Payouts, rebates, tax relief, taxi subsidy

SOME 675,000 Singaporeans aged 55 and up this year will get a one-off cash payout of up to $250 to help offset some of their daily expenses.

This Goods and Services Tax (GST) Voucher, called a Seniors' Bonus, will cost the government $170 million, said Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

Those with assessable income of up to $26,000 in 2013 will receive $250 if the annual value (AV) of their home is no more than $13,000, and $100 if the AV is between $13,001 and $21,000.

Mr Tharman said that this new cash amount would effectively double the amount in the GST Voucher that they would normally receive.

"Older Singaporeans are broadly most affected …