Singapore To Give Families Nearly N94m for Every Child Born

Singapore has unveiled a new financial support package that will provide eligible Singaporean children with government benefits worth nearly S$70,000 from birth until they turn 17.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced the new S$62,000 SG Child Support Package during his National Day Rally speech on August 23, describing the measures as part of a broader effort to provide stronger and more consistent support for families.

The package includes a S$10,000 cash Baby Gift, S$32,000 in Child Credits, a S$5,000 Child Development Account grant, up to S$5,000 in government co-matching for the account and a S$10,000 top-up to the child’s Post-Secondary Education Account.

Wong said the government wanted to move beyond simply making adjustments to existing schemes and instead change the way families are supported.

“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,” he said.

When existing benefits such as the S$5,000 MediSave Grant for Newborns and annual Edusave contributions are included, total government support could reach about S$70,000 per child.

The figure is significantly higher than the current support of between S$27,500 and S$56,500, which varies according to a child’s birth order.

Wong said the new system would also make it easier for parents to understand and access government assistance.

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

“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.”

The new measures are expected to benefit more than 610,000 children across about 380,000 households.

Under the package, the S$10,000 Baby Gift will be paid in two instalments during the child’s first year, while the S$32,000 Child Credits will provide S$2,000 annually from the age of one until the child turns 16.

The government will also provide a further S$10,000 top-up to the child’s Post-Secondary Education Account when the child reaches 17.

The measures form part of Singapore’s broader efforts to encourage marriage and parenthood as the country grapples with a declining birth rate.

Wong said the government was prepared to commit significant resources to supporting families and children.

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