Key Budget Initiatives
MEASURES FOR HOUSEHOLDS
(A) Rewarding Work for the Elderly
(A1) Higher CPF Contribution Rates for Older Workers
To help older workers better prepare for their retirement, the CPF contribution rates for workers aged above 50 years will be increased from 1 Sep 2012. The CPF contribution rates for those aged above 50 years to 55 years will eventually be raised to reach the full CPF contribution rate of 36%.
With the increase in CPF contribution rates, the allocation rates to the Ordinary Account (OA), Special Account (SA) and Medisave Account (MA) will also be adjusted.
(A2) Higher CPF Contribution Rates for Older Self-Employed Persons
The Medisave contribution rates for self-employed persons aged 50 years and above, and with annual net trade income of $18,000 and above, will be increased by 0.5% from 1 Jan 2013. This change will align the MA contribution rates for older SEPs with that for older employees.
Further details on contribution rates can be found on the Ministry of Manpower website at www.mom.gov.sg.
(A3) Higher Earned Income Tax Relief for Older Workers
The earned income tax relief will be doubled for workers aged 55 years and above. This will be effective from YA2013 onwards. This will cost $30 million per year.
(B) Helping Seniors Unlock Savings
(B1) Silver Housing Bonus
Elderly Singaporeans aged 55 years and above who sell their existing flats and move to 3-room and smaller flats or Studio Apartments will receive a bonus of up to $20,000 per household ($15,000 cash; $5,000 CPF). Key features of the new scheme are:
- Commit the sale proceeds to their CPF Retirement Account, up to the prevailing CPF Minimum Sum.
- The bonus will match the proceeds committed to their CPF dollar for dollar, up to $20,000.
- The top-up, along with all other monies in the Retirement Account, will be used to purchase a CPF LIFE annuity, which will provide a lifelong monthly payout.
- The remaining proceeds beyond the prevailing Minimum Sum can be taken out in cash.
(B2) Enhanced Lease Buy-back Scheme (LBS)
The LBS will be enhanced so that:
- Beneficiaries may cash out the proceeds after setting aside the prevailing Minimum Sum in their Retirement Accounts.
- The LBS bonus will be increased from $10,000 to up to $20,000 per household ($15,000 cash; $5,000 CPF).
More details on (B1) and (B2) will be provided during the Ministry of National Development Committee of Supply.
(C) Stronger Healthcare Support
(C1) More Hospital Beds
By 2020, the number of beds will be increased:
- Acute Hospitals: Increased by 1,900 beds (30%)
- Community Hospitals: Increased by 1,800 beds (>100%)
(C2) Expansion of Long term and Community-based Care
Long term care services ranging from nursing home care to home- and community-based care will be improved significantly by 2020.
More details on (C1) and (C2) will be provided by the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports during their Committee of Supply.
(D) Enhancing Affordability of Healthcare
(D1) Higher Subsidies in the Intermediate and Long Term Care (ILTC) Sector
The Government will increase the subsidies for the lower- and middle-income groups for services in the intermediate and long term care sector:
- All patients in community hospitals will now qualify for government subsidies, up from half of all patients currently. The middle–income group will receive the largest increase in subsidy rates, getting a subsidy of 20 to 50% when they previously did not receive any.
- Subsidies for nursing homes, community and home-based care will also be raised. Two-thirds of Singaporean households will qualify for subsidies, up from 50% currently.
(D2) Grant for Hiring a Foreign Domestic Helper
A $120 grant per month will be provided in place of subsidies for non-medical home-based care to help lower- and middle-income families who may prefer to hire a foreign domestic helper to care for an elderly member at home (if the senior cannot perform three or more Activities of Daily Living, or has severe dementia).
(D3) GST Absorption for ILTC Sector
To further improve affordability of long term care, GST for all subsidised patients using ILTC services will be permanently absorbed. This will include Community Hospitals, nursing homes and home care.
