Assurance Package (AP) Cash
The Assurance Package (AP) is a Singapore government cash-transfer scheme that gives every adult Singapore citizen tiered annual cash payments from 2022 to 2026 to cushion the 2023-2024 GST rate increase (7% to 9%) and rising cost of living. It sits on top of the older, permanent GST Voucher (GSTV) scheme, which separately gives lower- and middle-income citizens cash, MediSave top-ups, and utility/S&CC rebates each year. Both schemes are funded entirely by the Singapore government out of budget surpluses and are administered by the Ministry of Finance via the govbenefits.gov.sg portal. Payout amounts are tiered by each citizen's Assessable Income and number of properties owned, with lower-income citizens receiving the most. Payments are automatic and require no application beyond registering a bank account or PayNow-NRIC link.
Singapore, GST offset, cost-of-living support, universal citizen cash transfer, income-tiered, PayNow-NRIC, GovCash, government payout infrastructure
Headquarters
- Organization Name
- Ministry of Finance (Singapore)
- City
- Singapore
- Country
- Singapore
Contact
- Phone
- +65 1800 2222 888
- Social media links
Status & Funding
- Organization status
- Active
- Program status
- Active
- Application status
- Timed
- Number of recipients
- 3,000,000
- Funding type
- Government
Benefits
- Currency Type
- Fiat
- Total Amount
- 2,250
- Avg. Per Month
- 37.5
- Payment frequency
- Lump Sum
- How long the program lasts
- 60 months
- Distribution Type
- Direct deposit (PayNow-NRIC), Bank transfer/GIRO, GovCash (cash withdrawal at OCBC ATMs)
- Benefit details
AP Cash is paid once a year each December from 2022 through 2026, with cumulative payouts over the five years ranging from $700 to $2,250 per citizen depending on Assessable Income (AI) and property ownership. For the December 2025 disbursement, citizens with AI up to $39,000 and 0-1 property receive $600, those with AI $39,001-$100,000 receive $350, and those with AI above $100,000 or who own more than one property receive $100; the final December 2026 tranche pays $100-$250. Payment defaults to PayNow-NRIC-linked bank accounts, then GIRO bank transfer, then GovCash for citizens without a linked bank account. The AP also bundles non-cash elements (CDC Vouchers, U-Save/S&CC rebates, MediSave top-ups) not counted in the cash total above.
Eligibility
Overview
- Eligibility details
Recipients must be Singapore citizens (not dual citizens who hold foreign citizenship, and not Permanent Residents) who are residing in Singapore and aged 21 or above in the reference year. Citizens residing overseas are excluded. Payout tier is determined by Assessable Income (per IRAS Notice of Assessment) and number of properties owned; owning more than one property caps the payout at the lowest tier regardless of income. Eligibility and amounts are assessed automatically using tax and property records tied to the citizen's NRIC.
Demographics
- Minimum age
- 21
Citizenship
- Citizenship / immigration status
- Citizen
Geography
- Countries covered
- Singapore
- Residency of Target Geography
- Yes
Participation
- Complementary program enrollment required
- Bundled with (but not a prerequisite for) the permanent GST Voucher scheme (GSTV-Cash, GSTV-MediSave, GSTV-U-Save, GSTV-S&CC Rebate), Community Development Council (CDC) Vouchers, and periodic Cost-of-Living Special Payments, all administered through the same govbenefits.gov.sg portal
Application Process
- How to apply
No application is needed for citizens who have previously signed up for any government payout scheme - payment is automatic based on Singpass-linked IRAS and property records. Citizens who have never signed up can register via govbenefits.gov.sg using Singpass to provide bank account or PayNow-NRIC details; those who miss the deadline can still sign up later and receive payment within about 2 months. Citizens are also encouraged to link their NRIC to PayNow via a participating bank ahead of the annual deadline to receive payment on the earliest date.
- Selection process
Eligibility and payout tier are determined automatically by matching each citizen's NRIC against IRAS Assessable Income records (from the relevant Year of Assessment) and property ownership records; no discretionary selection or application review is involved.
