Public Transport Voucher 2025 Exercise: $60 Help For Lower Income Households in Singapore

Singapore is expanding its Public Transport Voucher Exercise for 2025 to ease cost pressures on commuters who rely on buses and trains. From 27 December 2025, a fare adjustment will take effect. To cushion the impact, the Government will provide a $60 Public Transport Voucher to eligible resident households. The support is targeted, simple to access, and shareable among family members. This guide explains the eligibility rules, the two stage rollout plan, deadlines, how redemption works, and practical tips for making the most of the benefit.

What The Public Transport Voucher Scheme Does

The Public Transport Voucher scheme is a long running community support measure that keeps public transport affordable for households with tighter budgets. It provides digital or paper vouchers that can be converted into stored value for public transport fare cards. The voucher amount for the 2025 Exercise is $60 per eligible household and is redeemable in $10 denominations. Because the voucher is issued per household rather than per person, families can apportion the value across multiple cards so that students, seniors, and working adults all benefit.

Short Summary

Why There Is A Voucher In 2025

The voucher accompanies the fare adjustment scheduled to start on 27 December 2025. When fares rise, a portion of the additional revenue collected by public transport operators flows into the Public Transport Fund. Financial penalties from major service disruptions can also be directed into the fund. The Government supplements the fund to keep it adequate. The fund is then used to finance the Public Transport Voucher so that eligible households have immediate relief when new fares begin.

Eligibility Criteria

A household qualifies for the 2025 Public Transport Voucher if all the following conditions are met.

1. Residency status
   At least one household member must be a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident.
2. Income threshold
   Monthly household income per person must be not more than $1,800.
   Calculation method. Divide total gross monthly household income by the number of people living in the same household. Income includes employment wages, trade or self employed income, overtime pay, commissions, bonuses, and cash awards.
3. Household basis
   One voucher is issued per household. The voucher can be shared across fare cards held by different household members.

Citizens’ Consultative Committees may use discretion to assist households slightly above the threshold or facing special hardship.

Application Windows And Two Stage Rollout

The 2025 Exercise is designed to reach qualifying households quickly while keeping the process simple.

Stage 1. Automatic Issue

• Households that received a voucher in the 2024 Exercise and continue to meet the income and residency criteria will receive the $60 voucher automatically by the end of December 2025.
• No new application is required for this group.
• Notification will arrive by letter or digital message with redemption instructions.

Stage 2. Applications And Appeals

• Households that did not receive a Stage 1 voucher but meet the criteria can apply in early 2026.
• Applications may be submitted online through the official portal or in person at Community Centres and Community Clubs.
• Typical processing time is about 4 to 6 weeks from the date of a complete submission. Successful applicants will be notified with a voucher redemption letter or digital notice.

Important date connected to the 2024 Exercise
For households still applying under the 2024 PTV Exercise, the application deadline is 30 November 2025. Notices for those applications are generally issued within 4 to 6 weeks of submission.

How To Redeem The $60 Voucher

Redemption is flexible and family friendly.

1. Bring the notification letter or open the digital notice with the voucher details.
2. Follow the instructions to redeem at the designated channels listed in your notice.
3. Choose the fare cards to top up. You can allocate in $10 blocks to one or several cards.
4. Confirm the top up amount for each card and keep the receipt or digital confirmation.

Because the voucher is split into $10 denominations, a household can, for example, place $20 into a student’s concession card, $20 into a working adult’s card, and $20 into a senior’s card. The approach matches real commuting needs while ensuring that the full $60 is used.

Practical Tips To Maximise The Benefit

• Plan ahead for January to March commuting needs, since the fare adjustment begins on 27 December 2025.
• Share thoughtfully across household cards to prevent a balance that is hard to use on a single card.
• Redeem early after you receive the notification, so every family member starts the new year with topped up travel value.
• Keep records of the redemption in case you need to check balances or reprint confirmations.
• Monitor announcements for any community support sessions at Community Centres that can help with applications or redemption.

What Has Changed Since Earlier Rounds

The income threshold was raised to $1,800 per person in the 2024 Exercise, up from $1,600 previously. That adjustment allowed many additional households to qualify. The 2025 Exercise maintains the broader reach while aligning the value at $60 per household. The two stage distribution improves speed for known cases and provides an appeal path for newly eligible families.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who exactly qualifies for the 2025 Public Transport Voucher

Resident households with monthly household income per person not more than $1,800 qualify, provided at least one member is a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident.

2. Do I need to apply if my household received a 2024 voucher and our income is unchanged

No. If your household received a 2024 voucher and still meets the criteria, you will receive the 2025 voucher automatically by the end of December 2025.

3. How do I apply if my household did not get the automatic voucher

Apply in early 2026 through the official online portal or at your nearest Community Centre or Community Club. Processing usually takes about 4 to 6 weeks. You will be notified if successful.

4. How is the $60 voucher used by the family

It is a household voucher that you can split into $10 top ups across different fare cards. Any household member may use the topped up card for bus and train rides.

5. What income counts toward the threshold

Gross monthly income includes wages, trade or self employed income, overtime pay, commissions, bonuses, cash awards, and similar earnings. Divide the total by the number of household members staying together to compute the per person figure.

Conclusion

The 2025 Public Transport Voucher Exercise provides timely and targeted help for households that feel the impact of fare adjustments most acutely. The scheme is straightforward. Most previously supported households will receive the $60 voucher automatically, while others can apply in early 2026. With flexible redemption in $10 steps and the ability to share across multiple fare cards, families can direct the top up where it matters most. Keep an eye on official notices, redeem promptly, and plan your commuting budgets to stretch every dollar.

Official site for policy details and announcements: https://www.mot.gov.sg

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