More details on (D1) and (D3) will be provided during the Ministry of Health Committee of Supply. Details on (D2) will be provided during the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports Committee of Supply.
(D4) Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE) Programme
A new subsidy will be given for installing elderly-friendly features in homes, such as anti-slip treatment to bathroom tiles and grab bars. The modifications cost around $2,000, and the subsidy will cover up to 95% of this cost. About 130,000 households with at least one senior or disabled person will benefit. This will cost the Government $260 million over 10 years.
More details will be provided during the Ministry of National Development Committee of Supply.
(D5) Medifund Top-up
The Government will top-up $600 million to the Medifund. This enables $20 million (over 20%) more help to be disbursed each year.
(D6) One-off Medisave Top-up
To offset the increase in MediShield premiums in 2012, all Singapore Citizens insured under MediShield will receive a one-off Medisave top-up.
This will benefit more than 3 million Singaporeans.
More details on the MediShield premium changes will be provided during the Ministry of Health Committee of Supply.
(E) Supporting Singaporeans with Disabilities
(E1) New Development Support Programme (DSP)
Pre-school children with mild speech, language and learning delays will be able to receive learning support intervention and if necessary therapy intervention to help them while they are in mainstream pre-schools.
(E2) Extension of Special Employment Credit (SEC)
The SEC will be extended to employers that hire Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) of all ages who have graduated from VWO-run Special Education (SPED) schools regardless of age. The SEC for PWDs will be set at a higher quantum, at 16% of the employee’s monthly income, up to $240 per month.
The employers of about 2,600 PWDs will benefit this year.
(E3) Extension of Workfare Income Supplement (WIS)
The WIS will be extended to all PWDs who have graduated from VWO-run SPED schools regardless of age. About 1,400 work-capable PWDs will benefit this year.
More details on measures (E1), (E2) and (E3) will be provided during the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports Committee of Supply.
(E4) Doubling of Handicapped Earned Income Tax Relief
The Handicapped Earned Income Tax Relief for disabled workers of all ages will be doubled effective YA2013:
About 1,000 work-capable PWDs will benefit each year.
(E5) Better Adult Care
The subsidies for Singaporeans with disabilities will be aligned with those for the elderly (see section (D): “Enhancing Affordability of Healthcare”).
To cater to Singaporeans with disabilities who require care throughout their adult life, the capacity of Day Activity Centres for the disabled and disability homes will be increased by 250 places (or 25% increase) and 180 beds (or 21% increase) respectively.
More details will be provided during the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports Committee of Supply.
(F) Uplifting Low Income Families
(F1) Extend Pre-School Subsidies
A new per capita household income criterion will be introduced to the Kindergarten Fee Assistance Scheme (KiFAS) and the Centre-based Fee Assistance for Childcare (CFAC).
(F2) Financial Assistance Schemes (FAS) for Schools
The household income ceiling of the MOE FAS will be raised. All families who meet either the gross household income ceiling of $2,500 or the per capita income cap of $625 will qualify for subsidies. The enhancement will benefit an additional 40,000 students.
(F3) Top-Ups to School Advisory Committees/ School Management Committees Fund
The School Advisory Committees’ and Schools Management Committees’ funds will receive top-ups of between $10,000 and $15,000 per year for the next three years.
(F4) Enhance Student Care Fee Assistance (SCFA) Scheme
The SCFA scheme will be enhanced and extended to help more lower-income families with monthly household income of up $3,500. Larger families will also benefit from the new per capita household income criterion. The enhancements to SCFA will benefit 3,700 children.
(F5) Top-up to Edusave Endowment Fund
The Edusave Endowment Fund will receive a $200 million top-up.
(F6) Top-up to ComCare Endowment Fund
The ComCare Endowment Fund will receive a $200 million top-up.
(F7) Top-ups to Community Organisations
A total of $10 million will be given to our Self-Help Groups and the CCC ComCare Fund.
