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Baby Bonus Scheme
Baby Bonus Scheme
The Baby Bonus Scheme helps you manage the costs of raising a child. It comprises the (i) Baby Bonus Cash Gift (BBCG) and (ii) Child Development Account (CDA) benefits comprising First Step Grant and Government co-matching of parents’ savings. The Baby Bonus Scheme was enhanced in 2023 for eligible children born on or after 14 Feb 2023.
Baby Bonus Cash Gift
Since 2023, the Government has increased the BBCG by $3,000 for children in all birth orders, and adjusted the payout schedule to provide financial support on a regular basis. The BBCG is disbursed once every six months over the first six-and-a-half years of a child's life. This way, parents can receive sustained support all the way till their child enters primary school. From 1 Jul 2024, the BBCG will be paid into the Child Savings Account (CSA).
CSA is a joint-savings account that will be opened automatically when a CDA is opened for your child. As a default account for Government cash payments, the CSA will also be used to receive BBCG, education awards, or financial assistance, if any. For more details on the CSA, please refer to CSA FAQs on LifeSG at https://www.life.gov.sg/services/baby-bonus
For more information on CDA, please approach your CDA bank (DBS/POSB, OCBC, UOB).
Your child is eligible for BBCG if:
- He or she is a Singapore Citizen; and
- You are lawfully married to your spouse.
For more information on the Baby Bonus Cash Gift, visit https://www.life.gov.sg/services/baby-bonus
Check your eligibility for the cash gift
at go.gov.sg/bbeligibilitycheck
Child Development Account
The Child Development Account (CDA) is a special savings account for your child. The First Step Grant is deposited into the CDA without you having to save first, and your subsequent savings will be
co-matched by the Government, up to a cap.
Child Development Account First Step Grant
A CDA First Step Grant of $5,000 is given for children in all birth orders.
The CDA First Step Grant will be automatically deposited when you open the CDA for your child at any of the following banks: DBS/POSB, OCBC or UOB.
Government co-matching of parents’ savings
Enjoy dollar-for-dollar matching from the Government when you save into your child’s CDA, up to the Government co-matching cap. The Government has increased the
co-matching cap by $1,000 for children in the first and second birth orders.
- Fees for registered childcare centres, kindergartens, special education schools and early intervention programmes
- Medical expenses at healthcare institutions such as hospitals and General Practitioner clinics
- Premiums for MediShield Life or MediSave-approved private integrated plans
- Assistive technology devices
- Eye-related products and services at optical shops
- Approved healthcare items at pharmacies
- Childminding fees under the Early Childhood Development Agency's (ECDA) Childminding Pilot
Visit the Ministry of Social and Family Development’s Approved Institution webpage for the full list of organisations where the CDA savings can be used at.
Any savings left in the CDA after the year your child turns 12 will be transferred to his or her Post-Secondary Education Account*. Parents who have not saved up to the co-matching cap can continue to contribute to the Post-Secondary Education Account and receive the matching amount until the cap is reached, or when the child turns 18 years old, whichever is earlier.
*The Post-Secondary Education Account helps parents save for their children’s post-secondary education needs. Funds in the account can be used to pay for approved programmes (e.g. diploma, undergraduate programmes) in approved institutions, as well as to repay Government education loans and financial schemes. Subject to a cap, comprising the sum of the applicable CDA Government co-matching cap (based on the child’s birth order), the equivalent deposits made by parents, any ad-hoc top-ups to the CDA made by the Government, and accrued interests.
Determine if your child is eligible for the CDA at go.gov.sg/bbeligibilitycheck
Child Development Account First Step Grant and Government co-matching contribution caps
Improvements to Baby Bonus Services
From 1 Jul 2024, applications for the Baby Bonus Scheme and CDA related services have been made easier for all parents. You can now apply for Baby Bonus through the LifeSG mobile app or web (life.gov.sg) together with your child’s birth registration. If your child’s birth has already been registered, you can make direct Baby Bonus application for your eligible child at LifeSG too. Applications for CDA related services can be made directly from the CDA bank portal or mobile app.
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FAQ
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1. Where can I find out more about the electronic birth registration process for my child?
For more information, you can visit this website: go.gov.sg/lifesg-ebc
FAQs on LifeSG birth registration can be found here: https://www.life.gov.sg/help-support/birth-registration
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2. How do I join the Baby Bonus Scheme?
You can submit your application on the LifeSG mobile application or web using your Singpass.
Before submitting your application, check your child’s eligibility at http://www.go.gov.sg/bbeligibilitycheck
If your child is eligible, you can apply for the Baby Bonus Scheme together with the registration of your child’s birth as a bundled service at https://www.life.gov.sg/services/birth-registration
If your child’s birth has already been registered, you can apply for the Baby Bonus Scheme as a standalone service at https://www.life.gov.sg/services/baby-bonus.
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3. I am an overseas Singaporean parent. Is my child eligible for the Baby Bonus and how can I apply?
Your child will need to obtain Singapore Citizenship by the age of 12 to qualify for the full amount of Baby Bonus benefits. You can submit your application for the Baby Bonus Scheme through the LifeSG mobile application or web at https://www.life.gov.sg/services/baby-bonus
If you and your spouse are not Singapore Citizens at the time of your child's birth, your child must obtain Singapore Citizenship before reaching (a) 24 months of age to be eligible for the Baby Bonus Cash Gift, and (b) 12 years of age to be eligible for the Child Development Account. The Baby Bonus benefits will be pro-rated according to the date your child obtains Singapore Citizenship.
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4. Besides LifeSG, can I apply for Baby Bonus through the Baby Bonus website?
