Raising a child in Singapore is a major financial commitment. To support parents, the Government provides financial assistance through the Baby Bonus Scheme, Child Development Account (CDA), MediSave grants and various tax reliefs and rebates.
From April 2027, this support will change significantly with the introduction of the SG Child Support Package, announced at the National Day Rally 2026. It will replace the existing Baby Bonus Scheme and Large Families Scheme.
Until then, eligible families can continue receiving benefits under the current schemes.
Baby Bonus Cash Gift
Under the existing Baby Bonus Scheme, eligible Singapore Citizen children born on or after 14 February 2023 can receive:
| Birth Order | Baby Bonus Cash Gift |
| 1st Child | $11,000 |
| 2nd Child | $11,000 |
| 3rd Child | $13,000 |
| 4th Child | $13,000 |
| 5th & Subsequent Child | $13,000 |
The Cash Gift is paid progressively until the child is 6.5 years old.
For the first and second child, parents receive $3,000 at birth, followed by $1,500 at six months, $1,500 at 12 months and $1,000 at 18 months. Another $400 is paid every six months from age two to 6.5.
For the third and subsequent child, parents receive $4,000 at birth, $2,000 at six months, $2,000 at 12 months and $1,000 at 18 months, followed by $400 every six months from age two to 6.5.
From April 2027, the Baby Bonus Cash Gift will be replaced by the new Baby Gift under the SG Child Support Package.
Child Development Account
The Child Development Account (CDA) is a special savings account you can use at Approved Institutions for expenses such as preschool fees and healthcare.
Government support under the CDA comes in two forms:
- A CDA First Step Grant
- Dollar-for-dollar Government co-matching of parents’ savings, subject to a cap
For Singapore Citizen children born on or after 14 February 2023:
| Birth Order | CDA First Step Grant | Maximum CDA Co-Matching |
| 1st Child | $5,000 | $4,000 |
| 2nd Child | $5,000 | $7,000 |
| 3rd Child | $10,000* | $9,000 |
| 4th Child | $10,000* | $9,000 |
| 5th & Subsequent Child | $10,000* | $15,000 |
*The $10,000 First Step Grant applies to eligible third and subsequent Singapore Citizen children born on or after 18 February 2025.
Parents do not need to contribute money before receiving the First Step Grant. For the co-matching portion, the Government matches parental contributions dollar-for-dollar up to the applicable cap. For example, if your first child has a $4,000 co-matching cap and you contribute $4,000, the Government contributes another $4,000.
Read Also: 6 Ways For Singapore Parents To Maximise The Child Development Account (CDA)
Large Families Scheme
Families with three or more children may qualify for additional support under the Large Families Scheme (LFS).
For each eligible third or subsequent Singapore Citizen child born on or after 18 February 2025, families can receive up to $16,000 in additional support through:
- An enhanced CDA First Step Grant of $10,000 instead of $5,000
- A $5,000 Large Family MediSave Grant
- $1,000 a year in Large Family LifeSG Credits from ages one to six
The Large Family MediSave Grant is generally credited to the mother’s MediSave Account.
Large Family LifeSG Credits are disbursed through the LifeSG app and can be used at participating merchants.
The SG Child Support Package will replace the Large Families Scheme from April 2027. The Government said it will announce further details on additional support for large families separately.
Read Also: GSTV, CDC Vouchers And LifeSG Credits: How Much Government Support Are Households Receiving In 2026?
MediSave Grant For Newborns
Singapore Citizen newborns born on or after 1 April 2025 receive a $5,000 MediSave Grant for Newborns. The grant is automatically credited into the child’s MediSave Account.
| Child’s Date Of Birth | MediSave Grant |
| 26 August 2012 to 31 December 2014 | $3,000 |
| 1 January 2015 to 31 March 2025 | $4,000 |
| From 1 April 2025 | $5,000 |
You can use the grant for eligible healthcare expenses such as MediShield Life premiums, hospitalisation, and approved outpatient treatments.
For eligible third and subsequent children, this $5,000 newborn grant is separate from the $5,000 Large Family MediSave Grant.
Tax Reliefs And Rebates For Parents
Parents may also qualify for tax reliefs and rebates. A tax relief reduces chargeable income, while a tax rebate directly reduces the amount of tax payable.
Qualifying Child Relief: Parents can claim $4,000 in Qualifying Child Relief (QCR) for each eligible child. Spouses can share the relief, but total claims cannot exceed $4,000 per child. For a qualifying child with a disability, parents may instead claim $7,500 in Child Relief (Disability).
Working Mother’s Child Relief: Eligible working mothers may claim Working Mother’s Child Relief (WMCR).
