800,000 HDB households to receive S$90m worth of U—Save vouchers

SINGAPORE: About 800,000 Singaporean HDB households can expect to receive S$90 million worth of GST Voucher — Utilities—Save (U—Save) rebates in January 2013.

An eligible Singaporean household can receive one U—Save voucher of up to S$130 depending on their HDB flat type.

There is no sign—up required for the rebates, and utilities charges of households will be offset directly.

The voucher is paid out in January and July each year.

Those living in one to two—room HDB flats can offset about three to four months of utilities bills on average with their voucher. Those living in three to four—room HDB flats can offset up to two months of utilities bills on average.

The voucher is a household benefit under the permanent GST Voucher scheme. It was introduced in Budget 2012 to provide continuing assurance that lower—income Singaporeans benefit from the fiscal system.

Taking into account the other components of the GST Voucher, which include the GST Voucher — Cash and Medisave, Singaporean lower—income and retiree households would have received a significant offset for their GST expenses this year.

Middle—income families would also have received a GST Voucher that will partially offset their GST expenses.

—CNA/ac