NDR 2026: Each Singaporean child to get almost S$70,000 in growing years as part of moves to support parents
Under the current Baby Bonus Scheme, children of higher birth orders receive higher cash gifts and co-matching caps for their CDAs.
“Ultimately, the decision to have children is a deeply personal one. Policies alone cannot make this happen. But what we can do is make it easier for Singaporeans who want children to start and raise a family,” said Mr Wong.
“And we want every family to know: if you choose to have children, the government will stand with you. We will provide more support, and over more years. And we will walk alongside parents throughout the journey of raising their children.”
In the 2021 Marriage and Parenthood Survey by the NPTD, financial costs had featured among the top barriers to parenthood, with couples concerned about the growing cost of raising children, including childcare and infant care, tuition and enrichment, housing and transport.
MORE SUSTAINED HELP
The new scheme aims to simplify the child-raising support available – like the Baby Bonus Cash Gift, CDA and Large Families Scheme – and make it less complex and easier to understand for parents here, said Mr Wong.
Starting Apr 1 next year, each eligible newborn will receive a S$10,000 cash gift under the SG Child Support Package, which will be disbursed in two tranches within 12 months of birth.
“This provides more substantial upfront help with the higher expenses incurred at birth and in the child’s first year,” the NPTD said.
Children born before Apr 1 next year who are still receiving payouts under the Baby Bonus Scheme will continue to do so until Mar 31 next year.
After the new scheme kicks in, they will receive a top-up by Apr 30 if applicable, to bring their total amount of cash gift to S$10,000.
Each child will also receive a S$5,000 CDA First Step Grant (FSG) and up to S$5,000 in co-matching of the CDA by the government.
“The CDA will be extended to the end of year the child turns 16, instead of 12 years old today, giving parents a longer period to benefit from government co-matching and use CDA funds for approved child-raising expenses,” said the NPTD.
The support does not stop at birth, noted Mr Wong.
There will also be S$2,000 in Child Credits disbursed annually in the first 16 years of a child’s life, along with Edusave top-ups every year in primary and secondary school, he said.
A S$10,000 top-up will be made to the child’s Post-Secondary Education Account (PSEA) when he or she turns 17, added Mr Wong.
As the enhanced baseline support is given for each Singaporean child, large families will naturally receive more support overall, including for their first and second child, said the NPTD.
FURTHER SUPPORT FOR LARGE FAMILIES
The Large Families Scheme, which was announced by Mr Wong in last year’s Budget to support families with three children or more, will be discontinued.
The scheme applies to parents who have remarried and are caring for three or more children from previous or current marriages.
These families stand to receive more financial help under the new package, he noted on Sunday.
“Because every child receives the same support, families with more children will naturally receive more support overall,” said Mr Wong.
The NPTD said in a press release that large families with three or more children will still get additional help in areas where they are likely to face higher costs, on top of the SG Child Support Package.
Families with three or more children also currently receive the S$5,000 Large Family MediSave Grant (LFMG), to help them with healthcare expenses.
“We are studying how to reposition and extend this support to existing large families that have not received the grant,” said the NPTD.
It added that the Ministry of Transport will provide additional support to help large families manage transport expenses, while the Ministry of National Development is studying additional housing support for large families.