287,000 Workers to Receive $146 Million in Workfare Income Supplements on 1 Jan 2008

The Government will make the first payment of the Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) scheme on 1 Jan 2008. About 287,000 workers will receive a total of $146 million in WIS benefits, for work done in the first half of 2007. More workers are expected to receive the second and final WIS payment, once work done in the whole of 2007 is taken into account. The CPF Board will send notification to recipients.

2.   Employees will receive their WIS in both CPF and cash. The cash portion will be credited into their bank account as specified under the GST Credits scheme. A cheque will be issued if no bank account is specified.

3.   Self-employed persons (SEPs) and informal workers who have contributed to their Medisave will have their WIS credited entirely into their Medisave account.

4.   WIS is paid out twice a year - the second payment will be made in April 2008 for employees and in May 2008 for SEPs and informal workers. SEPs or informal workers who worked in 2007, but who have yet to register or make their Medisave contributions, may still receive their full WIS in May 2008 if they take the following steps by 31 March 2008:

 

Step 1: Register with the CPF Board
Register with the CPF Board at any Singapore Post branch or any of the 5 CPF Service Centres. Applicants will need to produce their NRIC and fill in a simple form (Applicants who have already registered with the CPF Board as self-employed workers need not register again).

Step 2: Declare income with IRAS or CPF Board
SEPs and informal workers will receive an Income Tax Return from the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore or a letter from CPF Board by end February 2008 to declare their Year 2007 income.

Step 3: Contribute to Medisave
SEPs and informal workers have to contribute to Medisave in order to qualify for WIS. Contributions can be made through the following channels:
i. Singapore Post branches;
ii. NETs/Cashcard at AXS machines;
iii. Cheque made payable to CPF Board at any of the 5 CPF Board Service Centres; and
iv. E-payment at www.cpf.gov.sg, using a DBS/UOB/Citibank Internet Banking account.

5.   SEPs who make their contributions for work done in 2007 after 31 March 2008 will receive their WIS after May 2008.

Contact Information

6.   Information on the WIS scheme can be found at www.wis.sg. Queries can also be addressed to CPF Board via:

• Email at wis@cpf.gov.sg
• Hotline number at 1800 -2222-888 (Mon-Fri: 8am – 6pm)

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