About 100,000 expected to automatically benefit from Enhanced Self-Employed Person Income Relief Scheme

As part of the Solidarity Budget, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will enhance the Self-Employed Person (SEP) Income Relief Scheme (SIRS) to broaden support for SEPs affected by COVID-19 and tide them through this period of economic uncertainty.

2 With these enhancements, we expect about 100,000 SEPs to automatically benefit from SIRS. They will receive three cash payments of $3,000 each in end-May, July and October 2020.

3 Two key enhancements will be made:

• Extend SIRS to automatically include SEPs who also earn an income of no more than $2,300 per month from employment work; and
• Raise the Annual Value (AV) of property threshold from $13,000 to up to $21,000. This will include those who live in some condominiums and other private properties.

Enhanced Eligibility Criteria

4 With the two key enhancements, Singaporean SEPs who meet all of the following criteria will be eligible for SIRS:

• Started work as an SEP on or before 25 March 2020;
• Currently earn a Net Trade Income (NTI) of not more than $100,000;
• If SEP also has employment (i.e. dual status worker), the income earned as an employee must be not more than $2,300/month;
• Live in a property with an AV not more than $21,000; and
• Do not own two or more properties.

5 For married Singaporean SEPs, the following additional criteria apply:

• The individual and spouse together do not own two or more properties; and
• The Assessable Income of his/her spouse does not exceed $70,000.

Automatic payments for most eligible SEPs

6 Singaporean SEPs aged 37 (as at 31 Dec 2020) and over in 2020 who declared positive SEP income to the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) / CPF Board (CPFB)¹ for Work Year 2018 do not need to apply. They will be automatically notified of their eligibility via letter and SMS, and will receive the first SIRS payout automatically in end-May 2020.

NTUC to administer applications and appeals

7 Other eligible SEPs aged 21 (as at 31 Dec 2020) and above may apply for SIRS. SEPs who narrowly miss the eligibility criteria may submit appeals. In the spirit of tripartism, the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) will administer SIRS applications and appeals, and support SEPs in need. More details will be announced by NTUC shortly. MOM will work closely with NTUC to start processing appeals for SIRS starting from 27 Apr 2020.

Updated to indicate NTUC will process SIRS appeals from 27 Apr 2020. For more information, visit www.ntuc.com.sg/sirs.