SG60 vouchers not given out as cash due to 'very positive' response to CDC vouchers: PM Wong

Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong said on Feb. 25 that the SG60 vouchers will be given out as vouchers instead of cash as the previous Community Development Council (CDC) vouchers had garnered a "very positive response".

In a clip shared on Facebook, PM Wong answered questions about his Budget statement on Feb. 18, including one on the vouchers.

He added that there are cash support measures in Budget 2025 and that the government had decided on the SG60 vouchers to assist and benefit Singaporeans, including participating businesses.

The SG60 vouchers will be similar to CDC vouchers, and can be used in the same way at the same merchants.

Singaporeans aged 21 and above will receive between S$600 and S$800 of SG60 vouchers in July, with seniors given priority to claim the vouchers.

SG60 package and support measures make up about five percent of total budget

Responding to a question on whether the SG60 Package is an "Election Budget", PM Wong said that the Budget coincides with "a year when elections will be held".

The next General Election must be held by November 2025.

"If the budget is deemed to be generous, it's only because we have managed our finances responsibly and well," PM Wong said.

He said that the government is doing everything it can to help Singaporeans cope with cost of living pressures and improve their lives.

On a question of whether the vouchers are only part of "temporary measures", PM Wong highlighted that he is aware that there has been "a lot of attention" on the "headline items" in the Budget.

He noted that the SG60 package and cost of living support measures only make up about five per cent of the total Budget.

"The bulk of the government spending is in structural, longer term programmes," PM Wong said.

He added that the government is taking steps to further strengthen the country's economy and social support system in Budget 2025.

Government decided on SG60 vouchers due to "positive response" for CDC vouchers

On why SG60 vouchers are not given out as cash, PM Wong highlighted that there are cash support measures included in the government's 2025 budget, such as GST vouchers.

Apart from the GST vouchers, eligible Singaporeans will also benefit from the Assurance Package, which includes cash payouts ranging from S$100 to S$600 in December 2025.

He added that authorities had decided on the SG60 vouchers as Singapore has had "some years of experience" with CDC vouchers, which had gotten a "very positive" response.

PM Wong said that providing support in terms of vouchers will help Singaporeans with cost of living pressures, and also benefit participating hawkers and merchants.

He noted that it may be "hard to keep up" with the support measures, but also highlighted that Singaporeans can use a support calculator on the government's SupportGoWhere website to find out how they will benefit from these measures.

PM Wong added that in his Budget round-up speech on Feb 28, he will address further questions posed by Members of Parliament (MPs) during the Budget debates happening from Feb. 26 to 28.

You can see PM Wong's video here: