From Birth To 17: Guide To The New SG Child Support Package

From diapers and infant care to school fees and eventually tertiary education, the cost of raising a child does not stop after the first few years.

This is exactly what the new SG Child Support Package, announced at the 2026 National Day Rally, is hoping to address as Singapore tries to reverse its declining birth rate (0.87 as of 2025).

From April 2027, the SG Child Support Package will replace the existing Baby Bonus Scheme and Large Families Scheme, providing financial support throughout a child’s growing years rather than concentrating most of the assistance only when children are young.

Another major change is that support will no longer depend on birth order. Every eligible Singapore Citizen child will receive the same baseline support, whether they are the first child or the fourth child in the family.

For a Singapore Citizen child who goes through the entire new system from birth, the SG Child Support Package can provide up to $62,000 by the time the child turns 17.

So when exactly does the money come in?

Read Also: 5 Under-The-Radar National Day Rally 2026 Changes Singaporeans You May Have Missed

At Birth: $10,000 Baby Gift + $5,000 CDA First Step Grant

For Singapore Citizen children born on or after 1 April 2027, the first support parents receive is a $10,000 Baby Gift in cash.

The $10,000 will be paid in two tranches within the child’s first 12 months. The idea is to put more cash into parents’ hands during the period when many new expenses arrive at once, whether it is diapers, milk, baby equipment, medical expenses or infant care.

At the same time, the child will receive a $5,000 CDA First Step Grant. This money is automatically deposited into the child’s Child Development Account (CDA) once the account is opened. Parents who save money in their child’s CDA can receive dollar-for-dollar government matching, up to $5,000. In total, they can receive up to $10,000 from the Government for their child’s CDA.

There is also the existing $5,000 MediSave Grant for Newborns, which continues separately from the SG Child Support Package.

When The Child Turns 1 to 16: $2,000 Child Credits Each Year

Every eligible Singapore Citizen child will receive $2,000 in Child Credits each year, starting from the year they turn 1 till 16. While not officially announced yet, these credits will likely be accessible via our LifeSG app.

$2,000 × 16 years = $32,000 in Child Credits.

By age 16, parents will have received a total of $32,000 in Child Credits for each child.

The CDA Will Only Close At Age 16

Today, the CDA generally closes at the end of the year a child turns 12, with the remaining money transferred to the child’s Post-Secondary Education Account. Under the new arrangements, however, the CDA for children will remain open until the end of the year they turn 16.

That gives parents several more years to use CDA funds for approved expenses and, where applicable, benefit from Government co-matching. Any unused CDA balance will then be transferred to the child’s Post-Secondary Education Account (PSEA).

At Age 17: $10,000 PSEA Top-Up

In the year the child turns 17, the Government provides one last major component of the SG Child Support Package: a $10,000 top-up to the child’s PSEA. This is intended to help with post-secondary education expenses.

This completes the child’s journey through the SG Child Support Package.

From Birth To 17: How Much Does A Child Receive In Total?

For a Singapore Citizen child born from 1 April 2027 onwards who receives the full Package, this is how the support adds up:

On top of the $62,000, Singapore Citizen children also continue to benefit from existing schemes outside the Package.

This includes the $5,000 MediSave Grant for Newborns and annual Edusave contributions during primary and secondary school, which currently add up to around $2,500 over 10 years for students in MOE-funded schools.

Taken together, the Government estimates that a Singapore Citizen child can receive around $70,000 in direct financial support from birth to age 17.

What If Your Child Is Already Born Before April 2027?

The SG Child Support Package only starts paying out from April 2027, but parents with existing children should not assume that they have missed out. The Package will cover existing Singapore Citizen children aged 17 and below, with benefits based on their age.

Until April 2027, eligible children can continue enrolling in the existing Baby Bonus Scheme and receive existing benefits, including the Baby Bonus Cash Gift. Children already enrolled in the Baby Bonus Scheme will be automatically transitioned to the SG Child Support Package from April 2027.

Parents can refer to our existing guide to understand the Baby Bonus benefits that continue to apply before the transition. Complete Guide To Baby Grants In Singapore

Several transition arrangements are worth noting for parents with existing young children.

Children born before 1 April 2027 who are still receiving Baby Bonus Cash Gift payouts will continue receiving them until 31 March 2027. Where applicable, they will then receive a top-up by 30 April 2027 so that their total relevant cash support reaches $10,000.

Children who turn 1 to 16 in 2026 will also receive their $2,000 Child Credits for 2026, even though the first payout will take place in 2027. This will be paid by 30 April 2027.

For the 2027 Child Credits, children with birthdays from January to April will receive the $2,000 by 30 April 2027, while children with birthdays from May onwards will receive the payment on their birthday.

From 2028, Child Credits will generally be paid on the child’s birthday every year until the year they turn 16.

Read Also: How Much Does It Cost To Raise A Child In Singapore Till Age 18?

Photo Credit: iStock/imtmphoto

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