**Apply for S$60 Public Transport Vouchers for Lower-Income Households starting Jan 14**
SINGAPORE: Lower-income households in Singapore will have the opportunity to apply for public transport vouchers (PTV) worth S$60 starting on January 14. This year, the vouchers have been increased in value from S$50 and will be distributed to more households than ever before.
**Increased Eligibility Criteria**
The income criteria for these vouchers have been raised to make them accessible to households with a monthly household income per person of not more than S$1,800, up from the previous limit of S$1,600. In September 2024, it was announced that an additional 60,000 households would benefit from these vouchers, coinciding with a 10-cent fare hike per journey on public transport for adults.
**Two-Stage Distribution**
The 2024 PTV exercise is being conducted in two stages, as confirmed by the Ministry of Transport and People’s Association. The first stage, completed in December 2024, saw about 270,000 households who met the income eligibility criteria and had received a voucher during the 2023 exercise being notified either physically or digitally.
**Second Stage Application Process**
Starting on January 14 and running until October 31, households that meet the income criteria but did not receive a voucher in the first stage can apply for PTVs online or in person at their local community centres or clubs (CCs). Those requiring additional assistance, including those who did not qualify based on the household income criterion, can submit an appeal online or in person at their local CC.
**Redeeming Vouchers**
Residents who have received a PTV notification letter can follow the instructions provided to redeem their voucher through the SimplyGo app or at various SimplyGo kiosks and ticketing service centres. The vouchers for the 2024 PTV Exercise will remain valid until March 31, 2026.
**Public Transport Fare Hike**
In addition to the voucher distribution, the Public Transport Council (PTC) announced a fare hike of 10 cents per journey for adults and a 4-cent increase for concession card holders such as students, seniors, and people with disabilities. This fare increase, implemented on December 28, 2024, is explained by core inflation and wage growth in 2023. The PTC emphasized that the 6% fare increase is less than the 7% rise of the previous year to alleviate the impact on commuters due to rising living costs.