940,000 households to get double their GST Vouchers for utility bills

Those in one-and two-room flats will see rebates equivalent to at least 6 to 8 months of their bills

About 940,000 Singaporean households living in Housing Board flats will receive double their regular GST (goods and services tax) Vouchers this financial year to offset part of their utility bills.

Eligible households with five or more members will receive an additional GST Voucher.

This will come up to a total of 2.5 times their regular GST Voucher, in Financial Year (FY) 2020, from this month to March next year.

This month, households will enjoy a U-Save (Utilities-Save) rebate of up to $300, depending on their HDB flat type, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) said in a statement yesterday.

Those living in one-and two-room flats will get $300, and those in three-room flats will get $270.

Families living in four-room flats will receive $240, while those in five-room flats will get $210. Residents of executive or multi-generation flats will get $180.

Households whose members own more than one property are not eligible for the GST Voucher.

Eligible households will continue to receive U-Save rebates regardless of their electricity provider, the ministry said.

Annually, households in one-and two-room flats receive U-Save rebates equivalent to about three to four months of their utility bills on average. However, for FY2020, these households will receive U-Save rebates equivalent to at least six to eight months of their utility bills, said the MOF statement.

Those living in three-and four-room flats usually receive support equivalent to about one to two months of their utility bills, but will receive support equivalent to at least two to four months of their bills for FY2020.

The U-Save rebate is one of three components under the permanent GST Voucher scheme. It is disbursed every three months.

STRAITS TIMES GRAPHICS

The rebates, which are expected to cost the Government about $630 million for FY2020, are meant to help HDB households offset part of their utility bills and reduce their overall household expenses.


• For more information on U-Save, call SP Group on 6671-7117, or e-mail customersupport@spgroup.com.sg

• Details on the GST Voucher scheme can be found at www.gstvoucher.gov.sg

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on April 03, 2020, with the headline 940,000 households to get double their GST Vouchers for utility bills. Subscribe