February 19, 2025
SINGAPORE – In July, all Singaporeans aged between 21 and 59 this year will get a one-time $600 handout in the form of SG60 vouchers, while seniors aged 60 and above will get $800.
Announcing this as he laid out a slew of goodies to mark Singapore’s 60th year of independence in his Feb 18 Budget speech, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said the vouchers are to recognise the contributions of all Singaporeans and share the benefits of the nation’s progress.
In total, some three million adults will get the SG60 vouchers, the Finance Ministry said in a statement. Seniors will be able to claim them first, followed by other adults.
These vouchers are like CDC vouchers, added PM Wong, who is also the Finance Minister. This means people can claim them digitally on RedeemSG via Singpass.
The vouchers can be used at all businesses that accept CDC vouchers, with half for use at participating supermarkets, and the remainder at participating heartland merchants and hawker stalls.
The SG60 vouchers are estimated to cost the Government a total of $2.02 billion.
Together with a fresh tranche of $800 in CDC vouchers to be given out to Singaporean households in May 2025 and January 2026 – which is set to cost the Government some $1.06 billion – handouts for individuals and households are expected to exceed $3 billion in the coming financial year.
PM Wong said Singaporeans from across different generations and all walks of life have “played a vital role in getting us to SG60”.
Noting that the country has made great strides in 60 years – “a short time” for a country – he said Singaporeans have forged a stronger Singaporean identity and built on their shared experiences and memories, as well as their shared hopes and dreams.
“We look out for one another, cheer each other on, and help our fellow citizens succeed together,” he added.
Besides the SG60 vouchers, tax-paying resident individuals will also get a 60 per cent rebate on their personal income tax, capped at $200, for income earned in 2024, PM Wong said. This will mostly benefit middle-income workers.
A third SG60 goodie, the SG60 baby gift for all Singaporean babies born this year, was announced earlier by Second Minister for Finance Indranee Rajah. More details on this will be given when the Prime Minister’s Office debates its budget for the next financial year.
In the SG60 year, PM Wong said, the Government will also invest more in strengthening Singapore’s cultural core and community bonds by encouraging Singaporeans to attend local arts and heritage activities.
PM Wong noted that other countries’ experiences show how easy it is for trust to be eroded, and for societies to become deeply divided and polarised.
Calling on Singaporeans to treat unity as a precious asset that must never be taken for granted, he said the country must remain steadfast in nurturing cohesion and unity.
“In this Budget, we will invest more in strengthening our cultural core and community bonds,” he said. “We will introduce an SG Culture Pass to encourage Singaporeans to attend local arts and heritage activities.”
Every Singaporean aged 18 and above this year will get $100 in SG Culture Pass credits. These new credits can be used to buy tickets for eligible local performances, exhibitions and experiences such as learning tours and participatory workshops.
The credits will be made available from Sept 1, 2025, and are valid till end-2028.
The fifth SG60 goodie is $600 in one-time rental support for each hawker stall in centres managed by the Government or government-appointed operators. This is to recognise the role that hawker centres and markets play in Singapore’s national identity and heritage.
This would mark the fifth anniversary of the inscription of Singapore’s hawker culture in the Unesco Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, PM Wong said.
In addition, up to $1 billion will be allocated over the next 20 to 30 years to the upgrading of ageing hawker centres and the building of new ones, he added.
More details on this will be given when the Ministry for Sustainability and the Environment debates its budget.
The last SG60 goodie is a one-off $100 top-up in ActiveSG credits for citizens and permanent residents in June 2025. This is to encourage broad-based sports participation across different segments of society.
PM Wong noted that new sports facilities will be built in Toa Payoh, Punggol and Clementi, while existing facilities in Pasir Ris, Queenstown and Hougang will get an upgrade.
“Our solidarity has seen us through many challenges, including our fight against Covid-19. We must continue to help our fellow citizens and ensure that we move forward together, as a people and a nation,” he added.
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