Singapore
Singapore Unveils Major Family Support Package, Offering Up to $70,000 in Direct Support Per Child:The Singapore Government has announced a major expansion of support for families, introducing a package of measures aimed at helping Singaporeans start families, raise children and manage the financial and caregiving demands that come with parenthood.
The measures were announced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong during the 2026 National Day Rally on August 23 and are part of the Government’s broader effort to strengthen marriage and parenthood support.
According to the Government’s Made For Families initiative, the new measures will provide greater protected time for working parents, stronger financial assistance throughout a child’s growing years, more affordable caregiving and preschool options, additional support for larger families and stronger housing assistance for families with children.
New SG Child Support Package to Provide Up to $62,000 Per Singapore Citizen Child
One of the most significant changes is the introduction of the SG Child Support Package, which will replace the existing Baby Bonus and Large Families schemes.
The new package will provide up to $62,000 for each Singapore Citizen child from birth to age 17, regardless of birth order.
The package consists of several components:
- $10,000 Baby Gift: Paid in cash in two tranches within 12 months of a child’s birth, providing greater upfront assistance during the expensive first year.
- $32,000 Child Credits: $2,000 will be provided annually for 16 years, from the year the child turns one through the year the child turns 16.
- $5,000 Child Development Account (CDA) First Step Grant: A grant to help parents meet approved child-raising expenses.
- Up to $5,000 CDA Government co-matching: The CDA will also be extended until the end of the year the child turns 16, compared with age 12 under the current arrangement.
- $10,000 Post-Secondary Education Account (PSEA) top-up: The amount will be credited in the year the child turns 17 to help offset future higher-education costs.
When these measures are combined with existing benefits—including the $5,000 Medisave Grant for Newborns and annual Edusave contributions of around $2,500 across primary and secondary school—each Singapore Citizen child could receive around $70,000 in direct financial support from birth to age 17.
The Government says the new approach is designed not only to provide assistance when a child is born but also to sustain support throughout childhood and into the transition toward higher education.
Childcare Leave to Be Increased
Working parents will also receive more protected time to care for their children.
The existing Childcare Leave (CCL) and Extended Childcare Leave (ECL) schemes will be merged into a streamlined CCL scheme covering working parents with children aged 12 and below.
Under the current system, a working parent whose youngest Singapore Citizen child is aged six or below receives six days of CCL a year, while a parent whose youngest Singapore Citizen child is between seven and 12 can receive two days of Extended Childcare Leave.
The Government says more details, including the start date of the new CCL scheme, will be announced later.
Government to Cover Cost of Child-Related Leave
The Government will also cover the cost of all child-related leave, up to the applicable reimbursement limits.
This includes:
- Government-Paid Maternity Leave (GPML)
- Government-Paid Adoption Leave (GPAL)
- Government-Paid Paternity Leave (GPPL)
- Shared Parental Leave (SPL)
- Childcare Leave (CCL)
The measure is intended to reduce the financial burden on employers and encourage more family-friendly workplaces where employees can take time off for caregiving without the same concerns about costs to their employers.
The arrangement will also apply to eligible Self-Employed Persons (SEPs), who can currently claim compensation for income lost during the Government-paid portions of relevant child-related leave schemes.
Major Reduction in Preschool and Infant Care Fees
The Government will also substantially reduce the cost of Government-supported preschool.
Full-day childcare fees will eventually be reduced to $150 per month, before means-testing, while infant care fees will be reduced to $300 per month.
The Government says these fee levels will be less than half of today’s fees.
The reductions will be rolled out progressively from 2028, with the target fee levels expected to be reached by 2030.
Further details on implementation are expected to be announced in early 2027.
Preschool Subsidies to Be Extended Regardless of Working Status
Another major change will extend full preschool subsidies to families with Singapore Citizen children regardless of the working status of the main applicant.
The Government says this will allow families with Singapore Citizen children to access affordable and quality childcare and infant care regardless of their employment circumstances.
Further details are expected in early 2027.
The Government will also expand the network of Government-supported preschool operators and increase the infant educator workforce to meet growing demand.
Support will be provided to facilitate eligible operators transitioning onto the expanded Government-supported preschool network.
More Support for Families With Three or More Children
Families with three or more children will continue to receive additional assistance on top of the new SG Child Support Package.
The Government is studying how to reposition and extend the existing $5,000 Large Family MediSave Grant to existing large families that have not received the grant.
The Ministry of Transport (MOT) will provide additional support to help large families manage transport expenses.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of National Development (MND) is studying additional housing support for large families.
These measures recognise that families with more children can face higher costs across healthcare, transportation and housing.
Additional Housing Assistance for First-Time Families
Housing support is also being strengthened.
Starting from the February 2027 sales exercise, first-timer families who have or are expecting children will receive one additional ballot chance for each Singapore Citizen child aged 18 and below.
The additional ballot chance will apply to both:
- Build-To-Order (BTO) flat applications
- Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) applications
The Government says the measure is intended to improve housing opportunities for growing families.
Families will be able to obtain further information through Singapore’s Housing & Development Board (HDB).
Broader Marriage and Parenthood Reset
The latest measures represent the first set of recommendations from the Marriage & Parenthood (M&P) Reset Workgroup that have been accepted by the Government.
The Workgroup’s recommendations were developed following feedback from Singaporeans about the practical challenges associated with starting and raising families.
Those concerns include the need for:
- More time for caregiving
- Greater assistance with child-raising expenses
- More affordable preschool
- Better access to caregiving options
- Housing support as families grow
The Workgroup will continue engaging Singaporeans and is expected to present a fuller set of recommendations in early 2027.
Government Focuses on Families Through Every Stage of Childhood
The measures announced at National Day Rally 2026 represent a shift toward providing family support over a longer period rather than concentrating assistance primarily around the time of a child’s birth.
From the $10,000 Baby Gift and annual Child Credits to CDA support, the PSEA top-up, subsidised preschool and housing assistance, the package is designed to address different financial and practical pressures as children grow.
The Government’s overall message is that family support should extend beyond childbirth and continue through the preschool, school and post-secondary years.
For Singaporean families, the changes could mean greater financial support, lower childcare costs, additional caregiving time and improved access to housing as they raise children.
Key Numbers at a Glance
| Measure | Support |
|---|---|
| SG Child Support Package | Up to $62,000 per Singapore Citizen child |
| Baby Gift | $10,000 |
| Child Credits | $32,000 |
| CDA First Step Grant | $5,000 |
| CDA Government co-matching | Up to $5,000 |
| PSEA top-up | $10,000 |
| Medisave Grant for Newborns | $5,000 |
| Total direct support including existing benefits | Around $70,000 per child |
| Target Government-supported childcare fee | $150/month |
| Target Government-supported infant care fee | $300/month |
| Preschool fee reduction rollout | From 2028 |
| Target fee levels reached | 2030 |
| Additional housing ballot chances | From February 2027 |
The Singapore Government says the new measures are intended to give families greater confidence to start and raise children by combining financial assistance, caregiving support, affordable preschool and housing opportunities.
