The COVID-19 Driver Relief Fund (CDRF) is a support package for taxi drivers and private hire car (PHC) drivers. It was initially rolled out in January 2021 to June 2021. As the pandemic continued to impact the local economy, and drivers, the CDRF was enhanced on at least seven occasions.
The CDRF package was meant to replace the Special Relief Fund (SRF) and Self-employed persons Income Relief Scheme (SIRS) for taxi drivers and PHC drivers in 2021. With the various enhancements, the CDRF has been extended to January 2022 and payouts have also been beefed up.
While we illustrate the payouts below, they are not meant to be taken as actual payouts during the month. While the figures are accurate, under the CDRF, the taxi drivers started receiving their payouts from 1 January 2021, while private hire car drivers only started from 18 January 2021 – hence some discrepancies may occur in their monthly payouts.
How Much Are Taxi & Private Hire Car Drivers Receiving From The COVID-19 Driver Relief Fund (CDRF)?
Under the CDRF scheme, taxi and private hire car drivers are given a daily payout to subsidise their daily vehicle rentals. The scheme was introduced and has been enhanced several times as ridership in Singapore remains muted due to prevailing safe management measures.
The CDRF is paid to the main hirer. However, LTA states that “main hirers are strongly encouraged to share the amount received with their relief drivers.” Any disputes should be raised with the respective operators. Similarly, drivers with multiple platforms will need to nominate their preferred facilitating operator to disburse the funds.
CDRF
The CDRF was initially intended to last from January 2021 to June 2021.
From January to March 2021, the CDRF provided $600 per vehicle, amounting to $20 a day. From April to June 2021, it provided $450 per vehicle, or $15 a day. This was worth $188 million when the government announced it.
Payouts from May 2021 onwards have also been increased under the various CDRF enhancements described below.
CDRF+ [Announced on 21 May 2021]
In light of Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) measures in May 2021, the CDRF was enhanced. This was meant to provide additional support to drivers, who would already be getting payouts from the existing scheme during the month.
Dubbed CDRF+, a one-time top-up of $10 per vehicle a day would be given to taxi and PHC drivers from 16 May to 29 June 2021. This amounts to an additional payout of $450 for the Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) period announced in May 2021. This was worth $27 million.
For example, taxi and private hire car drivers received up to $610 in May ($450 [Existing] + $160 [New]) and up to $750 in June ($450 [Existing] + $300 [New]), or $25 per day for the CDRF+ top-up period.
CDRF2 [Announced on 10 June 2021]
When a 2-step transition to phase 3 (Heightened Alert) was announced on 10 June, the CDRF was further enhanced. This amounted to $40 million. As work-from-home remained the default work arrangement even after some easing measures in June 202, the government enhanced the CDRF.
Termed CDRF2, taxi drivers and PHC drivers received a three-month extension to their payouts, which should now last until September 2021. Under CDRF2, taxi and PHC drivers will get $300 per vehicle in July and August 2021, while they will get $150 per vehicle in September 2021.
CDRF2+ [Announced on 23 July 2021]
On the back of rising community transmissions, Singapore once again went back into Phase 2 (Heightened Alert). This will last from 22 July to 18 August 2021.
The government announced the CDRF2+ enhancements to help taxi driver and private hire car drivers cope in this period. The CDRF was enhanced for taxi and PHC driver until September 2021. This will be worth an additional $30 million.
The CDRF2+ will provide an additional payout of $10 per vehicle per day from 22 July to 31 August 2021, and $5 per vehicle per day in September 2021.
CDRF 3 [Announced on 24 September 2021]
As COVID-19 cases soared to the 1,500-mark and beyond, Safe Management Measures were tightened from 27 September to 24 October 2021.
Along with this, the CDRF was enhanced for taxi driver and private hire car drivers for October 2021 and November 2021. This will extend the scheme that was set to end in September 2021.
The CDRF 3 payouts will provide drivers with $10 per vehicle per day in October 2021 and $5 per vehicle per day in November 2021.
CDRF 3+ [Announced on 20 October 2021]
The number of COVID-19 cases continued to rise despite the “Stabilisation Phase” announced from 27 September to 24 October 2021. As such, it was extended by another month to ensure Singapore’s healthcare system does not get overwhelmed.
An additional $5 per vehicle per day would be paid in November 2021, together with the existing payout, this will increase the total payout to $10 per vehicle per day in November. The CDRF will also be extended in December 2021, providing $5 per vehicle per day.
