The Singapore Government has announced a new child support package that will provide each Singaporean child with almost $70,000 in direct financial support from birth to age 17, regardless of birth order.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced the $62,000 SG Child Support Package during his National Day Rally speech on August 23, saying the government wanted to make a fundamental change in how families are supported.
The new package includes a $10,000 Baby Gift, $32,000 in Child Credits, a $5,000 Child Development Account (CDA) First Step Grant, up to $5,000 in government co-matching contributions, and a $10,000 top-up to the child’s Post-Secondary Education Account.
When existing benefits such as the $5,000 MediSave Grant for Newborns and annual Edusave contributions are included, the total direct government support available to each child will rise to about $70,000 from birth to age 17.
The new measures represent a significant increase from the current support of between $27,500 and $56,500, depending on a child’s birth order.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, more than 610,000 children across about 380,000 households are expected to benefit from the measures.
Every child to receive equal support
Wong said the government was moving away from a system in which benefits differed depending on whether a child was the first, second or subsequent child in a family.
“The schemes have become quite complex, and many parents find it hard to understand,” he said.
Under the new system, every child will receive the same level of support, with assistance spread across different stages of childhood rather than being concentrated around birth.
The $10,000 Baby Gift will be paid in two instalments within the first 12 months of a child’s life.
The $32,000 Child Credits will provide $2,000 annually from the year a child turns one until the year they turn 16.
The scheme replaces and expands the existing Large Family LifeSG Credits, which currently provide $1,000 annually for six years to third and subsequent children.
Under the new arrangement, the annual payment will double to $2,000 and will be extended to all children, regardless of birth order.
More support for education
The CDA First Step Grant will provide $5,000, while parents can receive up to another $5,000 through government co-matching contributions.
The CDA will also remain open until the end of the year a child turns 16, compared with the current age limit of 12.
When the child turns 17, the government will provide a further $10,000 top-up to the Post-Secondary Education Account to help families meet future higher-education costs.
The new package will also cover Singaporean children aged between one and 17 in 2026, with transitional arrangements for those already receiving support under existing programmes.
Extra help for larger families
Families with three or more children will continue to receive additional assistance in areas including healthcare, transport and housing.
The government is also considering extending the existing $5,000 Large Family MediSave Grant to eligible large families that have not yet received it.
The Ministry of Transport is expected to introduce further assistance for transport costs, while the Ministry of National Development is studying additional housing support for larger families.
Wong said the broader goal was to provide families with more predictable and meaningful financial support as children grow, rather than making small adjustments to individual schemes.
