Singapore hubs

Nicole Ho

Store Manager

SingaporeEnglish (English)$ SGD

Nicole is a hardworking store manager balancing retail targets and family life in a fast-paced city. This hub covers the essential national schemes, grants, and portals she relies on to manage her finances, healthcare, and career progression.

Making my money work harder

Managing CPF and government payouts helps me secure my future and handle cost-of-living pressures.

CPF Ordinary Account

national · Central Provident Fund Board

Who qualifies
All Singapore citizens and permanent residents.
What you get
Interest rates starting at 2.5% per annum for retirement and housing.
What it actually costs you
Mandatory monthly contribution from salary.
Common gotcha
People often forget they can use this for insurance premiums or investment schemes.

Supplementary Retirement Scheme

national · Ministry of Finance

Who qualifies
Singaporeans and foreigners earning income.
What you get
Tax relief on contributions made to the account.
What it actually costs you
Annual contribution limits apply; withdrawal before 62 incurs penalties.
Common gotcha
Funds are locked until retirement age to enjoy tax benefits.

Singapore Savings Bonds

national · Monetary Authority of Singapore

Who qualifies
Individuals aged 18 and above with a CDP account.
What you get
Safe, low-risk investment with interest that steps up over time.
What it actually costs you
$2 transaction fee per application.
Common gotcha
You cannot hold more than $200,000 in SSB at any time.

CDC Vouchers Scheme

national · People's Association

Who qualifies
All Singaporean households.
What you get
Digital vouchers for heartland shops and supermarkets.
What it actually costs you
Requires Singpass login to claim.
Common gotcha
Vouchers expire after a set period; check your expiry date.

GST Voucher Scheme

national · Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore

Who qualifies
Singaporeans with low to middle income and property value.
What you get
Cash payouts to help offset GST expenses.
What it actually costs you
Automatic payout if you have filed income tax.
Common gotcha
Update your bank account details on the portal to receive cash directly.

Union Training Assistance Programme

national · NTUC LearningHub

Who qualifies
NTUC union members.
What you get
Up to $250 per year in training subsidies.
What it actually costs you
Must pay for the course first and claim reimbursement.
Common gotcha
Only applies to selected courses approved by NTUC.

Keeping the family healthy

Medical costs are high, so I need to know which subsidies and insurance schemes apply to me.

MediShield Life

national · CPF Board

Who qualifies
All Singapore citizens and permanent residents.
What you get
Coverage for large hospital bills and selected outpatient treatments.
What it actually costs you
Premiums payable via MediSave.
Common gotcha
It is a basic plan; you might need an Integrated Shield Plan for private hospital coverage.

CHAS Blue/Orange/Green

national · Ministry of Health

Who qualifies
Singaporeans based on household income or annual value of home.
What you get
Subsidies at participating GP and dental clinics.
What it actually costs you
Application via Singpass; no fee.
Common gotcha
Check if your preferred clinic is a CHAS-registered clinic before booking.

MediSave

national · CPF Board

Who qualifies
All working Singaporeans.
What you get
Savings for hospitalization and approved outpatient treatments.
What it actually costs you
Percentage of monthly salary.
Common gotcha
There are withdrawal limits for different procedures.

CareShield Life

national · Ministry of Health

Who qualifies
Singaporeans born in 1980 or later.
What you get
Long-term care insurance for severe disability.
What it actually costs you
Annual premiums.
Common gotcha
It is mandatory; you cannot opt out.

Healthy 365 Rewards

national · Health Promotion Board

Who qualifies
All residents.
What you get
Points for physical activity redeemable for vouchers.
What it actually costs you
Downloading the app and syncing a tracker.
Common gotcha
You must sync your steps daily to earn points.

Screen for Life

national · Health Promotion Board

Who qualifies
Singaporeans and PRs aged 40 and above.
What you get
Subsidized health screenings for chronic diseases.
What it actually costs you
Small co-payment fee at clinics.
Common gotcha
You must use the invitation letter or check eligibility online first.

Leveling up my career

Retail is changing, and I need to keep my skills sharp to stay relevant.

SkillsFuture Credit

national · SkillsFuture Singapore

Who qualifies
Singaporeans aged 25 and above.
What you get
$500 initial credit plus top-ups for courses.
What it actually costs you
None; fully government-funded.
Common gotcha
Credits expire if not used, though top-ups have been issued periodically.

Workfare Income Supplement

national · CPF Board

Who qualifies
Lower-income workers meeting age and income criteria.
What you get
Cash and CPF top-ups.
What it actually costs you
Automatic assessment based on income tax filing.
Common gotcha
You must be employed to qualify.

Career Conversion Programme

national · Workforce Singapore

Who qualifies
Mid-career professionals looking to switch roles.
What you get
Training subsidies and salary support for employers.
What it actually costs you
Requires employer participation.
Common gotcha
You cannot apply for this yourself; your employer must apply.

MySkillsFuture Portal

national · SkillsFuture Singapore

Who qualifies
All Singaporeans.
What you get
Career guidance, job matching, and course directory.
What it actually costs you
None.
Common gotcha
The portal is vast; use the 'Job Search' filter for specific retail roles.

MyCareersFuture

national · Workforce Singapore

Who qualifies
Singaporeans and PRs.
What you get
Government-verified job listings.
What it actually costs you
None.
Common gotcha
Log in with Singpass for better job matches.

Training Allowance Grant

national · SkillsFuture Singapore

Who qualifies
Employers sending staff for training.
What you get
Offset for employee's hourly salary during training.
What it actually costs you
Employer administrative effort.
Common gotcha
Only for specific, high-demand courses.

Getting things done

These portals are my go-to for everything from taxes to renewing my identity documents.

Singpass

national · Government Technology Agency

Who qualifies
All residents.
What you get
Single digital identity for all government services.
What it actually costs you
None.
Common gotcha
Keep your password and 2FA device secure.

myTax Portal

national · Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore

Who qualifies
All taxpayers.
What you get
Online tax filing and assessment.
What it actually costs you
None.
Common gotcha
File by April 18th to avoid penalties.

HDB Flat Portal

national · Housing & Development Board

Who qualifies
Singapore citizens and PRs.
What you get
Housing grants, loan applications, and flat management.
What it actually costs you
Application fees for grants.
Common gotcha
Eligibility for grants depends on income and family structure.

OneMotoring

national · Land Transport Authority

Who qualifies
Vehicle owners.
What you get
Road tax renewal, vehicle registration, and ERP info.
What it actually costs you
Road tax fees.
Common gotcha
Renewing late incurs a late payment fee.

MOM Services

national · Ministry of Manpower

Who qualifies
Employees and employers.
What you get
Employment pass management and labor law info.
What it actually costs you
None.
Common gotcha
Always check the latest Employment Act updates.

ICA e-Services

national · Immigration & Checkpoints Authority

Who qualifies
Citizens and residents.
What you get
Passport renewal and PR status updates.
What it actually costs you
Passport renewal fee ($70).
Common gotcha
Renew your passport at least 6 months before expiry.

State-level schemes

1states & territories — open one to see what it offers.

Singapore