Singapore is celebrating 60 glorious years of its independence in a very special way. On this historic occasion, the government has announced a new and extremely sensitive scheme in the 2025 budget—named CDC Vouchers Scheme 2025. This scheme is part of Singapore’s 1.9 billion Singaporean dollar ‘Assurance Package,’ which has been launched especially to provide financial relief to the citizens amid rising inflation and rising cost of living. Its main objective is to provide direct benefits to families who are struggling to meet their daily needs, as well as to strengthen the local businesses of the country, especially small traders and hawker stall owners.
At present, when the whole world is grappling with economic uncertainties, such schemes not only provide financial help but also promote trust, stability and community spirit among the citizens. The launch of this scheme in a developed country like Singapore is an example of how a government can be responsive and prompt towards the basic needs of its citizens.
CDC Voucher Scheme 2025: How it works
The CDC Voucher Scheme is designed to reach every household in the country without any additional procedures. The vouchers will be distributed in two phases—the first phase will be a S$500 voucher in May 2025 and the second phase will be a S$300 voucher in January 2026. This phased distribution reflects the government’s vision to provide long-term support in addition to immediate help.
The S$300 voucher in the second phase is also divided into two parts—S$150 can only be used at hawker centers and local shops, while the remaining S$150 can be spent at supermarkets. This division is done so that local merchants, small shopkeepers and large retailers can all benefit equally.
One of the major benefits of this scheme is that it encourages citizens to spend within their community. This has a direct impact on the local economy as money circulates within the community. This not only boosts business but also fosters a sense of community.
Voucher Claim Process: Simple and Digital
The CDC Voucher Scheme has been implemented in a completely digital format to ensure that the process is fast, secure and transparent. Each household will be sent a notification letter from the government containing all the information on how to claim the voucher. One member of a household will need to log in to go.gov.sg/cdcv via Singpass and complete the voucher claim process there.
Once the process is complete, the household will be sent a unique voucher link via SMS, which can be shared by all family members. This voucher link is digital, meaning it can be used directly by opening it on mobile and showing it at shops or hawker stalls. It can be used until 31 December 2026, which means everyone has about a year to plan their expenses and take full advantage of the voucher.
Where can you spend these vouchers? A balanced framework
The government has set very clear and balanced guidelines for the use of vouchers. The second phase of vouchers worth a total of S$300 is divided into two parts as follows:
| Voucher Category | Amount (S$) | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Hawkers & Heartland Merchants | 150 | Food stalls, local grocery shops, traditional markets |
| Supermarkets | 150 | NTUC FairPrice, Giant, Cold Storage, Prime Supermarket |
This allows citizens to buy everything from everyday food to household essentials. While cheap and delicious local food is available at hawker stalls, daily use items like vegetables, cereals, soap, and oil can also be easily purchased in supermarkets.
Support system for digitally less capable citizens
Since the scheme is completely digital, the government has ensured that elderly citizens, tech-savvy people or differently abled people can also easily take advantage of this scheme. Expert support is available at Community Centers (CCs) and SG Digital Community Hubs.
Student volunteers from institutions such as ITE College Central and Republic Polytechnic will be providing support at these centers during the first two weeks. In addition, Silver Infocomm Wellness Ambassadors and Digital Ambassadors from SG Digital Office will be providing ongoing support to seniors. Priority queues have also been set up to ensure that seniors do not have to wait long.
Special promotions and benefits for merchants
To make the scheme even more attractive, merchants that accept CDC vouchers have also launched special promotions. Big brands such as NTUC FairPrice, Cold Storage, Giant and Prime Supermarket are offering schemes such as additional discounts, bundle deals and bonus points, which further enhance the value of the vouchers.
In addition, hawker stalls and local shopkeepers are also offering additional discounts, free drinks or weekend specials. The benefit is twofold—more value for consumers and more customers for merchants.
Direct impact on the economy: Success story with numbers
The success of the CDC voucher scheme can also be measured by numbers. More than S$1.6 billion in vouchers have been spent by citizens as of June 2025, with the majority of the amounts going to hawkers and heartland shopkeepers.
| Spending Category | Total Amount Spent (S$) | Percentage of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Hawkers & Heartland Merchants | 907 million | 56.7% |
| Supermarkets | 689 million | 43.3% |
| Total | 1.6 billion | 100% |
These figures clearly show that the scheme has proven to be a lifeline for small businesses.
Fraud protection: Be cautious.
As the scheme is becoming popular, cybercriminals are also getting into it. Therefore, the government has made it clear that no bank details are required to claim the voucher. Any link that asks for your bank details may be fake.
Only the messages received from “gov.sg” are reliable. If anyone suspects that he is being scammed, he can immediately contact the People’s Association helpline or the Singapore Police Force.
Conclusion: Can this scheme become a model for the future?
The CDC Vouchers Scheme 2025 is not just an economic aid scheme, but it is an example of trust between the government and the citizens. This scheme is a symbol of social solidarity, support to local businesses, and digital inclusion, along with providing economic relief. It has emerged as a model that can be adopted by other countries in the future.
This visionary plan of the Singapore government proves that when the government pays attention to the basic needs of the citizens, not only the individuals are empowered but the whole country becomes stronger.
FAQs
Q. How much will each household receive under the CDC Vouchers Scheme 2025?
A. Each household will receive a total of S$800, distributed in two phases — S$500 in May 2025 and S$300 in January 2026.
Q. Where can I use the CDC Vouchers?
A. You can use the vouchers at hawker centres, heartland merchants, and supermarkets like NTUC FairPrice, Giant, Cold Storage, and Prime Supermarket.
Q. How do I claim the CDC Vouchers?
A. Visit go.gov.sg/cdcv, log in using Singpass, and you will receive a voucher link via SMS that can be shared with your household.
Q. When do the CDC Vouchers expire?
A. The vouchers are valid until 31 December 2026, giving residents ample time to use them.
Q. What if I need help claiming the vouchers online?
A. You can get assistance at Community Centres (CCs) and SG Digital Community Hubs, where volunteers and Digital Ambassadors will guide you through the process.