The Singapore Government will pay eligible adult Singapore citizens S$400 to S$600 in cash in September 2026 under the Enhanced Budget 2026 Cost-of-Living (COL) Special Payment.
There is no application to submit. Eligible citizens will receive the payment automatically, with the amount determined by their Assessable Income and the Annual Value of their place of residence. The earliest payments are scheduled to reach eligible PayNow-NRIC recipients by 9 September 2026.
What is the Enhanced B2026 Cost-of-Living Special Payment?
The Enhanced B2026 Cost-of-Living Special Payment is a one-off cash payment introduced as part of Singapore’s Budget 2026 cost-of-living support.
The original Budget 2026 payment was set at S$200 to S$400. In April 2026, the Government announced an additional S$200 for every eligible recipient, raising the final payout to S$400 to S$600 per person. More than 2.4 million adult Singapore citizens are expected to benefit.
This is an individual cash payment rather than a household voucher. If several people in the same household independently satisfy the eligibility conditions, each eligible person can receive his or her own payment.
Who is eligible?
To qualify for the Enhanced B2026 Cost-of-Living Special Payment, you must meet all of the following conditions:
- Be a Singapore citizen.
- Be residing in Singapore.
- Be aged 21 or above in 2026.
- Have an Assessable Income of no more than S$100,000 for Year of Assessment 2025.
- Own no more than one property.
The income criterion is based on YA 2025, which generally reflects income earned in 2024. The Government does not use your current 2026 salary alone to decide eligibility.
There is no separate employment requirement listed for this payment. Eligibility is determined from citizenship, residence, age, Assessable Income and property ownership.
How much will you receive?
Your payment depends on two factors:
1. Assessable Income (AI) for YA 2025
2. Annual Value (AV) of your place of residence
The official payout amounts are:
| Assessable Income for YA 2025 | AV up to S$15,000 | AV above S$15,000 and up to S$31,000 | AV above S$31,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to S$22,000 | S$600 | S$500 | S$400 |
| Above S$22,000 and up to S$39,000 | S$500 | S$500 | S$400 |
| Above S$39,000 and up to S$100,000 | S$400 | S$400 | S$400 |
Therefore, S$600 is the maximum payment, not a flat S$600 payout for everyone.
For example, someone with an Assessable Income of S$20,000 and a residential AV of S$14,000 can receive S$600. Someone with an Assessable Income of S$50,000 who otherwise qualifies will receive S$400 regardless of whether the home’s AV is below or above S$31,000.
What does “Assessable Income” mean?
For this payout, the relevant figure is your Assessable Income for YA 2025, not simply your monthly salary or your take-home pay.
IRAS defines Assessable Income broadly as total income after allowable expenses and approved donations. It can include employment income, trade or business income and taxable rental or other income.
Personal reliefs are applied later when determining chargeable income, so Assessable Income and Chargeable Income are not the same figure.
If you are unsure which figure applies to you, check your YA 2025 tax assessment rather than estimating eligibility from your current salary.
What is the Annual Value of your home?
Annual Value, commonly abbreviated as AV, is an IRAS property-tax concept. It represents the estimated gross annual rent that a property could command, based on comparable market rents. It is not necessarily the rent actually being paid for the property.
Property owners can check their property’s current AV through IRAS’ property services. IRAS also provides a service for checking the AV of another property, although a fee may apply to that search.
For this Special Payment, AV affects the amount you receive, but having an AV above S$31,000 does not by itself disqualify you. Eligible recipients in that AV band receive S$400.
Do you need to apply?
No.
The Enhanced B2026 Cost-of-Living Special Payment is an automatic Government payout. There is no application form and no application window to compete for.
Eligible recipients can use Singpass to log in to the Government benefits e-services and check their eligibility.
Because there is no application process, you do not need to upload income statements, NRIC copies or supporting documents in order to claim the payout.
However, you may need to take action if you want to ensure that the Government has the correct payment details.
When will the money be paid?
The payment date depends on how you receive Government cash benefits.
| Payment method | What to do | Expected payment |
|---|---|---|
| PayNow-NRIC | Link your NRIC to PayNow by 30 August 2026 | By 9 September 2026 |
| Bank crediting | Provide valid bank details through Government e-services by 31 August 2026 | By 17 September 2026 |
| GovCash | Used if there is no eligible PayNow-NRIC-linked account or valid bank account on record | By 24 September 2026 |
PayNow-NRIC is the default and fastest payment method for eligible recipients.
Important: PayNow-Mobile is not enough
Having your mobile number registered with PayNow does not mean Government payouts will automatically be sent there.
For Government cash benefits, the bank account must be linked through PayNow-NRIC. The Government specifically states that PayNow-Mobile is not accepted for these payouts.
If you already have PayNow but are unsure how it is registered, check with your bank before the 30 August deadline.
