Singapore workers looking for extra financial support in 2026 may qualify for the Workfare Income Supplement (WIS), a government scheme designed to support lower-income workers while helping them build retirement savings.
The headline amount of S$4,900 per year applies to eligible employees aged 60 and above for Work Year 2025. However, not everyone receives this amount. The actual benefit depends on age, income, employment type and other eligibility conditions.
WIS payments are divided between cash and CPF savings. Employees and platform workers generally receive payments monthly, while eligible self-employed people receive their payments annually after declaring their income and fulfilling the required MediSave contributions.
Here is a detailed guide to WIS eligibility, payment amounts and how to check your benefits in 2026.
What Is the Workfare Income Supplement Scheme?
The Workfare Income Supplement scheme is a Singapore Government programme that supplements the earnings and savings of eligible lower-income Singaporean workers.
It provides financial assistance in two forms: cash to help with current living expenses and contributions to CPF accounts to support retirement or healthcare savings.
The scheme covers three main groups:
- Employees working for employers.
- Self-employed persons, including eligible freelancers and people running their own businesses.
- Platform workers, such as eligible workers earning through delivery or ride-hailing platforms.
The payment amount differs by employment category. Therefore, a self-employed person should not expect the same maximum benefit as an employee of the same age.
Singapore WIS 2026: How Much Can You Receive?
The CPF Board’s published maximum annual amounts for Work Year 2025 are shown below. These figures are relevant to payments being processed in 2026, subject to eligibility.
Maximum WIS for employees
| Age group | Maximum annual WIS for Work Year 2025 |
|---|---|
| 30–34 years | S$2,450 |
| 35–44 years | S$3,500 |
| 45–59 years | S$4,200 |
| 60 years and above | S$4,900 |
Eligible persons with disabilities can receive the same maximum amount as workers aged 60 and above, subject to the applicable rules.
Maximum WIS for self-employed persons
| Age group | Maximum annual WIS for Work Year 2025 |
|---|---|
| 30–34 years | S$1,633 |
| 35–44 years | S$2,333 |
| 45–59 years | S$2,800 |
| 60 years and above | S$3,267 |
For eligible platform workers, the maximum annual amounts for Work Year 2025 are the same as those for self-employed persons.
Important: These are maximum amounts, not guaranteed payments. The amount an individual receives depends on their circumstances and the scheme’s calculation rules. For work done during 2026, use the official Work Year 2026 calculator to estimate the applicable amount.
Who Is Eligible for Workfare Income Supplement in 2026?
To qualify for WIS, a person generally needs to meet the citizenship, age, income, property and other requirements.
1. Singapore citizenship
The scheme is for Singapore citizens. Permanent residents and foreign citizens do not qualify under the standard WIS eligibility rules.
2. Age requirement
Workers generally must be at least 30 years old by 31 December of the relevant Work Year.
Persons with disabilities may qualify at any age, subject to the scheme’s rules.
3. Monthly income limit
For Work Year 2025 onwards, eligible employees generally need to earn at least S$500 and no more than S$3,000 in gross monthly income for the month worked. Their average gross monthly income over the preceding 12 months must also not exceed S$3,000.
The income calculation can include basic salary, overtime pay, commissions, bonuses and other additional wages.
Eligible persons with disabilities, qualifying ComCare recipients and certain caregivers may qualify under concessionary rules even when their income is below S$500.
4. Property conditions
The annual value of the property where the worker lives must be S$21,000 or less, assessed as at 31 December of the preceding year.
The worker must not own more than one property. For married applicants, the worker and spouse together must not own more than one property, and the spouse’s assessable income must not exceed S$70,000 for the preceding Year of Assessment.
Meeting the income limit alone does not guarantee eligibility. All applicable conditions must be satisfied.
How Is the WIS Payment Divided Between Cash and CPF?
WIS is not paid entirely as cash. The split depends on the worker’s employment category.
Employees
Eligible employees receive 40% of their WIS in cash and 60% as CPF contributions. The CPF portion is allocated among the relevant CPF accounts according to the applicable age-based allocation rates.
For example, if an employee qualifies for S$1,000 in WIS, the standard allocation would be S$400 in cash and S$600 in CPF contributions.
Self-employed persons
Eligible self-employed persons receive 10% in cash and 90% in their MediSave Account. They must declare their net trade income and make the required MediSave contributions in full to qualify.
Platform workers
For Work Year 2025, eligible platform workers receive 10% in cash and 90% in their MediSave Account under the applicable WIS rules. Platform workers receive WIS monthly from 2025, rather than annually as under the previous arrangement for earlier work years.
When Will WIS Payments Arrive in 2026?
The payment schedule depends on the type of work performed.
| Worker category | Payment frequency | Usual timing |
|---|---|---|
| Employee | Monthly | Generally two months after the month worked |
| Platform worker | Monthly | Generally two months after the month worked |
| Self-employed person | Annually | As early as the end of April in the following year if the required steps are completed by 31 March |
For example, an eligible employee who worked in January would generally receive the WIS payment by the end of March through PayNow-NRIC or bank crediting. GovCash payments are generally available in the first week of April.
Payment dates may vary because of weekends, public holidays or processing arrangements.
Self-employed persons must declare their income to IRAS and make the required MediSave contributions. If these steps are completed later, the payment may take longer.
How to Check Your WIS Payment Status
Eligible employees and platform workers do not normally need to submit a separate WIS application. Their eligibility is assessed using income information reported through the relevant CPF contribution arrangements.
To check your status:
- Visit the official CPF Board WIS page.
- Open the eligibility or payment service.
- Sign in using Singpass where required.
- Review your payment details and the information recorded for your work.
- Use the relevant WIS calculator to estimate your payment.
For employees, if your employer has not made the required CPF contributions, contact the employer to clarify the issue.
Self-employed persons should ensure their income has been declared to IRAS and their required MediSave contributions have been completed.
Final Words
The Workfare Income Supplement remains an important source of support for eligible lower-income Singaporean workers in 2026. The maximum S$4,900 annual amount applies to eligible employees aged 60 and above for Work Year 2025, while self-employed and platform workers have different maximum amounts.
The amount received is based on individual eligibility and income, so the maximum figure should not be treated as a guaranteed payout. Anyone checking WIS for work performed in 2026 should use the official Work Year 2026 calculator and CPF Board guidance.