More than 2.4 million adult Singaporeans will receive a one-off Enhanced Cost-of-Living Special Payment ranging from S$400 to S$600, starting on September 9, 2026 [1, 2, 3]. Eligible recipients must be age 21 or older in 2026, have an assessable income of up to S$100,000 for the Year of Assessment 2025, and own no more than one property [1, 2, 3].
The payment amount will be tiered based on assessable income and the annual value of the home, with lower-income individuals and those living in lower-value properties receiving higher sums [1, 2, 3]. The Ministry of Finance stated the scheme "is to help Singapore citizens with their living expenses, with more support for the lower-income" [1].
Recipients do not need to apply for the payment, as it will be automatically credited. Notifications will be sent by SMS from 'gov.sg' before and after the payment. Those without a Singpass-registered mobile number will receive notification letters by mail to the NRIC-registered address [1, 2, 3].
Citizens are encouraged to link their NRIC to PayNow by August 30 to receive the payment earlier on September 9. Those who miss this deadline will get payments via GIRO from September 17, or through GovCash by September 24 [2, 3].
The enhanced payment was announced by Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong during Budget 2026 as a top-up to an initial S$200–400 payment that was introduced earlier in April 2026 [1, 3]. The April 7 ministerial statement raised the special payment to the higher amounts now confirmed [3].
The Ministry of Finance announced the detailed payout timetable and eligibility on August 13, providing clarity ahead of the start of disbursements next month [1, 2, 3]. The government continues to urge all eligible citizens to link their NRIC to PayNow by the August 30 deadline to facilitate earlier receipt of funds [2, 3].