For qualifying children born or adopted before 1 January 2024:
| Child Order | WMCR |
| 1st Child | 15% of mother’s earned income |
| 2nd Child | 20% |
| 3rd & Subsequent Child | 25% each |
For qualifying children born or adopted on or after 1 January 2024:
| Child Order | WMCR |
| 1st Child | $8,000 |
| 2nd Child | $10,000 |
| 3rd & Subsequent Child | $12,000 each |
QCR or Child Relief (Disability), together with WMCR, is subject to a combined cap of $50,000 per child. The overall personal income tax relief cap remains $80,000 per taxpayer per Year of Assessment.
Parenthood Tax Rebate: The Parenthood Tax Rebate (PTR) directly offsets income tax payable.
| Child Order | PTR |
| 1st Child | $5,000 |
| 2nd Child | $10,000 |
| 3rd & Subsequent Child | $20,000 each |
You can carry forward unused PTR to offset future tax bills.
From April 2027: SG Child Support Package
At National Day Rally 2026, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced the SG Child Support Package, which will start from April 2027.
It will replace the Baby Bonus Scheme and Large Families Scheme and provide the same core level of support to every eligible Singapore Citizen child regardless of birth order.
For a Singapore Citizen child born on or after 1 April 2027:
| Support | Amount |
| Baby Gift | $10,000 |
| Child Credits | $2,000 a year from ages 1 to 16 |
| CDA First Step Grant | $5,000 |
| CDA Government Co-Matching | Up to $5,000 |
| PSEA Top-Up | $10,000 |
| Maximum SG Child Support Package | $62,000 |
$10,000 Baby Gift: Children born on or after 1 April 2027 will receive a $10,000 Baby Gift, paid in two tranches within the first 12 months.
This replaces the existing Baby Bonus Cash Gift.
$2,000 Child Credits Every Year: Eligible Singapore Citizen children will receive $2,000 in Child Credits every year from ages one to 16. A child receiving the full 16 years of payments would receive $32,000.
The first Child Credits will be paid from April 2027, with subsequent payouts generally made on the child’s birthday.
CDA Changes Under The New Scheme: Children born on or after 1 April 2027 will receive a $5,000 CDA First Step Grant and up to $5,000 in dollar-for-dollar Government co-matching.
The CDA will also remain open for longer. For Singapore Citizen children born on or after 1 January 2015, the CDA will remain open until the end of the year the child turns 16, instead of 12.
$10,000 PSEA Top-Up: Singapore Citizen children turning 17 from 2026 onwards will receive a one-off $10,000 top-up to their Post-Secondary Education Account (PSEA). Children turning 17 in 2026 will receive the top-up in June 2027. Subsequent cohorts will generally receive it in June of the year they turn 17.
Around $70,000 In Direct Overall Government Support
The SG Child Support Package itself provides up to $62,000 for a child receiving the full package.
The Government estimates that overall direct support will be around $70,000 per Singapore Citizen child from birth to age 17, including other existing support.
This comprises:
- Up to $62,000 under the SG Child Support Package
- $5,000 MediSave Grant for Newborns
- Around $2,500 in Edusave contributions
What Happens To Children Already Under Baby Bonus?
The SG Child Support Package will also apply to many children born before April 2027. Children already enrolled in the Baby Bonus Scheme will be automatically transitioned to the new package from April 2027.
Existing Baby Bonus Cash Gift payments will continue until 31 March 2027. Where applicable, eligible children will receive a top-up by 30 April 2027 to bring the relevant cash support received to $10,000 as the Baby Gift replaces the existing Cash Gift.
Parents of children born before 1 April 2027 can also continue contributing towards their existing CDA co-matching caps until 30 September 2027. From 1 October 2027, CDA co-matching caps will be adjusted to $5,000. This is particularly relevant for parents whose children currently have CDA co-matching caps above $5,000.
Existing Children Can Also Receive Child Credits And PSEA Top-Ups
The SG Child Support Package is not only for future newborns. Singapore Citizen children turning one to 16 from 2026 onwards can receive annual Child Credits, subject to eligibility.
Singapore Citizen children turning 17 from 2026 onwards can also receive the $10,000 PSEA top-up. This means the new package shifts support away from being concentrated mainly around birth and early childhood towards providing financial assistance through a larger part of a child’s growing years.
How Much Support Can Parents Receive?
For now, eligible parents can continue receiving support through the Baby Bonus Cash Gift, CDA, MediSave grants, Large Families Scheme and tax reliefs and rebates. From April 2027, the SG Child Support Package will provide up to $62,000 in core support for a child receiving the full package.
Including the MediSave Grant for Newborns and estimated Edusave contributions, the Government estimates overall direct support will total around $70,000 per Singapore Citizen child from birth to age 17.
Read Also: From Birth To 17: Guide To The New SG Child Support Package
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