$400 to $600: Over 2.4 million eligible Singaporeans to get special cash payment in September

Eligible Singaporeans will be receiving between $400 and $600 in cash as part of the Enhanced Budget 2026 cost-of-living special payment in September.

In a press release on Thursday (Aug 13), the Ministry of Finance (MOF) said that over 2.4 million Singaporeans will be eligible for the payment, which will be automatically credited from Sept 9.

The cost-of-living payment, announced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong earlier in March, previously ranged from $200 to $400 in cash but was increased in light of the impact of the Middle East conflict on Singapore's economy, Senior Minister of State for Finance Jeffrey Siow said in Parliament on April 7.

The payment is meant to help Singapore citizens with their living expenses, with more assistance provided for lower-income individuals, said MOF.

Singapore citizens aged 21 and older in 2026, who own no more than one property will be eligible for the payment. Also, they must not have an assessable income in the year of assessment 2025 that exceeds $100,000 and reside in Singapore.

Citizens who have linked their NRIC to their PayNow by Aug 30 will receive the payment by Sept 9.

Others will receive their payment via GIRO by Sept 17, or GovCash by Sept 24.

According to MOF, eligible recipients will be notified via SMS from "gov.sg" before and after the benefit has been credited. 

Citizens will not be asked to reply to the SMS, click any links, or provide any information to the sender, MOF added.

Recipients without a Singpass-registered mobile number will be informed through a letter sent to their address on their Singapore Identity Card.

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dana.leong@asiaone.com