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Netizens doubt Govt payout’s impact, view it as taxpayer money redistribution
The online community has expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of the S$200 to S$400 Cost-of-Living Special Payment in addressing the rising cost of living. Critics argue that the increased costs are “self-inflicted” due to government policies such as the GST hike, suggesting that the handout is merely a redistribution of taxpayer money.
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While the Ministry of Finance (MOF) announced that eligible Singaporeans will receive a one-off special payment of S$200 to S$400 next month to help alleviate the rising cost of living, netizens have expressed doubts about whether this payout will truly address their financial burdens.
Some have criticized the government’s approach, arguing that increasing costs and then providing cash handouts funded by taxpayer money is problematic.
On Tuesday (13 August), MOF said the Cost-of-Living Special Payment will benefit over 2.4 million Singaporeans aged 21 and above, whose annual assessable income does not exceed S$100,000.
Individuals who own more than one property are not eligible for this payout. To check their eligibility, citizens can log in to the govbenefits website using their Singpass.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who also serves as Finance Minister, first announced the S$200 to S$400 handout during the Budget 2024 speech in February.
Eligible adult Singapore citizens have previously received between S$300 and S$500 in 2022 and between S$200 and S$400 in 2023 as part of similar support measures.
The current payout, part of the Assurance Package, is intended to mitigate the effects of rising inflation and the GST hike. This package also includes CDC vouchers, U-Save, and S&CC rebates, with each Singaporean household receiving a total of S$800 in CDC vouchers in 2024.
Critics Say Rising Costs Are ‘Self-Inflicted’
Observing netizens’ comments on CNA and The Straits Times’ Facebook posts, some suggested that as the cost of living rises, providing more cash payments and vouchers would be beneficial.
Others argued that the government has failed to address the escalating cost of living, with some describing the rising costs as “self-inflicted” and suggesting that the government is simply redistributing taxpayer money back to Singaporeans.
A comment suggests the handout is barely sufficient, as the amount will quickly be used for bills and taxes, offering little real benefit.
Another netizen criticized the handouts as essentially using taxpayers’ own money, repackaged through government rhetoric.
He speculated that such measures are often used as a “gimmick” leading up to a General Election (GE).
A netizen questioned how long such financial aid will last, asking whether individuals with low earnings but exceeding the payout criteria due to overtime pay will still be eligible for the money.
There are also comments discussing rising food prices. For example, a netizen noted that chicken drumsticks and rice, which were S$4 two years ago, increased to S$4.50 before the GST hike and then to S$5, with further increases to S$5.50 within three months.
Another netizen mentioned that mixed rice has been S$3 in their neighborhood for a long time, and mee siam now costs around S$3.50.
There are also netizens pointed out that high rental fees significantly impact food prices and called for government intervention in managing coffee shop rentals.
Additionally, they acknowledged that the GST increase has raised ingredient costs, further driving up food prices. However, they believe that addressing rental costs could provide a more immediate solution.
Earlier, Shin Min Daily News reported that a hawker at Marine Parade Central Market and Food Centre set a new island-wide record by bidding S$10,158 monthly rental for a vacant stall, heightening concerns about rising food prices and inflation.
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Good Cartoon: thanks.
Got give you losers back, already lucky.
Still complain.
This coming election, if you locals give ah Wong less than 55% votes…you damn well know, not only WILL THERE BE NO MORE VOUCHERS BUT INCREASE TAXES and RESTRICTIVE LAWS.
Got balls one…vote them out loh!😆😆😆😆🤣🤣🤣
How about reducing GST by 2%?
If that happened, your purchasing power would increase 2% too.
I’m so thankful to the thief (who took $100 from me) for giving me $1. I’m convinced he really cares for my well-being!
So generous… I’m so touched….
The founding fathers installed a corporate government in the business of creating wealth. The people are complicit in wealth creation by their vote. Wealth creator takes 10$ from you to give you back 1$. You took the 1$ because you accepted the crafty wisdom of “equal opportunity but unequal outcome”. So the rich becomes richer and poor poorer base on working of the “90/10 rule”(take 10 give back 1) To create more wealth for the creators, they raised their salaries and the people were all too happy to have “gained wealth”. For the 9$ you gained, wealth creators gained 90$(”90/10 rule). That’s the… Read more »
S1
Remember this, … SillyPore has the second highest cost of living in the world, and if you think for one SillySillyPore moment, … that 2 to 400 dollars is gonna make a dent or even a minutiae of a difference, … you’d best think again !!!
It’s high time SillyPoreans reacquaint themselves with basic addition, stealth subtraction, mass manipulation, party propaganda and finally, … ice cream to brain freeze that naive and numb brain of most !!!
Y a w n …Z zzzz
With the increase in property taxes, Gst, Absd, cost of living, it will be lucky if the hangouts could cover 20% of citizens expenses. It is more like the saying “they give a chicken wing but take a whole turkey from you”.
Finally people are beginning to understand that all monies belong to taxpayers. Next question to ask is why there is no living wage declared and the government thinks these handouts are adequate?
Populist or not, it depends on who does it. For all eligible recipients, just take it and go. No gratitude required. If $200 to $400 can quell your frustration and hardship, then yours is no frustration or hardship at all. Enjoy while you can
In a few days time, after this news have been digested …prices at hawker ctr .
Food courts and other stores, will go up …
Every little we peasants get these business people want to snatch from us too..
As mentioned in another posting, all these cash handouts and grants (like housing and childcare) who are the ultimate beneficiaries? Its the rich giant like NUTC, Sheng Siong bosses, major landlords and other rich businesses.
They get to profit from all these as the majority have to spend them to benefit these few percentage privileged riches
Any item prices at just over $2000 the GST already $200