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.
“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.
CNA
