Written by: Marissa Saini
The start of a new decade brings glad tidings!
On 2 January 2020, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) announced that about 930,000 Singaporean households with HDB homes are eligible to receive the Utilities Rebate under the GST Voucher Scheme, otherwise known as the U-Save rebate.
The scheme was first introduced in Budget 2012 to help alleviate household expenses such as monthly utility bills (electricity, water, gas, etc.). From the period of 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020, a total amount of $300 million will be disbursed.
This follows the SP Group’s 30th December 2019 announcement on the latest electricity tariff increase by 3.5%, resulting in a tariff of 24.24 cents for the first quarter of 2020. This is the highest yet since the last quarter of 2014 when the rate was 25.28 cents per kWh.
How much will I receive?
Depending on your flat type, households will receive up to $100 in the form of Utilities-Save or better known as U-Save. In a year, each household gets a total combined rebate amount of up to $400.
| HDB Type | Rebate in Jan 2020 | Total Annual Rebate |
|---|---|---|
| 1- and 2- Room | $100 | $400 |
| 3-Room | $90 | $360 |
| 4-Room | $80 | $320 |
| 5-Room | $70 | $280 |
| Executive/Multi-Generation | $60 | $240 |
What if my electricity provider is under the Open Electricity Market?
Regardless of your electricity provider, HDB households will be able to receive the U-Save rebate. Note that you must meet the rest of the requirements, one of which is that you do not own a second property.
How many months’ worth of utility bills will the U-save rebate offset?
According to the MOF, the U-Save rebate amounts to three to four months of utility expenses for one- and two-room HDB flats and one to two months of utility expenses for three- and four-room HDB flats.
How will it be credited to my account?
If you’re wondering if a sign-up is required to receive the GST Voucher, it’s not. Instead, the payment will be instantly credited to your utilities account upon account opening. However, to ensure you’ll receive your GST voucher notification via SMS (and not the alternative, which is in the form of a mailed notice) be sure to embrace our current digital age by registering your mobile number in your SingPass account stat.
While waiting for GST voucher updates, why not browse thousands of authentic listings on Ohmyhome? With just a glance, you’ll be up-to-date on the latest past transaction data of any unit. Go check it out!
Sources: MOF, GST Voucher, Straits Times
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