What if you do not have PayNow-NRIC?
If you do not have an eligible PayNow-NRIC-linked bank account but previously gave the Government valid bank details, the payout may instead be made through bank crediting.
Government bank crediting is available through DBS/POSB, OCBC and UOB, and the account must be a personal or joint account linked to your NRIC.
If neither payment method is available, your benefit will be issued through GovCash.
How does GovCash work?
GovCash allows recipients without a suitable bank payment arrangement to access Government cash benefits.
Recipients can use GovCash through the LifeSG app or withdraw cash at participating OCBC ATMs. For an ATM withdrawal, you generally need:
- Your 8-digit Payment Reference Number (PRN).
- Your NRIC number.
- Successful Singpass Face Verification.
You do not need an OCBC bank account to withdraw GovCash at an OCBC ATM.
The PRN can be provided through an official notification or retrieved from Government e-services after the GovCash payment has been issued.
Who will not qualify?
You will generally not qualify if:
- You are not a Singapore citizen.
- You are residing overseas rather than in Singapore.
- You are younger than 21 in 2026.
- Your YA 2025 Assessable Income exceeds S$100,000.
- You own more than one property.
The property test is broader than residential homes alone. The Government notes that property ownership may include private residential properties, shophouses and non-residential properties such as commercial or industrial property.
The official FAQ also states that a beneficiary who dies before the Special Payment is made will not qualify for the payment.
How to check your eligibility before September
Although no application is required, it is worth checking three things before the payout dates:
- Check your eligibility with Singpass. Use the official Government benefits e-services to confirm whether you qualify.
- Check your payment method. If you want the earliest payout, confirm that your NRIC—not merely your mobile number—is linked to PayNow.
- Check the income and property figures used. If the amount is unclear, review your YA 2025 tax information and your property’s Annual Value.
This can prevent confusion if your payout differs from S$600 or arrives later than someone else’s.
Beware of payout scams
The Ministry of Finance has specifically warned recipients about scams connected with Government payouts.
Official benefit notification SMS messages from “gov.sg” will not ask recipients to click a link, reply with personal information or provide bank login credentials. Government officials will also not ask you over the phone to transfer money or disclose bank login information.
If an SMS claims that you must enter your bank password or pay a fee to receive the Cost-of-Living Special Payment, do not follow those instructions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to submit an application?
No. Eligible Singapore citizens will receive the payment automatically. You only need to ensure that your payment information is correct and can use Singpass to check your eligibility.
Will everyone receive S$600?
No. The payment ranges from S$400 to S$600. Your exact amount depends on your YA 2025 Assessable Income and the Annual Value of your place of residence.
My Assessable Income is above S$39,000. Can I still qualify?
Yes, provided your Assessable Income does not exceed S$100,000 and you meet the other eligibility conditions. Eligible recipients in the above-S$39,000 to S$100,000 income band receive S$400.
Can Singapore citizens living overseas receive the payment?
No. The official eligibility criteria require recipients to be residing in Singapore.
I have no PayNow-NRIC account. Will I lose the payout?
Not necessarily. Eligible recipients may receive the money through bank crediting or GovCash instead. However, the payment date will generally be later than the PayNow-NRIC payout date.
Official information and eligibility check
For the latest information, use Singapore Government sources rather than links sent through unsolicited messages.
Official scheme information:
[Govbenefits — Budget 2026 Measures](https://www.govbenefits.gov.sg/government-benefits-schemes/budget-2026-measures/)
Check eligibility / Government benefits e-services:
Accessible through the official Govbenefits scheme page using Singpass.
Ministry of Finance announcement:
[MOF — Enhanced B2026 Cost-of-Living Special Payment announcement](https://www.mof.gov.sg/news-resources/newsroom/over-2-4-million-singapore-citizens-to-receive-between–400-and–600-from-the-enhanced-budget-2026-cost-of-living–col–special-payment-in-september-2026/)
Payment and notification guidance:
[Govbenefits — General Information](https://www.govbenefits.gov.sg/general-information/)
GovCash guidance:
[Govbenefits — GovCash FAQ](https://www.govbenefits.gov.sg/general-faqs/govcash/)
Annual Value information:
[IRAS — About Annual Value](https://www.iras.gov.sg/taxes/property-tax/property-owners/annual-value?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
Need help?
For enquiries about the Enhanced B2026 Cost-of-Living Special Payment, Govbenefits lists the hotline 1800-2222-888, operating from 8.30am to 5.30pm on Mondays to Fridays, with shorter hours on the eves of Christmas, New Year and Chinese New Year.
Enquiries can also be submitted through the official Government service using Singpass.
Information checked: 26 August 2026. Payment arrangements and Government guidance may be updated, so recipients should verify the latest details on official Singapore Government websites.
