This week, money’s in motion—from cash coming in to costs taking off. Singaporeans are set to receive another round of payouts under the Assurance Package, while air travellers will soon see a new levy aimed at funding greener skies.
On the lifestyle front, OneRepublic is returning to Singapore, and Singapore Pools just made a small but welcome move for e-payment users. Add to that rising health insurance premiums, HDB’s multi-billion-dollar deficit update, and you’ve got 6 stories shaping how we spend, save, and live this week.
TLDR;
|
Psst, missed last week’s issue? View all past editions of What’s Happening This Week? to catch up.
[ms-toc title="Issue #48: What's Happening This Week?"]
Assurance Package 2025: Up to $600 cash payout for 3 million Singaporeans this December
Rising costs continue to pinch, but there’s some relief on the way. About 3 million Singaporeans aged 21 and above will receive between $100 and $600 in cash from 5 Dec 2025, as part of the Government’s Assurance Package (AP). The payout aims to ease living expenses and offer more help to lower- and middle-income households.
Annual income (AI) | 2026 payout (Dec 2025) |
≤ $39,000 | $600 |
$39,001–$100,000 | $350 |
> $100,000 | $100 |
Owns >1 property | $100 |
Singaporeans can check their eligibility via govbenefits.gov.sg using Singpass.
To receive funds fastest, link NRIC to PayNow by 23 Nov 2025. Those without PayNow can register bank details by 29 Nov, or collect via GovCash at OCBC ATMs using facial verification.
ALSO READ: Climate Vouchers 2025: How to Claim Your $400 & What to Buy With Them
CAAS levy: Air travellers to pay $1–$41.60 for greener flights from 2026
From 2026, flying out of Singapore will cost slightly more—but it’s all in the name of sustainability. The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) will introduce a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) levy to help fund the purchase of greener jet fuel.
Starting 1 Apr 2026 for tickets sold, and applying to flights departing on or after 1 Oct 2026, the levy will vary by destination and travel class:
Band | Region | Economy & Premium Economy | Business & First Class |
1 | Southeast Asia | $1 | $4 |
2 | Northeast/South Asia, Australia, PNG | $2.80 | $11.20 |
3 | Africa, Europe, Middle East, NZ | $6.40 | $25.60 |
4 | The Americas | $10.40 | $41.60 |
- Applies only to flights departing Singapore (not transits).
- Levies will appear as a separate line on air tickets.
- Funds go into a central pool for purchasing sustainable fuel.
CAAS targets SAF to make up 1% of all jet fuel in 2026, rising to 3–5% by 2030, marking a major step toward greener aviation.
ALSO READ: How to Earn Miles and Redeem Free Flights with Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer
OneRepublic concert: The pop-rock hitmakers return to Singapore in Mar 2026
Good news for music fans—American pop-rock band OneRepublic is set to perform at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on 2 Mar 2026, as part of their From Asia, With Love tour. The regional leg also includes Hong Kong, Seoul and Tokyo.
Ticket sales schedule:
Sale type | Dates & times | How to buy | Additional info |
Artiste presale | 17 Nov, 12 pm – 1159 pm | Exclusive early access for fans | |
KrisFlyer presale | 18 Nov, 12pm – 19 Nov, 12 pm | Registration required via KrisFlyer portal | Members must register and subscribe to KrisFlyer + SIA Group emails by 13 Nov, 1059 am; eligible members receive unique access code and link by 16 Nov, 1159 pm |
Mastercard presale | 19 Nov, 2 pm – 21 Nov, 2 pm | Available for Mastercard holders | |
General sales | From 21 Nov, 4 pm | Ticketmaster.sg or call 800-321-1678 | Prices to be announced soon |
The earliest way to snag tickets is via the artist presale. Following that, you can also make use of the KrisFlyer and Mastercard presales from 18 and 19 Nov respectively. If all else fails, general sales start on 21 Nov 2025 at 4 pm.
