Complete List of Government Grants for New Parents in Singapore (2026)

Why This Guide Exists

Singapore is one of the most generous countries in the world when it comes to supporting new parents financially. The problem is not a lack of support — it is that the support is spread across multiple government agencies, each with its own application process, eligibility criteria, and disbursement timeline.

Many parents miss out on thousands of dollars simply because they did not know a particular grant existed, or they applied too late. This guide consolidates every financial benefit available to new parents in 2026 into a single, actionable checklist.

The Big Three: Baby Bonus, CDA, and MediSave

These three schemes form the foundation of government support for new parents. If you do nothing else, make sure you claim these.

1. Baby Bonus Cash Gift

The Baby Bonus Cash Gift is a direct cash payment from the government to parents, disbursed in instalments over 18 months.

How much you get:
• 1st and 2nd child: $11,000
• 3rd and subsequent children: $13,000

Payment schedule:
• At birth: $3,000
• 6 months: $2,000
• 12 months: $2,000
• 15 months: $2,000
• 18 months: $2,000 (1st/2nd child) or $4,000 (3rd and above)

How to apply: Sign up via the LifeSG app during or after birth registration. Payments are deposited directly into your bank account.

For a deeper breakdown of how to maximise your Baby Bonus and CDA, read our Baby Bonus and CDA Guide.

2. Child Development Account (CDA)

The CDA is a co-savings account where the government matches every dollar you deposit, dollar-for-dollar, up to a cap.

CDA First Step Grant (automatic):
• 1st and 2nd child: $5,000
• 3rd and subsequent: $7,000

Government co-matching cap:
• 1st and 2nd child: $6,000
• 3rd and 4th child: $12,000
• 5th and subsequent: $18,000

Total CDA government contribution (First Step + matching):
• 1st child: $11,000
• 2nd child: $11,000
• 3rd child: $19,000

What you can spend it on: Approved childcare centres, kindergartens, early intervention programmes, medical expenses at approved clinics, and pharmacy purchases. Unused funds transfer to your child's Post-Secondary Education Account at age 13.

3. MediSave Grant for Newborns

Every Singapore Citizen newborn receives a $4,000 MediSave grant deposited directly into the child's CPF MediSave account. This is automatic — no application needed once the birth is registered.

This grant helps cover the child's future MediShield Life premiums and can be used for approved medical expenses.

Healthcare and Maternity Benefits

4. MediSave for Maternity Expenses

You can use your CPF MediSave to pay for prenatal, delivery, and postnatal expenses. The withdrawal limits for 2026 are:

• Pre-delivery: Up to $900 (spread across pregnancy)
• Delivery (normal): Up to $750 (per day, subject to overall claim limit)
• Delivery (Caesarean): Up to $2,600
• Overall claim limit: Ranges from $750 to $2,600 depending on type of delivery

Both the mother's and father's MediSave accounts can be used. Learn more in our detailed CPF MediSave for Maternity guide.

5. MediShield Life Coverage for Newborns

Your newborn is automatically covered under MediShield Life from birth. This national health insurance scheme covers large hospital bills and selected costly outpatient treatments. Premiums for young children are low — around $130 per year — and can be fully paid from the MediSave Grant.

6. Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS)

If your household income qualifies, CHAS provides subsidies at participating GP clinics. All Singapore Citizen children are eligible for CHAS subsidies at CHAS GP and dental clinics, regardless of household income, up to age 18.

Childcare and Education Subsidies

7. Basic Subsidy for Childcare

All Singapore Citizen children enrolled in licensed childcare centres receive a basic subsidy of $600 per month for full-day infant care or $300 per month for full-day childcare (ages 2 and above). This is applied directly to your fees.

8. Additional Subsidy for Childcare

On top of the basic subsidy, working mothers can receive an additional subsidy of up to $467 per month depending on household income:

• Monthly household income up to $3,000: $467
• $3,001 to $4,500: $440
• $4,501 to $6,000: $340
• $6,001 to $7,500: $260
• $7,501 to $9,000: $190
• $9,001 to $10,000: $130
• $10,001 to $12,000: $80

This can bring the effective cost of full-day childcare down to under $200 per month for lower-income families. For a detailed comparison of childcare costs, see our childcare cost breakdown.

9. Kindergarten Fee Assistance Scheme (KiFAS)

For families enrolling their children in anchor operator or MOE kindergartens, KiFAS provides additional fee subsidies for households with monthly income of $12,000 or below.

