Corrections regarding Means-testing of HDB Resale Grants in content posted by Mr Leong Sze Hian, The Online Citizen, and Gutzy Asia on 21 August 2024

[Updated On 30 Aug 2024]

Falsehoods and Facts

Falsehoods: No income means test is applicable to HDB grants for resale flats.

Facts:

HDB’s resale grants for first-timer families comprise the Enhanced CPF Housing Grant (EHG), CPF Housing Grant (CPF HG) and Proximity Housing Grant (PHG). The EHG and the CPF HG are both means-tested.

• The EHG which was recently enhanced on 20 Aug 2024 by up to $40,000, is means-tested by income and applies to both BTO flats and resale flats. First-timer families can receive up to $120,000, from $80,000 before the enhancement.

• The EHG is means-tested and progressively tiered so that lower-income buyers will receive more support. This will ensure that those in need will receive more help.

• The CPF HG is also means-tested by income and by flat type. Only eligible first-timer buyers of resale flats with monthly household income not exceeding $14,000 qualify for the CPF HG. These buyers may receive $80,000 if buying a 2-room to 4-room resale flat, or $50,000 if buying a 5-room or bigger resale flat.

• To further encourage extended families to live together in the same flat for mutual care and support, the PHG provides up to $30,000 for families buying a resale flat to live with parents or children, and $20,000 to live near parents or children.

• The $230,000 maximum grant for resale flats which Mr Leong Sze Hian quotes, includes the means-tested EHG and CPF HG component. Before the enhancement to the EHG, resale flat buyers would only have been eligible for $190,000 in maximum resale grants.

These substantial housing grants provide direct and targeted support to first-timers to afford their homes, with more support for lower-to-middle income households. MND and HDB are committed to providing homes to meet the diverse housing needs of Singaporeans and supporting their home ownership aspirations.

The Minister for National Development has instructed the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) Office to issue a POFMA Correction Direction to Mr Leong Sze Hian in respect of his Facebook post. The Correction Direction requires the recipient to insert a notice against the original post, with a link to the Government’s clarification.

EHG Structure* for First-Timer Families and Singles

Note:

* Applicable to first-timers who buy a flat with sufficient lease to cover the youngest core buyer and core occupier to the age of 95. Otherwise, the household will receive a pro-rated EHG amount.

^ Applicable to families with at least two first-timers.

^# Under the Joint Singles Scheme, the EHG is available for buying 2-room Flexi flats on 99-year or short leases from HDB and resale flats (2-room or larger flats) on the open market.

^@ Under the Single Singapore Citizen Scheme, the EHG is available for buying 2-room Flexi flats on 99-year or short leases from HDB and resale flats (2- to 5-room flats) on the open market.