Mix of Denominations in CDC Vouchers

Ms Mariam Jaafar asked the Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth whether the Government will review the no change policy for CDC vouchers or provide more flexibility on the mix of denominations for all or certain segments of households, such as senior-only households, for future tranches of CDC vouchers.

Mr Speaker, I am answering in my capacity as the Minister charged with the responsibility for the People's Association. The Community Development Council (CDC) vouchers are in fixed denominations of $2, $5 and $10 precisely because they give Singaporean households the flexibility to spend their money easily. Up to 15 vouchers can be stacked together for payment if used digitally.

But it is also precisely for this reason that we have designed the system so that the less digital-savvy residents, especially the seniors whom Ms Mariam Jaafar spoke about, can use the vouchers with confidence.

With fixed denomination, it will help reduce the chance of errors when residents pay for their goods and service using their CDC vouchers. In fact, we have conducted user experience before deciding on the denominations.

For the CDC vouchers to be used at hawkers and heartland merchants, the fixed denominations of $2, $5 and $10 allow residents to make purchases at different hawkers and heartland shops. For example, residents may patronise minimarts or mom-and-pop shops, to purchase groceries or other essential household items, and services, such as dental clinics or hair salons.

For the CDC vouchers to be used at supermarkets, the larger denominations of $10, or $20 for SG60 Vouchers, will come in handy as the purchase amounts are typically larger due to the nature of goods sold at supermarkets.

Singaporean households spent around $2.3 billion between the launch of the digital CDC Vouchers Scheme in December 2021 and July 2025 – $1.26 billion at participating hawkers and heartland merchants, and $1.04 billion at participating supermarkets.