OneRepublic last performed in Singapore at the 2024 Formula One Singapore Grand Prix, and their connection with the city has only grown since. Later that year, the band released a behind-the-scenes video for Singapore, an instrumental track from their sixth album Artificial Paradise, made in collaboration with Universal Music Singapore and the Singapore Tourism Board. The video featured frontman Ryan Tedder and keyboardist Brian Willett exploring iconic local landmarks like Marina One, the Peranakan Museum, and Armenian Street.
Singapore Pools drops PayNow and NETS transaction fees
Good news for punters and e-payment users—Singapore Pools will no longer charge transaction fees for PayNow, FAST, and NETS payments. Previously, customers paid 10 cents per PayNow transaction, a practice that drew public scrutiny and prompted intervention from the Association of Banks in Singapore (ABS).
Singapore Pools said the move followed reviews with its partner banks, ABS, and NETS to ensure compliance with PayNow’s rule that merchants cannot pass processing fees to customers.
What’s changing:
- Fees removed: PayNow, FAST, and NETS transactions are now free.
- eNETS temporarily suspended while system upgrades are made to absorb fees.
- Effective date: 11 Nov 2025
ABS director Ong-Ang Ai Boon welcomed the decision, reaffirming that PayNow is meant to be “free, fast and convenient for consumers.”
The change aligns Singapore Pools with national digital payment standards and offers a smoother, fairer experience for users.
Integrated Shield plans: Six of seven insurers raised premiums in 2025 amid rising healthcare costs
Most Singaporeans with private Integrated Shield Plans (IPs) will pay higher premiums in 2025. Six of the 7 insurers offering these optional health plans—which top up MediShield Life coverage—have increased prices, citing rising medical claims, inflation, and expanded benefits. Only Raffles Health Insurance held premiums steady for the second year running.
Insurer | Average premium change (2025) | Key updates |
Income Insurance | +4.5% (IPs), +10.8% (IPs + riders) | Added coverage for outpatient care and new cell, tissue, and gene therapy drugs |
Singlife | +10%+ | Expanded benefits and raised no-claims rider discount from 15% to 20% |
HSBC Life | Not disclosed | Introduced healthier-lifestyle rider discounts and outpatient coverage |
Prudential | Adjusted rider premiums | Encouraged use of panel doctors; new coverage for high-cost drugs and home care |
AIA | Revised most plans | Aligned with MediShield Life expansion; longer pre/post-hospitalisation coverage |
Great Eastern | New IP launched; older plans +premium | Added stroke recovery benefit, raised proton therapy limit, launched lower-cost IP option |
Raffles Health | No change | Maintained premiums amid lower claims |
The Life Insurance Association advised consumers to review coverage regularly and noted that premiums typically rise with age and medical inflation.
HDB deficit narrows to $6.34 billion as home-building costs stabilise
The Housing and Development Board (HDB) recorded a $6.34 billion deficit for FY2024—slightly lower than the record $6.78 billion shortfall the year before. The dip comes even as the agency continues its push to keep public housing affordable amid high building and land costs.
Key figures (FY2024) | Amount (approx.) | Notes |
Total deficit | $6.34 billion | ↓ from $6.78b in FY2023 |
Home ownership segment | $5.51 billion | Includes BTO development losses and CPF housing grants |
Upgrading programmes | $532 million | ↑ 34% due to peak Home Improvement Programme activity |
Rental housing support | $159 million | For lower-income households |
- HDB incurred a $1.77 billion gross loss from selling about 14,900 flats, as units are priced below cost.
- About $881 million in CPF housing grants were disbursed, lower than last year’s $999 million.
- Spending on estate upgrading rose due to electrical load upgrades and neighbourhood renewal.
- HDB plans to launch 55,000 new flats from 2025–2027, with 4,000 shorter-wait flats annually from 2026.
HDB CEO Tan Meng Dui said the deficit underscores its continued mission to deliver affordable and quality homes for Singaporeans.
That’s it for this week! Stay tuned for next week’s What’s Happening This Week to keep up with the latest in finance, business, and beyond.
This article was first drafted with the help of AI and later reviewed and refined by the author.
Related Articles
