Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) Scheme
WIS Scheme Encourages eligible workers to work and build up their CPF savings for their retirement, housing and healthcare needs, by supplementing their income and retirement savings through cash payments and CPF contributions.
The Government will enhance the Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) scheme to supplement the incomes and CPF savings of lower-wage Singaporean workers, as well as to encourage them to work regularly. WIS will continue to be targeted at workers whose earnings are in the bottom 20%, with some support for those slightly above.
These changes will apply for work done from 1 January 2020 onwards. In total, we expect the enhanced WIS to benefit close to 440,000 Singaporeans.
Changes to WIS
a) Qualifying income cap raised from $2,000/month to $2,300/month1
This revision takes into account shifts in income levels.
b) Higher annual WIS payouts of up to $4,000
Depending on their age and income, eligible employees can receive up to $4,000 per year in WIS payouts, compared to $3,600 today. Older workers will continue to receive higher payouts than younger workers. The payouts for self-employed persons will remain at two-thirds of the employee WIS payouts, and will therefore be correspondingly increased. Details are in Table 1 below.
Table 1: Maximum annual WIS payout for different age bands, for work done from 1 January 2020
|
Age Band |
Maximum annual WIS payout for employees |
Maximum annual WIS payout for self-employed persons |
|
35-44 |
$1,700 |
$1,133 |
|
45-54 |
$2,500 |
$1,667 |
|
55-59 |
$3,300 |
$2,200 |
|
60 & above |
$4,000 |
$2,667 |
Note: Persons with disabilities below age 35 who meet the WIS eligibility criteria will receive up to
$1,700 annual WIS payout.
1 In addition, one must earn an average gross monthly income of not more than $2,300 in the past 12 months.
For Employees
You will qualify for WIS if you:
- are a Singapore Citizen;
are 35 years old or above on 31 December of the work year (all persons with disabilities would qualify for WIS); and
- earn a gross monthly income1 of not more than $2,300 for the
month worked2 (previously $2,000).
However, you will not qualify for WIS if you:
- live in a property with an annual value3 of more than $13,000 assessed as at 31 December of the preceding year;
- own two or more properties; or
- if married: you and your spouse together own two or more properties; or
- the assessable income of your spouse for the preceding Year of Assessment exceeds $70,000.
1 Gross monthly income includes basic salary and extra wages such as overtime pay and bonuses.
2 In additional, you must earn an average gross monthly income of not more than $2,300 in the past 12 months (previously $2,000).
3 Annual value is the estimated gross annual rent of the property if it were to be rented out, excluding furniture, furnishings and maintenance fees. It is determined based on estimated market rentals of similar or comparable properties.
The table below shows the maximum annual WIS based on your age group.
| Age | Maximum Annual WIS | |
| 2018 and 2019 | From 2020 | |
| 35* - 44 | $1,500 | $1,700 |
| 45 - 54 | $2,200 | $2,500 |
| 55 - 59 | $2,900 | $3,300 |
| 60 and above | $3,600 | $4,000 |
* Including persons with disabilities who are below 35
Use the online WIS calculator to estimate how much WIS you can receive.
You will receive 40% of your WIS payment in cash and 60% in CPF contributions. CPFB will pay the cash portion into your bank account, or send you a cheque if you do not have a bank account. Login to Workfare Portal to update your bank account details.
As an employee, you will receive WIS every month. The table below shows the WIS payment dates.
| If you worked in | You will receive WIS payment by* |
| Jan | End Mar |
| Feb | End Apr |
| Mar | End May |
| Apr | End Jun |
| Month x | End of month ( x + 2) |
* Based on payment dates for bank crediting. Payments by cheque takes up to 2 weeks longer compared to bank crediting
Your WIS eligibility will be automatically assessed based on the CPF contributions made by your employer. You do not need to do anything.
Under the CPF Act, employers must contribute CPF if their employees earn more than $50 a month, regardless of whether the employee is employed on a permanent, part-time, contract or casual basis.
If your employer is not contributing CPF on your behalf, please inform immediately. You can email Workright at workright@mom.gov.sg, call 1800-221-9922, or visit any CPF Service Centre.
All calls will be kept confidential.
If you worked as both an employee and a self-employed person, you will first be assessed for your work done as an employee and you will receive monthly WIS if you meet the criteria.
After the work year, your eligibility for additional WIS will be assessed, based on your total income for the year (both employee and self-employed income).
For Self-Employed
You will qualify for WIS if you:
- are a Singapore Citizen;
- are 35 years old and above on 31 December of the work year (all persons with disabilities would qualify);
- earn an average monthly income of not more than $2,300 (previously $2,000); and
- have declared your net trade income and made MediSave contributions.
However, you will not qualify for WIS if you:
- live in a property with an annual value1 of more than $13,000 assessed as at 31 December of the preceding year;
- own two or more properties; or
- if married:
1 Annual value is the estimated gross annual rent of the property if it were to be rented out, excluding furniture, furnishings and maintenance fees. It is determined based on estimated market rentals of similar or comparable properties.
The table below shows the maximum annual WIS based on your age group.
| Age | Maximum Annual WIS | |
| 2018 and 2019 | From 2020 | |
| 35* - 44 | $1,000 | $1,133 |
| 45 - 54 | $1,467 | $1,667 |
| 55 - 59 | $1,933 | $2,200 |
| 60 and above | $2,400 | $2,667 |
* Including persons with disabilities who are below 35
Use the online WIS calculator to estimate how much WIS you can receive.
You will receive 10% of your WIS payment in cash and 90% in your MediSave Account. We will pay the cash portion into your bank account, or send you a cheque if you do not have a bank account. Login to Workfare Portal to update your bank account details.
As a self-employed person, you will receive WIS once a year for work done in the preceding year.
If you declare your income and make MediSave contribution by last Friday of March, you will receive your WIS payout in end April*.
* Based on payment dates for bank crediting. Payments by cheque takes up to 2 weeks longer compared to bank crediting
For work done in a year, you will receive WIS in the next year after you:
- declare your income to:
- make the required MediSave contributions.
Use the online WIS calculator to find out the amount to contribute.
The earlier you declare your income and make MediSave contributions, the earlier you will receive your WIS payout.
Declare your income and make your MediSave contributions by last Friday of March to receive WIS by end April*.
* Based on payment dates for bank crediting.
If you worked as both an employee and a self-employed person, you will first be assessed for your work done as an employee and you will receive monthly WIS if you meet the criteria.
After the work year, your eligibility for additional WIS will be assessed, based on your total income for the year (both employee and self-employed income).
For Employer
Under the CPF Act, employers must contribute CPF if their employees earn more than $50 per month, regardless of whether the employee is employed on a permanent, part-time, contract or casual basis.
CPFB will automatically assess their eligibility for WIS based on the CPF contributions made.
Visit https://www.mom.gov.sg/employment-practices/employment-act/workright to find out more about your CPF obligations.
As WIS encourages Singaporeans to work, you may find it easier to hire and retain locals.
The cost of Workfare is borne fully by the Government, with no risk of raising business costs for local enterprises or causing Singaporean workers to lose their jobs. Unlike a minimum wage, Workfare is not borne by employers.