households will automatically receive the rebates in January, April, July and October each year. To find out about your S&CC payment and account status, contact your local town council.

How to Use the GST Voucher

Here’s how you can make the most of your GST vouchers:

Cash Payouts

GSTV cash payouts are deposited directly into eligible Singaporeans' bank accounts.

Since these payouts are available as withdrawable cash, GovCash recipients can use this money to cover everyday expenses like groceries, clothing, household needs, and transportation.

It’s helpful to create a budget for this extra cash so you can prioritize spending properly.

MediSave

These top ups can be used to pay for hospitalization bills, outpatient treatments, and certain health insurance premiums. MediSave top ups can be used only by eligible Singaporeans and their immediate family—and they cannot be used for anything other than healthcare.

Keep reviewing your medical expenses regularly to see how much of your MediSave top up you have saved. Also consider using MediSave to purchase an integrated shield plan or other health insurance policies or save it for a large medical expense (like a surgery or chronic illness treatment).

USave

Since USave payouts aren’t made available to you directly, you can only view if the discounts have been applied through your utility bills.

To maximize the benefits of USave rebates, consider adopting energy-saving practices at home. If you’re able to bring down your utility bills, USave payouts can cover the entire cost.

Maximizing GST Voucher Benefits—Cost Saving Tips

This infographic from the Singaporean Government Agency gives an overview of the exact amounts of payouts you can expect for GST voucher schemes during 2024-2025.

While the amounts are certainly not life-changing, they can be very helpful if used wisely. Here are some tips on how eligible citizens can use their GST voucher payouts well:

Invest in health plans—Search for premium health insurance plans like MediShield Life or Care Shield that allow you to use MediSave for payments. This can help you improve your quality of care and enjoy better hospital benefits without making out-of-pocket expenses.
Clear outstanding bills—Receiving a cash payout in bulk can help you pay off overdue bills, like credit card payments or utility bills. This helps in avoiding late fees and high interest rates.
Use a regular savings plan—If you don’t have an immediate use for your cash voucher, consider putting it into a regular savings plan. This allows you to invest in blue-chip stocks or mutual funds, which can help in significantly growing your savings over time.
Use it for preventative healthcare—You can use your MediSave or GST cash payments to pay for regular health screenings and vaccinations. These hospital visits require upfront costs that may be difficult to cover, but using your GST funds can make this easier.
Use the LifeSG App—The LifeSG app is a government service app that helps you check your eligibility for government schemes, manage your GSTV payouts, and receive notifications when your cash or MediSave top ups are credited. Simply login via a Singpass registered mobile number, access your account information, and use a QR code to make and receive payments. Find more information here.
Stay informed—Keep an eye on government websites and news for announcements regarding new benefits or rebates. Being well-informed will ensure you do not miss any application deadlines and can take full advantage of the government benefits available to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I Am Singaporean but I Live Overseas, Am I Eligible for GST Vouchers?

No, the GST voucher scheme is specifically designed to cater to residents of Singapore, and you are not eligible for the benefits if you live abroad.

How Much GST Will I Get in 2024 in Singapore?

If you’re eligible for the GST Cash program, you can get $450 or $850 as payouts in 2024.

My Assessable Income Is Unavailable—Do I Still Qualify for a GST Voucher?

If your assessable income is unavailable, it is probably because you have not filed your tax returns. You will first have to file your income tax returns with IRAS and then apply for the GST voucher. You may check your AI availability by logging into the MyTaxPortal here.

Can I Take out Unused USave Funds as Cash?

No, these benefits are only for a household’s utility expenses and cannot be withdrawn or used for other purposes. If you have any unused USave funds, they will transfer over to your next month’s utility bills.

How Do I Know if GST Cash Has Been Sent to My Account?

If you download the Singpass app, you will automatically receive SMS notifications in your inbox after a GST payment has been made.

How Do I Transfer My GST Voucher to My Bank Account?

If you have a PayNow account, you can immediately transfer the GSTV Cash benefit directly to the PayNow account. Contact your bank office and verify your registration with PayNow-NRIC. Alternatively, the payment will be processed through credit to the bank account.

Can I Withdraw Gst MediSave Benefits?

No, you cannot withdraw your MediSave payments as cash. These top ups are only transfer payments directly credited to your MediSave account and can only be used to pay for your and your family’s health care expenses, such as hospitalization and outpatient care.

Wrapping Up

If that was too much information, here is a quick summary to help you understand your financial aid options in Singapore:

The government allocated $1.4 billion in GST vouchers in 2024 to help lower- and middle-income households.
Applicants must meet specific income, property value, and residency criteria for various components of the scheme.
The scheme includes cash payouts, MediSave top-ups for seniors, and utility rebates.
Existing recipients do not need to reapply; new applicants must register through e-services. Some benefits are automatically credited.
Use the LifeSG app to manage payouts and keep up with government announcements for available support.

The bottom line is—Singapore is a truly welfare state that cares for the well-being of its citizens. If you'd like to become a part of this nation and need help with immigration services, reach out to Piloto Asia today.

We have years of experience helping individuals and businesses apply for Singaporean residency and turn a stressful and long process into an easy one. Book your free consultation now.

Guide: How to Make the Most of Your Singapore GST Voucher