NDR 2026: Each Singaporean child to get almost S$70,000 in growing years as part of moves to support parents

A new package will provide every Singaporean child with the same level of support regardless of birth order, unlike the existing Baby Bonus Scheme.

SINGAPORE: Every Singaporean child will receive almost S$70,000 (US$55,140) in direct financial support by the time they turn 17, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Sunday (Aug 23).

A new scheme will provide more support, not just at a child’s birth, but throughout the years as they grow up, he said at the National Day Rally. It will include components such as a cash gift, MediSave grant, Child Credits and others.

“Taken together, every Singaporean child will receive almost S$70,000 in direct financial support as they grow up,” said Mr Wong.

Called the SG Child Support Package, the new scheme consolidates and replaces the financial support currently provided through the Baby Bonus Scheme and Large Families Scheme, said the National Population and Talent Division (NPTD) in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

Each child will get more financial support under this package. For example, the firstborn child stands to get S$42,000 more than present schemes by the time he or she turns 17, while the third child stands to get S$19,000 more.

As at June 2026, there are more than 610,000 children aged 17 and below across 380,000 households that stand to benefit from the package.

Children from single-parent families will also receive cash under the new package. Currently, the cash gift that is given out as part of the Baby Bonus Scheme, as well as the Large Family LifeSG Credits, are only applicable for children whose parents are lawfully married.

“The traditional family unit remains the prevailing social norm in Singapore. The government’s longstanding position has been to support parenthood within marriage. This continues to be the case and there is no shift in thinking on this,” said the NPTD.

However, there is a recognition of the importance of supporting every Singaporean child in their growth and development, said the NPTD.

“As the benefits are intended to support the growth and development of children, they will be extended to all SC (Singapore citizen) children, regardless of birth order, family circumstances, or their parents’ marital status,” it said.

CASH SUPPORT

The new scheme will also have a longer support duration of up to 17 years old, up from age 12 currently, with more support also coming in cash rather than through the Child Development Accounts (CDAs).

As cash is more flexible, this change makes the support more universal and less dependent on parents’ ability to save into the CDA, said the NPTD.

The new SG Child Support Package will also provide every Singaporean child with the same level of support, regardless of the child’s birth order.

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.

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  ## HELP FOR SENIORS, SINGLES AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

Mr Wong said that the government is also looking at ways to help seniors age well in their own homes and communities, with several ministries working on a package of measures. This includes helping seniors continue working, have more flexibility in using MediSave for healthcare needs, and unlocking the values of their homes for retirement, he said.

Persons with disabilities will also have opportunities to lead fulfilling lives and realise their potential, including smoother transitions from school to work, more employment opportunities and access to care and community support, said Mr Wong.

“And to our singles – we have not forgotten you. Many of you are caring for ageing parents or supporting your families in different ways. I know housing remains an important concern,” said Mr Wong, adding that his team intends to take further steps to better support singles within this term of government.

“We are putting real resources behind all of these plans because supporting families and Singaporeans through every stage of life is a national priority,” said Mr Wong.

“This goes beyond policies and support. We want to foster a more family-friendly society – in our workplaces, our communities, and in the way we support one another.”

The latest enhancements are part of the first set of recommendations from the Marriage and Parenthood Reset Workgroup to be accepted by the government. The group is chaired by Minister in the PMO Indranee Rajah and was launched in April this year.

On Sunday, Mr Wong said the Marriage and Parenthood Reset Workgroup is still working through the details of its key recommendations and other new ideas.

More details will be shared in the coming months, including at next year's Budget, he said.