Singapore Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) & Skills Support Guide 2026

Complete guide to the Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) scheme in Singapore. Explains payouts up to S$4,900/year for lower-wage workers, cash/CPF split, & WSS grants.

Statutory Overview & Government Framework

The Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) scheme is a key pillar of Singapore's social safety net, administered by the CPF Board to supplement the income and CPF savings of lower-wage Singaporean workers. WIS covers employed workers and self-employed persons aged 30 and above (or persons with disabilities of any age) earning up to S$3,000 per month. Eligible workers receive annual Workfare payouts of up to S$4,900 per year. WIS payouts are split between cash (40%) paid directly to the worker's bank account via PayNow and CPF Medisave/Special Account top-ups (60%). In addition, the Workfare Skills Support (WSS) scheme provides up to 95% course fee subsidies and cash training allowances for upskilling.

Key Benefit Criteria & Legal Rules

Age 30+ & Income Cap Eligibility (≤S$3,000/mo)Eligibility Cap

Must be Singapore Citizen aged 30 or above earning average gross monthly wage up to S$3,000.

Payout Structure Matrix by Age BracketAge Tiered Payout

Payouts scale up with age: Age 30-34 (max S$2,450/yr); Age 35-44 (max S$3,500/yr); Age 60+ (max S$4,900/yr).

40% Cash & 60% CPF Monthly Disbursal RatioCash/CPF Split

40% is paid in monthly cash via PayNow; 60% is credited directly to CPF Medisave and Special Accounts.

Workfare Skills Support (WSS) Upskilling GrantsWSS Training

Provides 95% SSG training subsidies and up to S$500 cash training allowance upon completing approved courses.

Eligibility & Income Thresholds

Must be a Singapore Citizen.

Must be aged 30 or above by December 31 of the work year (no age limit for persons with disabilities).

Gross monthly income must be between S$500 and S$3,000/month.

Must reside in a property with an Annual Value (AV) of S$21,000 or less and not own more than one property.

Statutory Application & Verification Checklist

CPF Board Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) Guidelines

Singpass Access for CPF Workfare Portal Verification

PayNow NRIC Linking Confirmation for Cash Payout

Self-Employed Person (SEP) IRAS Tax Declaration & Medisave Top-Up

MOM Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) Payout Schedule & PayNow Link

Step-by-Step Claim & Disbursal Process

Automatic Monthly Workfare Evaluation by CPF Board

CPF Board automatically checks employer monthly CPF contributions to evaluate WIS eligibility.

Receive Monthly WIS Payouts Automatically

Eligible employees receive monthly cash payout via PayNow and CPF credit on the 15th of following month.

Self-Employed Persons (SEP) File Net Trade Income

Self-employed individuals file income with IRAS and pay Medisave to receive annual WIS payout.

Enrol in Workfare Skills Support (WSS) Courses

Receive WSS Training Allowance in Bank Account

Receive S$6.00/hour training allowance deposited into bank account upon course completion.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

WIS is a statutory government benefit scheme that supplements the earnings and CPF savings of lower-wage Singaporean workers aged 30 and above.

The maximum WIS annual payout is S$4,900 per year for workers aged 60 and above. Payouts for younger age brackets range from S$2,450 to S$4,200 per year.

WIS is paid monthly. 40% is paid in cash directly to your bank account via PayNow (NRIC), and 60% is credited into your CPF Special Account and Medisave Account.

No application is needed for employees. The CPF Board automatically assesses your eligibility based on employer CPF contributions every month.

Yes. Self-employed Singaporeans who declare their net trade income with IRAS and contribute to their Medisave receive annual WIS payouts.

To qualify for WIS, your gross monthly wage must not exceed S$3,000 per month (and average monthly income over the past 12 months must not exceed S$3,000).