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About 950,000 households to get second tranche of GST vouchers in July

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About 950,000 Singaporean households living in public flats will receive their second quarterly Goods and Services Tax Voucher (GSTV) - U-Save and GSTV  _ - service and conservancy charges (S&CC) rebates in July, said the Ministry of Finance on Friday (July 1).

Payouts this month will range from $110 to $190 for the U-Save vouchers, and 0.5 or one month for the S&CC rebates.

The payouts are identical across both schemes to those in April, with the exception that those living in three- and four-room Housing Board flats will receive 0.5 months in S&CC rebates, as opposed to a month in April.

The rebates are part of the enhanced permanent GSTV scheme and the Household Support Package announced at Budget 2022, and will "provide continuing help to defray the GST and other living expenses of lower- to middle-income Singaporean households", according to the ministry in a press release.

Eligible households will receive S&CC rebates to offset between 1.5 and 3.5 months of their bills each year through the enhanced GST voucher scheme, with the rebates disbursed in April, July and October 2022, as well as January 2023.

The U-Save rebates have been doubled this financial year from last year, and will total to a maximum of about 10 months in utility bills for the average household in one- and two-room HDB flats, and up to about six months for three- and four-room flats.

A total of $720 million will be disbursed this financial year through the two rebates, with families receiving between $440 and $760 in U-Save rebates, depending on their HDB flat type.

The disbursement of this tranche of vouchers comes amid global uncertainties and rising domestic prices of household essentials as such food, as well as rising electricity tariffs.

The rebates are also in addition to the $100 household utilities credit which will be given to all Singaporean households, and separately announced on June 21 under the $1.5 billion Support Package.

For those eligible, the payout comes as a relief, amid the continued impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and increase in cost of living. 

“There’s been a sudden increase in prices, from chicken to electricity tariffs. It has been tough,” said piano teacher Rena Sim, 46, who lives in a five-room HDB flat. “With the vouchers, I’m grateful to have a little extra for my expenses.”

Madam Zahreen Yusoff, 61, who lives in a four-room flat, said: “As a retiree, every cent counts. With the U-Save rebate, I have a little more to spend on my monthly household expenditure and can better plan my expenses without worrying for at least a month.” 

 

GSTBUDGET