Eligible Singapore citizens to receive special cost-of-living payment of $400-600 in Sep 2026

Citizens are encouraged to link their NRIC to PayNow by 30 August 2026 to automatically receive payment from 9 September.

More than 2.4mn adult Singapore citizens will receive between S$400 and S$600 in cash in September 2026 under the Enhanced Budget 2026 (B2026) Cost-of-Living (COL) Special Payment.

The payment is intended to help Singaporeans with their living expenses, with more support provided to those with lower incomes and lesser means.

The first announcement on this was made at Budget 2026, when Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong introduced the COL Special Payment. The Government subsequently enhanced the payment on 7 April 2026.

Eligibility

According to the Ministry of Finance (MOF), Singapore citizens aged 21 or above in 2026 may be eligible for the Enhanced B2026 COL Special Payment if they:

• Own no more than one property; and
• Have an Assessable Income of up to S$100,000 for the Year of Assessment 2025.

The Annual Value of the recipient’s place of residence will also be considered when determining the payment amount, to provide more support to citizens with lesser means.

Eligible recipients will receive between S$400 and S$600, with the exact amount depending on their circumstances.

Automatic payment from 9 September 2026

Eligible citizens do not need to apply for the payment. Payments will be made automatically from 9 September 2026. Citizens are encouraged to link their NRIC to PayNow by 30 August 2026 to receive the Enhanced B2026 COL Special Payment earlier, from 9 September 2026.

Citizens can check their eligibility by logging in with Singpass at the govbenefits website.

Recipients will be notified by SMS or letter

Eligible recipients will receive SMS notifications before and after their benefit has been credited. Those without a Singpass-registered mobile number will receive a notification letter at the address registered on their Singapore IC.

The Government has reminded citizens to remain vigilant against scams. SMS notifications from “gov.sg” will only inform recipients about their benefit and will not ask them to reply, click on links or provide personal information.

MOF has reminded all citizens that government officials will never ask members of the public to transfer money or disclose bank log-in details over the phone. Those who are unsure whether they are dealing with a scam can contact the 24/7 ScamShield Helpline at 1799.

READ MORE: Singapore's Ministry of Manpower proposes bill to protect employees from discrimination by employers 

Lead image / MOF website

Infographics / MOF Facebook