From 1 Jul 2024, LifeSG application or web is the single touchpoint for Baby Bonus application to facilitate citizen centricity. Eligible parents who are registering their child’s birth via LifeSG can also apply for the Baby Bonus and the National Library Board (NLB) basic membership at the same time at https://www.life.gov.sg/services/birth-registration
If you have already completed your child’s birth registration, you can proceed to https://www.life.gov.sg/services/baby-bonus to apply for the Baby Bonus Scheme.
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5. I prefer to receive the Baby Bonus Cash Gift in my nominated bank account, instead of the Child Savings Account (CSA). Can I do so?
For an eligible child who is enrolled for the Baby Bonus Scheme on or after 1 Jul 2024, a CSA will be opened automatically at the same time when a CDA is opened. The Baby Bonus Cash Gift will only be paid into the CSA. There will be no minimum balance requirement, fees or charges imposed on the CSA.
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6. If my child has just obtained Singapore Citizenship, what Baby Bonus Scheme benefits does he/she qualify for?
You can check your child’s eligibility and entitlement using the Eligibility Check tool.
If either you or your spouse is a Singapore citizen at the time of your child's birth, he/she will be eligible for the full Baby Bonus benefits. Your child must obtain Singapore Citizenship and join the scheme before reaching 12 years of age.
If you and your spouse are not Singapore citizens at the time of your child's birth, your child will be eligible for pro-rated benefits.
Your child must obtain Singapore Citizenship before 24 months of age to be eligible for the Cash Gift, and before 12 years of age to be eligible for the Child Development Account. The pro-rated amount will depend on the date that he or she becomes a Singapore citizen.
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7. Would parents have to return the Baby Bonus benefits that have already been disbursed to them in the following circumstances: (i) If the mother was lawfully married to the father, but divorced subsequently; (ii) If the child passes away subsequently.
(i) No. However, parents are required to inform the Ministry of Social and Family Development when there is a change in the (a) custody, care and control, or (b) care and control of the child. This is to facilitate changes (if any) in the trustee for the CDA and joint account holder for the CSA.
(ii) No. If the Baby Bonus Cash Gift has yet to be disbursed in full, the remaining balance will be paid into the CSA in one lump sum. Your child's CDA, if any, will also be closed. The remaining balances will be transferred to the Public Trustee for disbursement according to the Interstate Succession Act or Syariah Law.
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8. How is birth order determined? Are non-Singapore Citizen children/stepchildren/stillbirths counted in the birth order?
The birth order is pegged to the number of Singapore Citizen children born to the mother or adopted by the mother. The computation of birth order includes biological children, adopted-in children, and stillbirths or children who have passed away.
Multiple births (e.g. twins and triplets) are considered separate birth orders. For example, the first twin is considered as the first child and the second twin as the second child.
If there is an adopted child, the birth order is determined by the date of adoption, or the date the child becomes a Singapore Citizen, whichever is later.
Stepchildren, non-citizen children, foster children and adopted-out children are excluded from the computation of birth order.
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9. Are adopted children eligible for benefits under the Baby Bonus Scheme? What are the benefits that an adopted child will receive?
Yes, adopted children are eligible if they meet the eligibility conditions. Please use the Eligibility Check tool to check your adopted child’s eligibility and benefits.
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10. Is it compulsory to make a deposit to open a Child Development Account and top up savings in the account to the specified cap once the account is opened?
No, there is no such requirement. It is up to you to save based on your needs. For instance, if you save $10, the Government will match with an additional $10. The savings may be used for your child’s educational and healthcare expenses at Approved Institutions registered with the Ministry of Social and Family Development until the end of the year that your child turns 12 years old.
Interest earned is not considered as a contribution and will not be matched. Savings above the specified Government contribution cap will also not be matched. You may save into your child’s Child Development Account up to 31 Dec of the year he or she turns 12.
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11. What can I use the savings in the Child Development Account for?
The money may be used on all your children, even those without a Child Development Account, to pay for their expenses at Approved Institutions that have registered with the Ministry of Social and Family Development under the Baby Bonus Scheme. These include:
- Childcare centres licensed by the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA)
- Kindergartens registered with ECDA or Council for Private Education and special education schools registered with the Ministry of Education respectively
- Early intervention programmes registered with the Ministry of Social and Family Development
- Hospitals, clinics and other healthcare institutions licensed by the Ministry of Health
- Pharmacies registered with the Health Sciences Authority
- Optical shops registered with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority
- Assistive technology device providers registered with the National Council of Social Service, Ministry of Health or Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority
View the full list of Approved Institutions where the Child Development Account funds can be used at here: go.gov.sg/listofais.
Do note that the funds cannot be withdrawn in cash. Withdrawals from the Child Development Account can only be made via interbank GIRO or NETS at Approved Institutions.
- Payment via interbank GIRO: Please enquire with your Approved Institution. You will need to fill up an application form to use interbank GIRO for the Child Development Account and submit it to the institution.
- Payment via NETS: The bank you opened the Child Development Account with will issue you a Baby Bonus NETS Card. While you can use this card to make NETS payments at Approved Institutions from your child's Child Development Account, it cannot be used to make payments at other places, or to withdraw cash at ATMs.
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12. What happens to the Child Development Account after my child turns 12?
The account will be closed, and any unused account funds will be transferred to your child’s Post-Secondary Education Account, up to a cap. Child Development Account trustees will be notified if there is excess balance above this cap to be refunded.
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13. Where can I find out more about the Baby Bonus Scheme?
You can type your question in “Ask MSF” chatbot at Baby Bonus Online (www.babybonus.msf.gov.sg) or visit go.gov.sg/bbofaq.
For more information on the Baby Bonus Scheme, please visit go.gov.sg/bbofaq For queries, please call the MSF hotline at 1800-111-2222 (local) or 65-6253-7707 (overseas).
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