In 2025, Singapore will introduce various projects, among them the Assurance Package (AP) Seniors’ Bonus, MediSave top-ups, and the Silver Support Scheme, to deliver financial aid to senior citizens. The programs are intended for eligible seniors to ease their cost-of-living pressures and improve retirement sufficiency. Below you can find a thorough explanation of the schemes, eligibility conditions, and payout schedules.
Assurance Package (AP) Seniors’ Bonus
The Assurance Package Seniors’ Bonus directly gives cash benefits to lower-income senior Singaporeans who have reached the age of 55 years.
Eligibility Criteria:
To qualify, seniors must be already aged 55 years and above in 2025. Their assessable income must not be more than $34,000 for the Year of Assessment 2023. They must live in properties with an annual value of up to $31,000 and must not own more than one property.
Payout Details:
The cash payout amounts are tiered based on the annual value of property. Seniors living in properties with an annual value of up to $21,000 would receive $300, while those who live in properties valued from $21,001 to $31,000 would receive $200.
Payment Schedule:
Eligible seniors would then expect their payouts in February 2025. Those who are registered with PayNow-NRIC would receive the money on February 5, 2025, while those who get their payments by GIRO “will receive it on February 13, 2025.” Seniors opting for GovCash will also have that cash by February 21, 2025. To get the payout via PayNow, seniors must ensure their NRIC is linked to PayNow by January 25, 2025.
MediSave Top-Up
For one time only, MediSave will top up eligible seniors to offset future healthcare costs.
Eligibility Conditions:
The amount to be top up- All citizens of Singapore aged 55 and above in 2025 will be eligible for the top-up.
Top-Up Amount & Payment Date:
Every eligible senior will receive $150, which will then be deposited into their MediSave accounts automatically starting February 11, 2025. This cash can be used for hospitalization, outpatient treatment, and other approved health admission expenses.
Silver Support Scheme
This Silver Support Scheme is designed to provide quarterly cash supplements to seniors with low earnings for their basic living expenses.
Eligibility Conditions:
Eligibility: Seniors should be at least 65 years old. The total CPF contributions by age 55 must not exceed $140,000. The household of the senior must be living in 1- to 5-room HDB flats, and their household monthly income must be less than $2,300 per person.
Payout Details:
The payout amount varies according to the size of the HDB flat where the senior resides. Those in 1- and 2-room HDB flats will receive $1,080 each quarter. Residents in 3-room flats will receive $860. Those living in large four-room flats will get $650, while the payment for those in five-room flats (but are non-owners living in it) will receive $430.
Payment Schedule:
Payments take place every three months. The disbursal for January through March will be on the 31st of December of the previous year. For the period of April until June, the payment date is marked as March 31. Between July and September, it will be paid on June 30. The payment for the period between October to December will be credited on September 30.
Eligible seniors automatically undergo yearly assessments, and those who meet the criteria will be served with notification letters that detail their payouts.
Check Eligibility & Available Payments
By logging in using SelPass, seniors may check eligibility and payment information through government official channels. Those eligible for benefits will also receive an SMS after the benefits are credited. Those who do not have a registered mobile number will receive a physical letter at their registered mailing address.
Significant to note is that all official SMS messages would come from “gov.sg” and would not ask for any personal information or actions from the recipient. So, the seniors should remain vigilant, refusing to reply to any suspicious message.
Conclusion
Financial support programs of the Singaporean government in 2025 will minimize living costs for the elderly and help them cope with medical care and basic necessities. Eligible seniors should ensure their details are updated and follow the procedures, if any, to timely receive their disbursements.