Budget 2026 goodies: CDC vouchers, cash payouts and more support measures

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced a fresh set of support measures in Singapore’s Budget 2026 on Feb 12, including new CDC vouchers, a one-off cash payment and additional rebates aimed at easing cost-of-living pressures and supporting families.

The initiatives span households, working adults, parents and lower-income families, with different payout dates and eligibility rules.

Budget 2026 goodies for households: CDC vouchers in 2027

All Singaporean households — about 1.4 million — will receive $500 in Community Development Council (CDC) vouchers.

The vouchers will be issued in January 2027 and will be valid until Dec 31, 2027. As with past tranches, they will be split equally for use at participating heartland merchants and hawkers, and participating supermarkets.

Households will be able to claim them digitally via RedeemSG. Those who need help with the digital process can seek assistance at community clubs and SG Digital Community Hubs.

One-off Cost-of-Living Special Payment in September 2026

Eligible Singaporeans will receive a one-off Cost-of-Living Special Payment of between $200 and $400 in cash in September 2026.

The payment is for Singaporean adults aged 21 and above in 2026 who live in Singapore, have assessable income of up to $100,000, and own no more than one property. The amount will vary depending on income and the annual value of the recipient’s place of residence.

The scheme is expected to cover about 2.4 million adults.

Additional U-Save rebates for HDB households

Eligible households living in HDB flats will receive enhanced U-Save rebates to help with utilities expenses in financial year 2026, alongside the regular GST Voucher U-Save.

The additional rebates amount to 1.5 times the regular GSTV-U-Save for the year, with eligible households receiving up to $570 in total. The U-Save credits will be paid into households’ utilities accounts with SP Services together with the regular rebates in April 2026 and July 2026.

$500 Child LifeSG credits for children aged 12 and below

Families will receive $500 in Child LifeSG credits for each Singaporean child aged 12 and below, to help with day-to-day household expenses.

The credits will be accessed through the LifeSG mobile app and can be used at physical and online merchants that accept PayNow QR or NETS QR.

For children born between 2014 and 2025, the credits will be disbursed in July 2026. For children born in 2026, they will be disbursed in April 2027.

Higher income thresholds for pre-school and student care subsidies from 2027

Budget 2026 also raises income thresholds to widen access to subsidies for families with young children.

From Jan 1, 2027:

• The monthly household income ceiling to qualify for additional subsidies for infant care, childcare and pre-school services will be raised from $12,000 to $15,000.
• The monthly household income ceiling for Student Care Fee Assistance will be raised from $4,500 to $6,500.

The subsidies will be automatically applied to eligible families when the enhancements take effect.

Enhanced quarterly payouts for ComLink+ families from Q3 2026

Lower-income families in the ComLink+ scheme will receive enhanced progress-based support, with payouts disbursed quarterly from the third quarter of 2026.

The changes include:

• A new $500 quarterly payout for ComLink+ families who are actively working with their family coaches or Family Service Centre case workers to take steps towards greater self-reliance, split into $200 in cash and $300 in CPF payments.
• Higher quarterly payouts for ComLink+ families with children in pre-school based on attendance, combining cash and top-ups to the child’s Child Development Account.
• Enhanced payouts for ComLink+ households that maintain stable employment, including a higher-tier quarterly payout that combines cash and CPF top-ups, alongside a lower-tier option for those meeting intermediate criteria.

The support measures are part of the Government’s broader package announced in Budget 2026, with disbursements scheduled across 2026 and 2027 depending on the scheme and eligibility conditions.