More details on (F1) and (F4) will be provided during the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports Committee of Supply. Details on (F2) and (F3) will be provided during the Ministry of Education Committee of Supply.
(G) A Fair Tax System
(G1) GST Voucher
The Government has introduced a permanent system of offsets in the form of a GST Voucher to help our lower-income Singaporeans, and has set aside $3.6 billion in the GST Voucher Fund to finance the scheme for the first five years. The GST Voucher will fully offset what our elderly households staying in 1- to 3-room HDB flats pay in GST, and offset about half of the total GST bills for our lower-income families (who do not have elderly members).
The GST Voucher has 3 components and will cost $680 million in FY2012:
- GST Voucher – Cash: The amount that an eligible Singaporean will receive is based on his income and the value of his home, as shown below:
- The annual value criterion of $20,000 will cover all HDB properties as well as lower-end private properties.
- GST Voucher – Medisave: This comprises an annual top-up to the Medisave Accounts of older Singaporeans aged 65 and above and living in properties which have an Annual Value that does not exceed $20,000. About 85% of all elderly Singaporeans will benefit.
- GST Voucher – U-Save: These will be given to all HDB households to help directly offset their monthly utilities bills.
Singaporeans can expect to receive their annual GST Voucher – Cash and GST Voucher – Medisave from Aug 2012 onwards. The GST Voucher – U-Save will be given out in Jan and Jul each year, starting Jul 2012.
Singaporeans who qualify for the GST Voucher will receive a letter in Jul 2012.
Click here for a list of questions and answers on the GST Voucher.
For further clarification on the GST Voucher – Cash and Medisave, you can email gstvoucher@cpf.gov.sg or call 1800 2222 888 (Mon-Fri: 8am–6pm).
For further clarification on the GST Voucher – U-Save, you can email spservices@singaporepower.com.sg or call 1800 2222 333 (Mon-Fri: 8am–6pm).
(H) Enhancing our Transport System
(H1) Improving Bus Service Levels
The Government will partner public transport operators (PTOs) to add 800 buses over the next five years, or a 20% increase. The Government will provide funding for 550 buses, while the public bus operators will add another 250 buses.
The Government will be funding running costs over 10 years. $1.1 billion will be set aside for a Bus Services Enhancement Fund for these commitments.
(H2) Carbon Emissions-based Vehicle Scheme (CEVS)
The current Green Vehicle Rebate (GVR) scheme will be replaced with a new CEVS in Jan 2013. This will cost the Government $34 million per year.
CEVS is based on carbon efficiency and will be applicable to all new passenger cars. Cars with low carbon emissions will enjoy rebates on their ARF of up to $20,000, while those with high carbon emissions will have to pay a registration surcharge of up to $20,000.
For commercial vehicles and motorcycles, the GVR scheme will be extended till end-2014.
More details will be provided during the Ministry of Transport Committee of Supply.
(H3) Lowering of Special Diesel Tax for Euro V Vehicles
The Special Tax for Euro V-compliant diesel cars will be lowered from $1.25 per cc to $0.40 per cc from 1 Jan 2013.
(H4) Removal of Additional Transfer Fee (ATF)
The ATF, levied on used-vehicle transactions, will be removed with effect from 18 Feb 2012. This amounts to $70 million per year in revenue foregone.
More details on measures (H3) and (H4) can be found on the Land Transport Authority (LTA) website at www.lta.gov.sg.
(I) Miscellaneous Tax Initiatives
(I1) Excise Taxes on Non-Cigarette Tobacco Products
The excise duties on (a) beedies, “ang hoon” and smokeless tobacco; and (b) unmanufactured tobacco will be raised by 20% and 10% respectively with effect from 17 Feb 2012.
(I2) GST Relief
Goods brought in by qualifying travellers and residents from abroad will be given higher relief from 1 Apr 2012:
For more information pls go to : http://www.singaporebudget.gov.sg
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
