NDR 2026: Each S’porean child to get almost $70,000 from birth to age 17

SINGAPORE – Every Singaporean child will receive almost $70,000 in government support that will provide more sustained financial help throughout their growing years, regardless of birth order.

The new package includes a $10,000 Baby Gift in cash and $32,000 in Child Credits.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced the new $62,000 SG Child Support Package during his National Day Rally speech on Aug 23. Other parts of the new package consist of a $5,000 Child Development Account (CDA) First Step Grant, up to $5,000 in government CDA co-matching and a $10,000 top-up to the child’s Post-Secondary Education Account.

He said: “The work is still ongoing. We are aiming for more than incremental improvements or changes to individual schemes. We want to make a fundamental shift in how we support families.”

Together with existing benefits like the $5,000 Medisave Grant for Newborns at birth and annual Edusave contributions across primary and secondary school, each Singaporean child will receive around $70,000 in direct financial support from birth to age 17.

This is up from $27,500 to $56,500 per child that parents currently receive in direct financial support, depending on birth order.

As at June, there are more than 610,000 children across 380,000 households in Singapore who are expected to benefit from the measures.

In his speech, PM Wong said that no other institution can replace the family, and that is why nothing matters more than helping families thrive. Singapore’s future will only be as strong as the families that build it, he added.

He said that today, there are different schemes and ways to support parents, and support varies depending on the child’s birth order.

“The schemes have become quite complex, and many parents find it hard to understand.”

“We will make things simpler. Every child will receive the same level of support. We will provide more support not just at birth but throughout the years, as children grow up,” he said.

How the new package will work

Under the new package, the $10,000 Baby Gift will be disbursed in two tranches within 12 months of the child’s birth, providing more upfront help with the higher expenses incurred at birth and during the first year.

The $32,000 Child Credits will provide a $2,000 annual cash payout from the year the child turns one until the year he or she turns 16.

This replaces and enhances the existing Large Family LifeSG Credits, which currently offers $1,000 a year for six years to each third and subsequent child. Under the new package, the annual amount will double to $2,000, the support will continue for 16 years, and it will be extended to children of all birth orders.

The package also includes a $5,000 CDA First Step Grant and up to $5,000 in government co-matching contributions.

The CDA will remain open until the end of the year the child turns 16, instead of closing when the child turns 12 under the current system. This gives parents a longer period to benefit from government co-matching and use CDA funds for approved child-raising costs, said the National Population and Talent Division on Aug 23.

Children born on or after Jan 1, 2015, will have their CDAs extended to the end of the year they turn 16. Those born before Jan 1, 2015, will retain their Post-Secondary Education Account (PSEAs) because their CDAs would already have closed.

When the child turns 17, the Government will provide a further $10,000 top-up to his or her PSEA to help defray the cost of higher education.

The new package will also cover existing Singaporean children born in or turning one to 17 in 2026. They will receive benefits based on their corresponding age in 2026 and in subsequent years

There will be transitional arrangements for children who are already receiving support under the existing schemes.

Children born before April 1, 2027, who are still receiving Baby Bonus Cash Gift payouts will continue to receive those payouts until March 31, 2027. As the Baby Gift replaces the Baby Bonus Cash Gift, they will receive a top-up, where applicable, by April 30, 2027, to bring their total support to $10,000.

For Child Credits, children who turn one to 16 in 2026 will receive their 2026 payment of $2,000 by April 30, 2027.

For children with birthdays between January and April 2027, their 2027 Child Credits of $2,000 will also be paid by April 30, 2027. Those with birthdays between May and December will receive the payment on their birthdays.

From 2028, Child Credits will be paid annually on the child’s birthday until the year he or she turns 16. The existing Large Family LifeSG Credits will cease, with no disbursements in 2027.

CDA co-matching

There will also be transitional arrangements for CDA co-matching.

Children born on or after April 1, 2027, will receive the $5,000 CDA First Step Grant and be eligible for government CDA co-matching of up to $5,000.

For children born between Jan 1, 2015, and March 31, 2027, their existing CDA co-matching caps will be retained until Sept 30, 2027, after which their caps will be adjusted to the uniform $5,000 cap from Oct 1, 2027.

For older children born between Jan 1, 2009, and Dec 31, 2014, their existing PSEA co-matching arrangements will similarly be retained until Sept 30, 2027, before being adjusted to the uniform $5,000 cap from Oct 1. PSEA co-matching will cease for new PSEAs opened from Jan 1, 2028.

The $10,000 PSEA top-up will be given to children turning 17 in 2026 in June 2027. Children turning 17 from 2027 onwards will receive the top-up in June of the year they turn 17.