SkillsFuture portal restored after disruption 1 day before S$500 credit top-up expires

Services on the SkillsFuture portal have been returned to normal after experiencing technical issues on Dec. 30, a day before the S$500 top-up credits are due to expire.

Facebook users reported getting notices of a server error and system issue on the SkillsFuture website, preventing them from submitting credit claims.

There were still disruptions past midnight on Dec. 31, when SkillsFuture SG (SSG) said on Facebook that they are working to resolve the issue.

"Please be assured that your SkillsFuture Credit claim, including expiring credits, will be approved once the system is up," they added.

On 8:23am, SSG updated that the credit system on the portal was now back online, and users could proceed with their SkillsFuture Credit claims.

When Mothership checked the website at 10:30am on Dec. 31, all services appeared restored.

In response to Mothership's queries, SSG said that as of 7am on Dec. 31, the technical issue has been resolved and the MySkillsFuture portal is fully operational.

SSG is working with the training providers to reach out to those whose claims were affected during the downtime.

Transaction difficulties

During the disruptions, many commented on SSG's last post before they explained the system issue, expressing frustration about being unable to complete transactions for their SkillsFuture courses.

One shared that the website indicated it was undergoing maintenance from 5pm to 7pm on Dec. 30, but this notice was still popping up at 7:35pm that day.

This user speculated that the system issue was caused by an increase in traffic, from people trying to claim their credits on the last day of expiry.

The S$500 top-up credits were given in 2020 to all Singaporeans aged 25 and above to use by Dec. 31, 2025. Claims to redeem these credits for SkillsFuture courses must be submitted by then.

At 10pm on Dec. 30, a user commented that she had been trying to make a claim since 3pm that day.

Another claimed that she ended up paying for a course with cash instead of her credits as the credit system page would not load, and the deadline to pay for her course was on Dec. 30.

Many suggested that SSG consider extending the expiry date of the S$500 credits because of the issue.

As at the end of September 2025, about 70 per cent of eligible Singaporeans still had not used their S$500 top-up credits.

On Nov. 5, Minister for Education Desmond Lee said in a parliamentary reply that the government does not intend to extend the expiry date of the credits.

Top images from Rayner Ang/Facebook and SkillsFuture SG/Facebook