Workfare Special Payment – Find out WorkFare Special Payment Date, Payout Amount and Payment Eligibility
Interested in finding out whether details on Workfare Special Payment 2020 such as Workfare Special Payment Eligibility, Workfare Special Payment Date or Workfare Special Payment Payout amount? Fret not, we got you covered! We know that many of you want to find out when, how and the amount you are entitled to under Workfare Special Payment!
This guide on Workfare Special Payment 2020 will be updated on a regular basis based on official announcement by the Singapore government. Keep checking this page for the latest updates!
We take an evidence-based approach, by basing our answers purely on official government announcement, credible news sources.
Read on to get all your burning questions answered now!
What is Workfare Special Payment?
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The Workfare Special Payment was introduced under the Care and Support Package at the Resilience Budget on March 26 by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Heng Swee Keat.
As announced at Budget 2020, all Singaporean employees and self-employed persons who received Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) payments in Work Year 2019 will receive an one-off Workfare Special Payment (WSP) in 2020.
The Workfare Special Payment consists of total cash payout of $3,000 for all eligible Singaporeans. Both eligible employees and Self-Employed Persons will receive the same amount of $3,000, which will be paid over two equal payments of $1,500 each, in July and October 2020.
In addition, persons with disabilities aged below 35 years in 2019, who meet the WIS eligibility criteria, will also receive the Workfare Special Payment if they had received WIS payments for work done in 2019.
In all, S$1.2 billion will be given to recipients under the special payment initiative. A total of 400,000 lower-income Singaporeans will receive the Workfare Special Payment.
Summary: Workfare Special Payment is an one-off payment of $3,000 to all eligible Singaporeans who received WIS payments in Work Year 2019. The payment is spilt into two tranches – July and October 2020 ($1,500 each).
What is Enhanced Workfare Special Payment?
There is no enhanced workfare special payment. Every eligible Singaporeans receive $3,000 under the same Workfare Special Payment announced during Budget 2020 (see above).
Only the Workfare Income Supplement Scheme (WIS) has been enhanced from work year 2020 – qualifying income cap raised to S$2,300 per month and the maximum annual WIS payout increased to S$4,000.
Workfare Special Payment Eligibility and Criteria: Who is eligible and what is the criteria?
Three groups of Singaporeans are eligible for Workfare Special Payment:
- Singaporean Employees who qualified and received Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) payments in Work Year 2019
- Self-employed Singaporeans who qualified and received Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) payments in Work Year 2019
- Singaporeans with disabilities aged below 35 years in 2019 who qualified and received Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) payments in Work Year 2019
Summary: The Workfare Special Payment will be given to those who are eligible for the Workfare Income Supplement – which targets the bottom 20 per cent of the workforce – before Mar 31, 2021, for their work done in 2019.
Expanded Workfare Special Payment Eligibility
On 17 August, DPM Heng Swee Keat announaced that Going forward, those who were not on WIS last year but who have received or will be receiving WIS for work done this year can also qualify.
Employees’ eligibility for WIS and the Workfare Special Payment will be automatically assessed based on the Central Provident Fund contributions made by their employers.
Those who are self-employed will have to declare their income and make their required Medisave contribution by Dec 31, 2021, for work done this year (2020), or by March 31, 2021 for work done last year (2019) to qualify for the Workfare Special Payment.
How to check if you are eligible for Workfare Special Payment?
You will need to check if you have received Workfare Income Supplement in WA 2019. If the answer is yes, that means you are eligible for Workfare Special Payment.
Eligible employees and self-employed persons will be notified by mail or SMS a few days before the payment date on the amount that they will receive for Workfare Income Supplement (WIS). You can retrieve a copy of the Workfare Notices by logging in with your SingPass.
How will Workfare Special Payment be disbursed?
Eligible Singaporeans will receive their Workfare Special Payment in the same way they receive their WIS payments – through direct crediting into their bank account or through a cheque mailed to their residential address.
The second S$1,500 payout will be credited to bank accounts by Oct 28, or sent by mailed cheque by Nov 15.
Notification of October’s Workfare Special Payment
Those who have registered their mobile numbers with SingPass will receive SMS notifications on 26 October, informing them of their Workfare Special Payment details. Others will receive letters by the same week.
Receipt of October’s Workfare Special Payment
Those with government-registered bank accounts will receive the October payout of $1,500 earlier, via direct bank crediting on 28 October. The rest will receive the payout by cheque, mailed to their NRIC address, by 15 November.
Those who wish to receive payouts earlier via direct bank crediting can do so at www.workfare.gov.sg (using SingPass) by 14 October 2020 to receive October’s WSP.
When is Workfare Special Payment Payout Date?
As reported by the Straits Times, Ministry of Finance has announced that eligible Singaporeans will receive the 1st Workfare Special Payment payout of $1500 starting from July 28, 2020. The 2nd payout of $1500 will start from October 28, 2020.
- Those with government-registered bank accounts will receive the first S$1,500 payout earlier, via direct bank crediting on July 28. The rest will receive it by Aug 15, by cheque mailed to their NRIC-registered addresses
- The second S$1,500 payout will be credited to bank accounts by Oct 28, or sent by mailed cheque by Nov 15.
What is the Appeal Process for Workfare Special Payment?
As per the official Singapore Budget 2020 website, you may call 1800-227-1188 or submit an enquiry / appeal form via https://www.cpf.gov.sg/writetous if you wish to make an appeal for Workfare Special Payment
How much is the Workfare Special Payment Payout?
Workfare Special Payment Payout total amount is $3000 per eligible Singaporean.
Eligible employees and Self-Employed Persons will each receive total amount of $3,000, which will be paid over two equal payments of $1,500 each, in July and October 2020.
Who qualifies for Workfare Income Supplement (WIS Eligibility)?
Workfare Income Supplement Eligibility Criteria :
- are a Singapore Citizen;
- are 35 years old or above on 31 December of the work year (all persons with disabilities would qualify for WIS); and
- earn a gross monthly income1 of not more than $2,300 for the month worked2 (previously $2,000).
Workfare Income Supplement Eligibility Exclusion Criteria:
- live in a property with an annual value3 of more than $13,000 assessed as at 31 December of the preceding year;
- own two or more properties; or
- if married:
- you and your spouse together own two or more properties; or
- the assessable income of your spouse for the preceding Year of Assessment exceeds $70,000.
1Gross monthly income includes basic salary and additional wages such as overtime pay and bonuses
2In addition, you must earn an average gross monthly income of not more than $2,300 in the past 12 months (previously $2,000).
3Annual value is the estimated gross annual rent of the property if it were to be rented out, excluding furniture, furnishings and maintenance fees. It is determined based on estimated market rentals of similar or comparable properties.
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