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COVID-19 Solidarity Budget: All Singaporean adults to get one-off cash payment of $600

Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat. (PHOTO: YouTube screengrab)
Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat. (PHOTO: YouTube screengrab)

SINGAPORE — All adult Singaporeans will receive a one-off cash payment of $600 under the $5.1 billion Solidarity Budget unveiled by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat on Monday (6 April).

The minister said that the payout - totalling $1.1 billion - involves an additional $300 above the existing $300 payment from the Care and Support Package he announced during Budget 2020 on 18 February.

The solidarity payout will be credited directly to those who have provided their bank account details to the government by 14 April. Others will receive their payment by cheque to be issued in phases starting from 30 April.

Heng added that other cash payouts under the Care and Support Package, which were announced in Budget 2020 in February, will be brought forward to June instead of August. These include the remaining $300 or $600 from the higher tiers of the Care and Support–Cash payout, and the additional $300 payout for each parent with at least one child aged 20 and below, and the $100 PAssion Card top-up, which will be given in cash, for Singaporeans aged 50 and above.

During the unveiling of Budget 2020, Heng revealed that under the Care and Support Package, all Singaporeans aged 21 years and above in 2020 will receive a one-off Care and Support: cash payout of $300, $200 or $100, depending on their income. The package is estimated to cost the Government about $1.6 billion.

While announcing these payouts on Monday, Heng noted that not everyone will need them.

“I am very encouraged that many have written to me, my ministerial colleagues and MPs, that they do not need the cash payouts, and suggest that we give these to those who need the cash more. I thank fellow Singaporeans for your thoughtfulness,” he said.

“I urge those who can to donate to charities on the Giving.sg website or the Community Chest’s Courage Fund, or to directly share it with others.”

Those who needed more support can approach the Social Service Offices and Community Centres, to apply for new schemes such as the Temporary Relief Fund and the upcoming COVID-19 Support Grant, which is available from May, as well as existing ComCare schemes.