Prime Minister Lawrence Wong unveiled a new SG Child Support Package on August 23 during the National Day Rally speech, promising nearly S$70,000 in financial support for every Singaporean child from birth to age 17 [1, 2, 3]. The package replaces the previous Baby Bonus Scheme and Large Families Scheme, providing uniform benefits regardless of birth order or family circumstances [1, 4, 3, 5].
The support includes a S$10,000 Baby Gift payable in two tranches within 12 months of birth and annual Child Credits of S$2,000 from age one to 16, totaling S$32,000 [1, 2, 6]. Parents will also receive a S$5,000 Child Development Account (CDA) First Step Grant and up to S$5,000 in government CDA co-matching contributions, with a S$10,000 top-up to the child’s Post-Secondary Education Account (PSEA) [1, 4, 6]. Older existing schemes such as the S$5,000 MediSave Grant for newborns and yearly Edusave contributions continue alongside the new measures, reaching nearly S$70,000 per child in total support [1, 2, 6].
More than 610,000 children from about 380,000 Singaporean households are expected to benefit from the new package, extending government support from a previous limit of 12 years old up to age 17 [1, 2, 3, 6]. Prime Minister Wong 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" [1]. He emphasized the shift from concentrated birth support to consistent aid throughout raising a child [7].
Under the updated framework, working parents with children aged 12 and below will be entitled to enhanced childcare leave: 8 days annually for one child, 10 days for two, and 12 days for three or more children. This merges existing leave schemes and extends paid leave, with the government reimbursing employers for the full duration of all child-related leave, including maternity leave, up to set limits [7, 8, 9, 10]. Dual-working parents with three or more children can thus receive up to 24 childcare leave days per year combined.
The new benefits will also extend regardless of parents' marital status, including single-parent families. The National Population and Talent Division said, "As the benefits are intended to support the growth and development of children, they will be extended to all SC children, regardless of birth order, family circumstances, or their parents’ marital status" [3]. However, the government maintains its long-standing position supporting parenthood within marriage [3].
For children born before April 1, 2027, and under 7 years old, existing Baby Bonus payouts will continue until March 31, 2027, with a top-up if needed to reach S$10,000. The new child support scheme will apply to children born on or after April 1, 2027, with the CDA government co-matching remaining at current levels until September 30, 2027, before capping at S$5,000 regardless of birth order [4, 5, 11].
