1 Sep 2026
SOURCE: CPF Board

Becoming a parent is an exciting and life-changing experience, but it’s also essential to be financially prepared to provide for your growing family. Whether you’re a first-time parent adjusting to new responsibilities or welcoming another child into your home, managing these changes can be challenging.
 

With support from the Government, including additional parental leave, financial assistance for childcare and even cash benefits, it can help you ease into the transition. By taking advantage of these resources, you can ensure that you and your child get a head start, thus allowing you to focus on the joys of parenthood.

Here are a few tips to help you get started!

The Cash Gift (CG) is disbursed every 6 months until your child turns 6.5 years old. You can use this amount to help manage early childhood expenses.

The CG amount and disbursement schedule for Singaporean children born on or after 14 February 2023, is as follows:

First and second birth orders

Total CG amount: $11,000

• At birth: $3,000
• 6 months: $1,500
• 12 months: $1,500
• 18 months: $1,000
• 2 years to 6.5 years: $400 every 6 months

Third and subsequent birth orders

Total CG amount: $13,000

• At birth: $4,000
• 6 months: $2,000
• 12 months: $2,000
• 18 months: $1,000
• 2 years to 6.5 years: $400 every 6 months

Children who are Singapore citizens and whose parents are lawfully married will be eligible.

The SG Child Support Package will provide up to $62,000 to every Singapore Citizen child. It includes:

• 10,000 Baby Gift in cash, disbursed in two tranches within 12 months of a child’s birth. This provides more substantial upfront help with the higher expenses incurred at birth and in the child’s first year.
• $32,000 Child Credits in cash, with $2,000 disbursed annually over 16 years, from the year the child turns 1 to the year the child turns age 16. This provides sustained help through the child’s growing years.
• $5,000 Child Development Account (CDA) First Step Grant (FSG) and up to $5,000 in Government co-matching of CDA. The CDA will be extended to the end of year the child turns age 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.
• $10,000 top-up to the child’s Post-Secondary Education Account (PSEA) in the year the child turns age 17. This will help parents by defraying the costs of higher education.

The Package will be extended to all existing Singapore Citizen children born in or turning age 1 to 17 in 2026, who will receive benefits based on their corresponding age in 2026 and in subsequent years. Together with the existing benefits – including the $5,000 Medisave Grant for Newborns at birth and annual Edusave contributions across primary and secondary school, which add up to around $2,500 – your child can receive around $70,000 of direct financial support from birth to age 17.

Source: Made For Families

The CDA  is designed to support your child's education and healthcare needs, and encourages long-term planning for your child’s development.

If your child is born on or after 1 Apr 2027, they will receive $5,000 CDA First Step Grant and be eligible for the CDA Government co-matching contributions up to the cap of $5,000.  

For children born between 1 Jan 2015 and 31 Mar 2027 with existing CDAs in 2027 (i.e., turning 12 years old and below in 2027): 

• Existing CDA co-matching caps will be retained until 30 Sep 2027 to give you more time to save more in the CDAs to receive the Government co-matching contributions.  
• Their CDA Government co-matching cap will be adjusted to the cap of $5,000 from 1 Oct 2027.

You can use the CDA funds for approved child-related expenses (for instance, preschool fees and medical expenses) at the Baby Bonus Approved Institutions, including childcare centres, kindergartens, and clinics, subject to existing Terms and Conditions.

Once you register your child’s birth, a MediSave Account will be created and $5,000 will be credited automatically. This can be used to pay for MediShield Life premiums, recommended childhood vaccinations, hospitalisation and approved outpatient treatments. All Singapore Citizen newborns are eligible for this grant.

Under the new Childcare Leave (CCL) scheme, the number of childcare leave days will be increased and tiered by number of Singapore Citizen children aged 12 and below.

If you are an eligible working parent, you will receive:

More details, including the start date of the new CCL scheme, will be announced at a later date.

Learn more about the child-related Leave Schemes.

You’ll pay less for full-day childcare and infant care fees at Government-supported preschools. Fees will be reduced to $150 and $300 per month respectively, and rolled out progressively from 2028 and reaching target levels by 2030.

To ensure that all families can access affordable and quality preschool, full preschool subsidies will also be extended to families with Singapore Citizen children regardless of the main applicant’s employment circumstances.

The Government will also expand the network of Government-supported preschool operators and grow the infant educator workforce to meet growing demand.

More details on these measures will be announced at a later date.

From the February 2027 sales exercise, if you are a first timer with or expecting children, you’ll receive one additional ballot chance per Singapore Citizen child aged 18 and below when applying for a BTO or SBF flat.

Did you know you can also claim tax relief as a working mother under the Working Mothers’ Child Relief (WMCR) scheme? With effect from the Year of Assessment 2025, the WMCR has been changed to a fixed dollar relief instead of a percentage of the mother’s earned income:

Find out what are the eligibility conditions to qualify for this tax relief.

If you need to engage a migrant domestic worker for your household needs like taking care of your young children, you can qualify for a concessionary levy rate of $60 per month.

While your current focus is on taking care of your little one, there will come a time when you start wondering if you are able to be self-sufficient as you age, to avoid burdening your children. Your CPF is here to support you and help you build your retirement nest egg, letting your savings grow safely and with minimal effort.

Welcoming a new member into the family is a major milestone for parents, which is why it’s crucial to plan ahead and equip yourself with financial knowledge and take advantage of the different grants available for you and your child. Don’t forget to take care of yourself even as you take on a new role as a parent too!

Information accurate as of date of publication.