Absentee Payroll Funding: Save While You Train ( 2026 Guide)

Lydia Chin

6 mins read

Published:

30 July 2025

Updated:

9 February 2026

Make your employee training pay off

Absentee payroll funding in Singapore helps businesses save on wages while investing in employee training. This government scheme reimburses part of your staff’s salaries during eligible courses, making it easier to upskill without extra payroll burden.

In this guide, you’ll learn:

What absentee payroll funding is
Who is eligible to claim it
How much can you receive
How to apply successfully

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What is absentee payroll in Singapore?

Absentee Payroll (AP) is a government funding scheme that helps employers in Singapore offset some of the wages paid to staff while they’re away for training. It’s run by SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) and is meant to make upskilling more manageable. Thus, you don’t have to worry about payroll costs while your team is learning.

Who is eligible for absentee payroll funding?

Want to claim absentee payroll? Both your company and your employees need to tick a few boxes first.

Employer eligibility:

Registered/incorporated in Singapore
Actively employing staff and paying CPF contributions
Sending employees for SSG-approved training courses

Employee eligibility:

Singapore Citizens, Permanent Residents, or Long-Term Visit Pass Plus (LTVP+) holders
Salaried employees (full-time or part-time)
Must attend and complete the training programme

You cannot claim AP for:

Freelancers or self-employed individuals
Employees on no-pay leave or not drawing a salary
Non-residents (e.g., foreign workers on Work Permits)

What training is covered under absentee payroll?

Not all courses qualify. The training must be approved by SkillsFuture Singapore.

Eligible training includes:

WSQ (Workforce Skills Qualification) programmes
SkillsFuture Digital Workplace courses
Employer-supported courses run by ITEs or Polytechnics
Other training listed on the MySkillsFuture portal

Tip: When in doubt, check with the training provider if the course is eligible for AP claims.

How much absentee payroll can employers claim?

You can claim up to $4.50 per training hour per employee, depending on their hourly wage.

Here’s a quick example:

Monthly Salary	Approx. Hourly Rate	Max AP Claim (per hour)
$2,400	~$13.85	$4.50/hr
$1,800	~$10.39	$4.50/hr

Note: You can’t claim more than the employee’s actual hourly wage. The maximum you can receive per enterprise is $100,000 per calendar year, regardless of how many employees you train.

Not sure how much your business can claim?

How to claim absentee payroll in Singapore

Claiming absentee payroll funding is simpler than you might expect, once you understand the new flow. Here’s 7 quick steps:

Inform the training provider at enrolment
Receive official SSG email after course completion
Log in to the AP Funding e-Service
Declare salary details (if applicable)
Set up or confirm your PayNow
Submit your declaration
Receive your payout

How to claim absentee payroll in Singapore

1. Inform the training provider at enrolment

Let the SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG)-approved training provider know that you intend to claim absentee payroll (AP) funding. They will initiate the process by enrolling your employee(s) in the Training Partners Gateway.

2. Receive official SSG email after course completion

After the course is completed and backend eligibility checks are done, you’ll receive an email notification from SSG inviting you to complete the AP Declaration. (This step may take some time depending on the course provider’s submission.)

3. Log in to the AP Funding e-Service

Head to SkillsFuture for Business and log in using Corppass credentials. Navigate to the ‘AP Funding’ tab in the dashboard.

4. Declare salary details (if applicable)

Select the employee(s) listed and enter their hourly salary (before CPF deduction) and hours worked, only if required:

Required if the course started before 1 Jan 2022, or
If the employee is under the Workfare Skills Support (WSS) scheme

Note: For newer courses, salary info may be optional.

5. Set up or confirm your PayNow

PayNow is the only accepted disbursement method, so make sure your company’s UEN is correctly linked to your corporate PayNow account.

6. Submit your declaration

You must submit the AP Declaration within 150 calendar days from the course end date. Late submissions will not be accepted.

7. Receive your payout

Once approved, funding will be disbursed via PayNow to your corporate account within 2.5 weeks.

Sleek can help you set up and maintain your PayNow registration, which is now required for all AP disbursements. Read this guide on paynow transfers to learn more.

Common absentee payroll funding mistakes to avoid

Here are the most common AP claim pitfalls we see:

Submitting a claim after 150 days from course completion.
Claiming for courses that aren’t SSG-approved.
Trying to claim for non-payroll or freelance staff.
Failing to keep complete attendance records or CPF proof.
Double-check the course eligibility and your submission deadline to avoid missing out.
Assuming your training provider will submit everything. Remember, employers are still responsible for declarations.

Real-life example: Claiming AP for café staff

Let’s say you run a café and send 3 employees for a 3-day WSQ customer service workshop (8 hours per day):

Total training hours per staff: 24 hours
Max claim per staff: 24 hrs × $4.50 = $108
For 3 employees: 3 × $108 = $324 saved

That’s money back in your pocket, just for doing the right thing and investing in training.

Final absentee payroll funding tips for employers

Plan training dates to avoid operations disruption and maximise claims.
Bundle training with course fee subsidies for more savings.
Use reliable, SSG-approved providers who understand the claims process.
Keep tidy records: CPF contributions, payslips, and attendance logs.

How Sleek can help with training claims or payroll compliance

Managing employee training, payroll, and grant claims isn’t always easy. With CPF, SDL, and different government systems to log into, it’s easy to miss a step or forget a deadline.

Delayed or incorrect submissions can result in lost funding, especially when it comes to schemes like absentee payroll.

Sleek works alongside your team to manage the operational details that often get overlooked. Here’s how we can help:

Monthly payroll processing that includes CPF, SDL, SHG, GIRO files, and detailed payslips
Support for absentee payroll and SkillsFuture claims, including submission guidance and deadline tracking
Preparation and e-filing of IR8A and IR21 forms through the Auto-Inclusion Scheme (AIS)
Leave and reimbursement tracking through a dedicated Talenox payroll platform
Timely email reminders to help you stay ahead of key filing dates and compliance requirements
A local team of payroll and grant experts who understand the regulations and know how to get it right

When compliance is critical, it pays to have the right team behind you.

Make payroll and grant compliance simpler

FAQs on absentee payroll in Singapore

Who can claim absentee payroll in Singapore?

To qualify, your company must be registered in Singapore and actively contributing CPF for the employee. The employee must be a Singapore Citizen or PR, salaried (not freelance), and attending a SkillsFuture-approved course.

Can I claim absentee payroll for part-time employees?

Yes, part-time employees are eligible as long as they’re salaried and CPF-contributing. Claims are capped based on actual hourly wages.

What types of training are covered in absentee payroll funding?

Only SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG)-approved courses are eligible. These include WSQ programmes, SkillsFuture for Digital Workplace, and selected employer-supported training at ITEs or Polytechnics.

Can absentee payroll be combined with course fee subsidies?

Yes, you can claim both. Absentee payroll supports wage costs, while course fee subsidies reduce the cost of the training itself.

What happens if I miss the 150-day absentee payroll claim deadline?

If you miss the 150-day deadline to submit your absentee payroll funding claim through SkillsConnect, your application will likely be rejected. Late claims are generally not accepted by SkillsFuture Singapore. To avoid losing access to this wage support, it’s important to track your training end dates and submit all required documents as early as possible.

Can I outsource my absentee payroll claims?

While some training providers assist with the process, the employer is still responsible for accuracy. Many businesses work with payroll service providers like Sleek to ensure claims are timely and compliant.

Is absentee payroll worth the effort for small teams?

Yes. Even if you’re training just one or two employees, the savings can add up, especially when combined with course subsidies. It’s a smart way to invest in upskilling without straining cash flow.