Wondering what government support is available as you start or raise a family? We’ve put together a handy guide covering the support available at every stage, from babyhood to teenage years.
Raising a family is tough, we’re not going to sugarcoat it. On the one hand, there’s the running of the household to make sure everyone is safe, healthy, and fed. On the other, there’s you providing emotional support and guidance, instilling positive values, and making sure they feel loved and cherished. In short, there’s a lot on the average parent’s plate.
It’s definitely no walk in the park, but here’s the good news: there’s government support to help you navigate some of these challenges. Looking at the announcements from the 2026 National Day Rally (NDR), there’s support available for every eligible Singaporean family – whether you’re planning for a family, expecting a baby on the way, or already raising teenagers (or three-nagers).
1. Couples and families looking for housing
Higher income ceilings for public housing means more couples and families can have access to affordable housing options. The income ceiling for BTO and SBF flats, HDB loans and CPF Housing Grants for resale flats have been raised from $14,000 to $16,000, while the income ceiling for new Executive Condominiums (EC) has been raised from $16,000 to $18,000.
2. Families with children
First-timer families with or expecting children are given greater priority when balloting for new HDB flats, and will receive an additional ballot chance for each Singaporean child aged 18 and below from the February 2027 sales exercise.
Pro-tip: Get a certification of pregnancy from your gynae to qualify for the additional ballot.
Finances aside, both you and your spouse are entitled to government-paid maternity and paternity leave to rest, recuperate, and bond with bub.
Once your baby is born, the SG Child Support Package will provide sustained financial support as your child grows, regardless of birth order.
SG Child Support Package
- $10,000 Baby Gift
- $5,000 Child Development Account (CDA) First Step Grant, and up to $5,000 in dollar-for-dollar matching.
- $2,000 in annual Child Credits from ages one to 16
- $10,000 Post-Secondary Education Account (PSEA) top-up at age 17
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 – each Singapore citizen child receives around $70,000 of direct financial support from birth to age 17.
Pro-tip: Set up a joint or personal bank account for your child and register for their own PayNow ID by April 2027, as the Baby Gift payout will be paid directly to your child’s bank account. The PayNow ID is their birth certificate number.
Do note that this bank account is not the same as the CDA. CDA is a ring-fenced account and money deposited into it can only be used for approved expenses in approved institutions (e.g. fees for ECDA-registered preschools and treatments at Baby Bonus-registered clinics), and funds cannot be withdrawn in cash.
3. Parents with children in infant care and/or preschool
Ahh, the baby- and toddler-hood days. The days may seem long, but trust us, the years will feel short. In the blink of an eye, they’re ready for their first day of preschool. At this stage, you can look forward to more affordable preschool fees and subsidies.
By 2030, full-day childcare and infant care fees will be reduced to $150 and $300 per month, respectively. Full preschool subsidies will also be extended to families with Singapore citizen children, regardless of the applicant’s working status.
There’ll be days when bub feels unwell and needs more TLC. This is accounted for in the form of childcare leave. As announced in NDR 2026, working parents with children aged 12 and below can look forward to more childcare leave!
One child: 8 days per working parent
Two children: 10 days per working parent
Three children and more: 12 days per working parent
The start date of this new childcare leave policy will be announced later.
4. Parents with children in primary and secondary school
As kids move on to the ‘big’ schools, the nature of your child-related expenses may evolve too. On top of the SG Child Support Package, your kiddos will be getting Edusave contributions of about $2,500 in total, throughout primary and secondary school.
You can use these funds to pay for your children’s school fees, enrichment programmes organised by their school, as well as approved personal learning (e.g. school-issued laptops or tablets) and assistive learning devices.
5. Parents with children aged 17
The support doesn’t stop when your teenager turns 17. They will get a $10,000 top-up into their PSEA. The balance in their CDA and Edusave accounts will also move into the PSEA, which they can use for tuition fees at polytechnics, approved local universities, and even approved courses on SkillsFuture.
Starting or raising a family? These support measures have your back.
Whatever stage your family is at, there’s some support for you! You can read the full details of these support measures that were announced at NDR 2026 here.
This post is in partnership with gov.sg.
