In 2025, Singapore has made a radical move to empower a lower-wage workers with better skills through the Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) scheme. With the cost of living and inflationary pressures getting worse, it’s a good thing the government’s decision to raise payouts and relax eligibility has come in the nick of time. The changes are part of a broader aim to more deeply support inclusive growth and long-term financial security for the workers who need it most.
Higher Payouts for Greater Support
From January 2025, those who are eligible to receive WIS payouts will get a much larger payout! The ceiling for annual payouts has been raised from S$4,200 to S$4,900, ensuring that support given to those who require help is more impactful. Older workers and people with disabilities will continue to receive the highest level of support, reflecting the scheme’s principles of equity and care.
Expanded Eligibility Criteria
The income limit for WIS has been raised from S$2,500 to $3,000 a month, to benefit more workers. This tweak makes it so that workers who have seen some wage growth aren’t disqualified from assistance. In addition, platform workers and persons with disabilities are now more seamlessly included in the scheme, and the monthly payouts replace annual disbursement for more regular support.
Monthly Payouts for Platform Workers
In a significant move, platform workers like delivery riders and private-hire drivers will now get the WIS payouts on a monthly basis, and not annually. This would bring forward the timing of financial support for families, with effect from March 2025, and is also consistent with the monthly deduction of CPF contributions. It’s a step that signifies the changing nature of gig working and the desire for regular income security.
CPF Contributions and Long-Term Security
A large portion of WIS is also still deposited into workers’ CPF MediSave accounts, in addition to being dished out in cash. This twofold solution aligns relief now with greater retirement security. The scheme is designed to stimulate not just immediate resilience but also longer-term preparedness by fostering regular work and savings.
A Policy Rooted in Inclusion
The improvements to WIS are said to potentially benefit some 470,000 workers in Singapore. With a broader net and a bigger payout, government is sending a strong signal: no worker left behind. These are not just changes in numbers; they are changes in dignity, in opportunity and in the possibility of how we can all move forward together.
Also Read: Singapore Retirement Changes 2025: What Every Worker Needs to Know