CDRF For Transition Phase [Announced on 20 November 2021]
On 20 November, the government announced that Singapore would enter a “Transition Phase”. This was welcome news as certain safe management measures were eased from the “Stabilisation Phase” that was in place from 27 September to 21 November 2021.
As we enter the Transition Phase, the government also extended the CDRF support for drivers.
In December 2021, an additional payout of $5 per vehicle per day will be provided. This will bring the total payout in December 2021 to $10 per vehicle per day, as there was already an existing $5 per vehicle per day payout.
In addition, the scheme was also extended to January 2022, where drivers will receive a payout of $5 per vehicle per day.
| Period | CDRF Payout |
| [CDRF] Jan 2021 | $600 per vehicle per month ($20 a day) |
| [CDRF] Feb 2021 | $600 per vehicle per month ($20 a day) |
| [CDRF] Mar 2021 | $600 per vehicle per month ($20 a day) |
| [CDRF] Apr 2021 | $450 per vehicle per month ($15 a day) |
| [CDRF] May 2021 + [CDRF+] 16 May to 31 May 2021 | $450 per vehicle per month ($15 a day) + $160 per vehicle per month ($10 a day) |
| [CDRF] Jun 2021 + [CDRF+] 1 Jun to 29 Jun 2021 | $450 per vehicle per month ($15 a day) + $290 per vehicle per month ($10 a day) |
| [CDRF2] Jul 2021 + [CDRF2+] 22 Jul 2021 to 30 Jul 2021 | $300 per vehicle per month ($10 a day) + $90 per vehicle per month ($10 a day) |
| [CDRF2] Aug 2021 + [CDRF2+] Aug 2021 | $300 per vehicle per month ($10 a day) + $300 per vehicle per month ($10 a day) |
| [CDRF2] Sep 2021 + [CDRF2+] Sep 2021 | $150 per vehicle per month ($10 a day) + $150 per vehicle per month ($5 a day) |
| [CDRF3] Oct 2021 | $310 per vehicle per month ($10 a day) |
| [CDRF3] Nov 2021+[CDRF3+] Nov 2021 | $150 per vehicle per month ($5 a day) + $150 per vehicle per month ($5 a day) |
| [CDRF3+] Dec 2021+[CDRF Transition Phase] Dec 2021 | $155 per vehicle per month ($5 a day) + $155 per vehicle per month ($5 a day) |
| [CDRF Transition Phase] Jan 2022 | $155 per vehicle per month ($5 a day) |
Total | $5,810 in 2021 + $155 in 2022 |
COVID-19 Driver Relief Fund (CDRF) Payouts
In total, taxi and private hire car drivers will receive $5,810 in CDRF payouts in 2021, and the CDRF will also be extended into 2022 with a $155 payout in January. As observed with the previous measures, whenever further tightening of safe management measures are announced, enhancements to CDRF will follow. Hence, if the situation worsens or remains the same, we may expect more enhancements to the CDRF beyond 2021.
There is no need for taxi and private hire car drivers to apply for this grant, as the CDRF payouts (including the top-up disbursement) will automatically receive the top-up through their operators.
Drivers who find themselves ineligible for this grant can tap on the COVID-19 Recovery Grant (CRG) for self-employed persons.
Read Also: COVID-19 Recovery Grant: Self-Employed Persons Can Receive $500 For 3 Months From January 2021
Operators Providing Their Own Support Measures
Similar to when past support measures for the sector were announced, operators are also providing additional support for their drivers.
Drivers will need to check with their respective taxi operators and/or PHC platforms for their support measures.
For example, in the Land Transport Authority’s press release on 10 June, it stated that taxi operators have also pledged to provide “matching rental waivers of at least $12 million in total for the duration of the extended CDRF”.
Drivers should check in with their operators on the latest support measures, if any.
Support For Taxi & Private Hire Car Operators On Quarantine Orders
Taxi and private hire car operators are at higher risk of being placed on Quarantine Orders (QO) as they may come into close contact with individuals who test positively for COVID-19. If drivers are placed on QO, they can tap on the Quarantine Order Allowance by the Ministry of Health (MOH), as well as further relief measures by the individual taxi and private hire car operators.
Drivers who are also part of the National Taxi Association (NTA) or National Private Hire Vehicle Association (NPHVA) will also be able to tap on a one-off $200 assistance package provide by these association.
This article was first published on 22 May 2021 and has been updated with information on the COVID-19 Driver Relief Fund (CDRF).
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