More than 300,000 Public Transport Vouchers Disbursed to Low Income Households

1     More than 300,000 Public Transport Vouchers (PTV) worth over $15 million have been disbursed under the extended 2019 PTV Exercise since its commencement on 11 November 2019. This includes the first tranche of PTVs that were directly disbursed to low-income households under Ministry of Social and Family Development’s ComCare Short-to-Medium-Term Assistance (SMTA) and Long-Term Assistance (LTA) schemes. 

2     Eligible households can continue to apply for PTVs till 31 January 2021. Households are eligible if their monthly household income from all sources  per person does not exceed $1,200. Each PTV is worth $50 and must be redeemed by 30 June 2021. The vouchers can be used to top up fare cards or buy monthly concession passes. Eligible households who have yet to apply are encouraged to do so at their local community centres/clubs (CCs) before the deadline. 

3     The Citizens’ Consultative Committees (CCCs) will also assess and help deserving cases who marginally miss these criteria or provide additional PTVs to households who may need more help. Residents may approach their local CCs if they have any queries.

4     Around 30,000 low-income households under the Ministry of Social and Family Development’s ComCare Short-to-Medium-Term Assistance (SMTA) and Long-Term Assistance (LTA) schemes would qualify automatically for the PTV  and receive a PTV redemption letter directly via postal mail. This will support low-income households who have been more adversely affected by the economic downturn. The PTV letters will be disbursed in two tranches:

a)    The first tranche had been disbursed in mid-December 2020. This will benefit ComCare recipients who were on SMTA or LTA as at 31 August 2020. 

b)    The second tranche will be progressively disbursed from mid-March 2021. This will benefit ComCare recipients who are on SMTA or LTA as at 31 January 2021, if they did not receive the PTV from the first tranche. 

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¹ Household income from all sources refers to regular income from employment and business, as well as income from investment (e.g. interest and dividends), rental and other sources such as pension and cash contributions from relatives who are not staying in the same household. It also includes regular government transfers such as the Workfare Income Supplement. Irregular receipts such as gambling windfalls, one-off payments such as insurance claims or ad-hoc government transfers are not included.

² Each eligible beneficiary will receive the PTV redemption letter once and they would need both the PTV letter and their NRIC for redemption. If they require additional PTV assistance, they can approach the nearest CC.