Before applying, self-employed persons (SEPs) can use the Online Eligibility Checker to CHECK if they auto-qualify. For those who do not auto-qualify, they will be able to submit applications online from 27 April 2020
The Self-Employed Person Income Relief Scheme (SIRS) was first announced by Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat on 26 March 2020 as part of the Resilience Budget. SIRS was further enhanced as part of the Solidarity Budget on 6 April 2020, allowing more Singaporean SEPs to benefit from SIRS. There will be three quarterly cash payouts of $3,000 each in end-May, July and October 2020 to support SEPs with less means and family support.
Singaporean SEPs who are aged 37 and above as at 31 December 2020 and meet all the eligibility criteria1 , will automatically qualify. This group of SEPs will be notified by SMS and letter from CPF Board and receive their first payout in end-May 2020. There is no need for this group of SEPs to apply. Around 100,000 SEPs are expected to auto-qualify for SIRS.
Whilst the Ministry of Manpower oversees SIRS, NTUC and its Freelancers and Self-Employed Unit (U FSE) will be assisting to administer applications and appeals for Singaporean SEPs who do not auto-qualify for SIRS. Those who do not auto-qualify for SIRS may submit online applications to NTUC from 27 April 2020. Whilst the website www.ntuc.com.sg/SIRS has already been launched, the application module on the site has been delayed from 20 April 2020 to 27 April 2020 because of ongoing systems testing and security testing. The application module will also be integrated with MyInfo2 so that relevant information can be automatically extracted from MyInfo. This will shorten the time needed for applicants to fill in the online form. All these measures are important as we need to ensure that applicants’ personal data are protected and user experience is seamless.
SEPs can check their eligibility and whether they auto-qualify by using the online eligibility checker at www.ntuc.com.sg/SIRS. From 22 April 2020, NTUC SIRS hotline (+65 6713 5777) and Virtual Assistant (VA) will be operational. The operating hours for the hotline and VA will be from Mondays to Saturdays, 10am to 6pm. Alternatively, they may email NTUC at sirs@ntuc.org.sg.
For more information on SIRS, please visit: WWW.NTUC.COM.SG/SIRS
ANNEX A
Eligibility Criteria3
About 50,000 SEPs currently receive Workfare payouts annually and will be eligible for SIRS. Due to the extraordinary circumstances brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, we have broadened the eligibility criteria beyond Workfare to enable more SEPs to qualify for SIRS. As a result, the enhanced SIRS is expected to automatically benefit about 100,000 SEPs.
Singaporean SEPs who meet all of the following criteria are 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 annual value not more than $21,000; and
● Do not own two or more properties.
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.
Singaporean SEPs aged 37 (as at 31 Dec 2020) and above in 2020 who declared positive SEP income to the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) / CPF Board (CPFB) for Work Year 2018 do not need to apply. Eligible SEPs will be automatically notified via SMS and letter, and will receive the first SIRS payout automatically in end-May 2020.
1 Refer to Annex A for SIRS Eligibility Criteria
2 MyInfo is a one-stop data platform administered by GovTech that saves time by automatically filling out government e-forms.
3 From MOM Website https://www.mom.gov.sg/newsroom/press-releases/2020/0406-about-100000-expected-to-automatically-benefit-from-enhanced-sirs