Combined with the basic subsidy, families earning under $3,000 per month can pay as little as $3 per month for MOE Kindergarten.

Tax Reliefs for Parents

10. Qualifying Child Relief (QCR)

A tax relief of $4,000 per child for each unmarried child below 16, or still studying full-time. This reduces your taxable income, not your tax bill directly.

11. Working Mother's Child Relief (WMCR)

Working mothers can claim a percentage of their earned income as tax relief:
• 1st child: 15%
• 2nd child: 20%
• 3rd and subsequent: 25%

The total WMCR claim is capped at $80,000. This is one of the most valuable tax reliefs for high-income mothers.

12. Grandparent Caregiver Relief (GCR)

If a working mother's parent or grandparent looks after her child (aged 12 or below), she can claim a $3,000 tax relief. Only one GCR claim is allowed per household.

13. Parenthood Tax Rebate

A one-time tax rebate (directly reduces your tax bill, not just taxable income):
• 1st child: $5,000
• 2nd child: $10,000
• 3rd and subsequent: $20,000

Any unused rebate is carried forward to future years. Parents can share the rebate between them.

Housing Benefits

14. Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS)

Families with children who are waiting for their BTO flat can rent a subsidised HDB flat at below-market rates. Rental rates range from $800 to $1,600 depending on flat type and location.

15. Enhanced CPF Housing Grant (Families)

First-timer families purchasing a new HDB flat can receive up to $80,000 in CPF Housing Grants depending on household income:
• Monthly household income up to $4,500: $80,000
• $4,501 to $9,000: Varies on a sliding scale

This grant applies to BTO flats and is one of the largest single financial benefits available to Singaporean families.

16. Proximity Housing Grant (PHG)

Families who buy a resale flat to live near their parents or children receive a $30,000 grant (within 4km) or $20,000 (same town).

Leave Entitlements

17. Government-Paid Maternity Leave

Working mothers are entitled to 16 weeks of government-paid maternity leave. The first 8 weeks are employer-paid; the last 8 weeks are reimbursed by the government (capped at $10,000 per 4-week block, or $20,000 per block from the 3rd child onwards).

18. Government-Paid Paternity Leave

Fathers are entitled to 4 weeks of government-paid paternity leave (capped at $2,500 per week). This must be taken within 12 months of the child's birth.

19. Shared Parental Leave

Fathers can share up to 4 weeks of the mother's 16-week maternity leave, giving the family more flexibility in how they divide caregiving duties.

20. Government-Paid Childcare Leave

Each parent gets 6 days of paid childcare leave per year for children below 7, and 2 days for children aged 7-12. The first 3 days are employer-paid; the remaining 3 days are government-paid (capped at $500 per day).

21. Unpaid Infant Care Leave

Each parent gets an additional 6 days of unpaid leave per year for children below 2.

Your First-Month Checklist

To make sure you claim everything you are entitled to, complete these steps within the first month after birth:

1. Register the birth via LifeSG or at the hospital 2. Sign up for Baby Bonus during birth registration (LifeSG) 3. Open the CDA — this happens automatically via POSB/DBS after birth registration 4. Deposit into the CDA to trigger government matching 5. Verify MediSave Grant — check your child's CPF statement 6. Apply for childcare/infant care subsidy when enrolling in a centre 7. Inform your employer about maternity/paternity leave 8. Check IRAS for tax relief eligibility at next tax filing

How Much Can You Really Get?

Let us add it up for a typical first child born in 2026:

• Baby Bonus Cash Gift: $11,000
• CDA First Step Grant: $5,000
• CDA Government Matching: $6,000 (if you deposit $6,000)
• MediSave Grant: $4,000
• Childcare Subsidy (basic, 5 years): $18,000
• Parenthood Tax Rebate: $5,000
• CPF Housing Grant: up to $80,000

Conservative total: over $49,000 in direct financial support — and this does not include tax reliefs, additional childcare subsidies for lower-income families, or leave entitlements.

For the third child, the total easily exceeds $80,000.

Making It All Work Together

The key to maximising your government benefits is timing. Apply early, deposit into the CDA as soon as possible, and make sure you claim all tax reliefs at the next IRAS filing.

Understanding the full cost of raising a child in Singapore puts these grants into perspective — they cover a meaningful portion of early childhood expenses.

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