Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced a new SG Child Support Package replacing the existing baby bonus, providing about S$70,000 in direct financial support per child by age 17 regardless of birth order during his National Day Rally speech on August 23 at ITE College Central in Ang Mo Kio [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6].
Under the package, children will receive S$2,000 annually in child credits from ages 1 to 16 alongside Edusave top-ups. At age 17, a S$10,000 top-up will be credited to a post-secondary education account [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. Babies born on or after April 1, 2027, will receive full benefits, while those born or turning 1 to 17 in 2026 will get benefits progressively based on age [4, 5].
Childcare leave entitlement for working parents will increase from the current 6 or 2 days, depending on the youngest child's age, to 8 days for parents of one child, 10 days for two, and 12 days for three or more children up to age 12. The government will assume full costs for statutory child-related leave up to reimbursement limits instead of sharing with employers [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6].
Full-day childcare fees at government-supported centres will be reduced to S$150 per month, and infant care fees to S$300, for all Singaporean children regardless of household income, within the next few years [1, 2, 3].
Housing income ceilings will also be adjusted. The income limit for families purchasing Build-to-Order flats will rise from S$14,000 to S$16,000 per month, and for executive condominiums, the ceiling will increase from S$16,000 to S$18,000 per month [6].
Prime Minister Wong said, "Families will get greater support and confidence for the future, while Singapore will harness the power of new technology on its own terms" [1]. He added, "These are not separate agendas, but part of one larger mission to keep the Republic trusted, relevant and resilient in a rapidly changing world" [2].
The new child support package will fully apply to children born on or after April 1, 2027 [4, 5].
