$2800 Workfare Bonus in 2025 for Singapore Self-Employed – Full Eligibility Guide

Singapore’s Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) scheme has long been an important support system for lower-income workers. It ensures that individuals who contribute to the workforce, despite earning modest incomes, receive extra help in cash and savings. For self-employed persons, this scheme is especially significant because it provides both immediate support and long-term security through MediSave contributions.

In 2025, the scheme has been enhanced, with higher income caps and larger payouts. Among the headline figures, many have noticed the maximum benefit of $2800, which applies to certain age groups of self-employed persons. This guide will take you through the details of the scheme, explain who qualifies, and show how much you can expect to receive.

Understanding the Workfare Income Supplement

The Workfare Income Supplement is a government initiative aimed at encouraging work and supplementing the incomes of lower-wage workers. It does this by giving both cash support and CPF or MediSave contributions. While employed workers receive a portion of their WIS in their CPF accounts, self-employed persons get a larger share credited into MediSave, with a smaller cash component.

This approach ensures that self-employed individuals are not only supported today but also encouraged to save for future healthcare and retirement needs.

What’s New in 2025

Starting from 1 January 2025, several improvements have been introduced to make WIS more impactful. The monthly income cap for eligibility has been raised to $3000, ensuring that more workers can qualify. This is especially helpful for self-employed individuals whose income may fluctuate across the year.

In addition, the maximum payouts for all age groups have increased. The new figures are more generous and take into account the rising cost of living. For platform workers, such as private-hire drivers and delivery riders, WIS will now be paid monthly because CPF contributions will be deducted monthly by platform operators.

Eligibility Criteria for Self-Employed Persons

Self-employed persons form a diverse group in Singapore, ranging from freelancers and hawkers to private-hire drivers and home-based business owners. To qualify for WIS in 2025, you must meet several requirements.

First, you must be a Singapore citizen aged at least 30 years old, unless you have a disability, in which case you can qualify at any age. Your average monthly income, based on net trade income, should fall between $500 and $3000. This means you must have declared your income to the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore.

Another key condition is that you need to make your MediSave contributions according to the declared income. Without this, you cannot receive WIS. You must also meet property requirements: the annual value of your home cannot exceed $21,000, and you must not own more than one property. If you are married, your spouse’s assessable income must not exceed $70,000, and both of you together should not own more than one property.

How Much Can Self-Employed Persons Receive

The amount you receive under WIS depends on your age and income level. For self-employed persons, the maximum payouts in 2025 are as follows:

• Ages 30 to 34: up to $1633 a year
• Ages 35 to 44: up to $2333 a year
• Ages 45 to 59: up to $2800 a year
• Ages 60 and above: up to $3267 a year

These figures represent the maximum benefits. The exact amount you receive depends on your income level, as WIS tapers off when you approach the higher end of the income cap.

Cash versus MediSave Components

A common question among self-employed individuals is how much of the payout will be in cash. For employed workers, a larger share of WIS is paid into their CPF accounts, while for self-employed persons, the split is about 10 percent in cash and 90 percent into MediSave.

This means that if you qualify for the maximum $2800 at age 45 to 59, you might see around $280 in cash, while the remaining $2520 would go into your MediSave account. While this may feel restrictive, it ensures that you continue building reserves for healthcare needs, especially as medical costs rise.

Application and Deadlines

Unlike employed workers who are automatically assessed through CPF contributions, self-employed persons need to take extra steps. You must declare your net trade income to IRAS for the year, and you must also make your MediSave contributions on time.

If you complete these requirements by 31 March following the work year, you will receive your WIS by the end of April. If you declare later, your payout will be processed later as well. This means that timely declaration and contribution are essential if you want to receive the benefits without delay.

Examples of How It Works

To better understand the scheme, let us look at two examples.

Suppose you are a 50-year-old private-hire driver with an average monthly net trade income of $2000 in 2024. You declare this to IRAS and make your MediSave contributions promptly. By 2025, you could receive close to the maximum $2800 in WIS, with about $280 in cash and the rest credited into MediSave.

In another case, imagine a 62-year-old hawker earning around $1800 monthly. Given your age, you would qualify for a higher ceiling of $3267. This would again be split into cash and MediSave, helping to strengthen your future medical coverage.

What the $2800 Bonus Really Means

Many headlines refer to the $2800 figure as a Workfare bonus for the self-employed in 2025. It is important to note that this is not a flat payout for everyone but the maximum benefit for those aged between 45 and 59 who meet all conditions. Depending on your age and income, you may receive more or less.

The use of the word “bonus” often creates the impression that it is a one-time extra payment, but in reality, it is the annual Workfare support amount. The benefit remains a vital part of Singapore’s social safety net, particularly for those who work hard but earn modestly.

Conclusion

The enhancements to the Workfare Income Supplement scheme in 2025 provide stronger support to self-employed Singaporeans. By raising the income cap and increasing payouts, the government ensures that more people benefit, even as costs rise.

For self-employed individuals, the scheme is both a short-term boost and a long-term safeguard. While only a small portion of the payout comes in cash, the larger MediSave contribution strengthens your ability to cope with future healthcare expenses.

Ultimately, the $2800 maximum benefit for those aged 45 to 59 is just one part of a broader system that rewards work, encourages responsibility, and ensures that no one is left behind. For anyone self-employed in Singapore, understanding and making full use of this scheme is an important step toward financial stability and security.