Last Updated on June 26, 2023 by Parentology
Contents
Baby Support Grant
The Baby Support Grant was released by the Ministry of Social and Family Development in response to the difficulties of having children in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is essentially a one-time grant of $3,000 if the child’s date of birth (or estimated date of birth) is between 1 October 2020 and 30 September 2022.
This grant will be automatically given to children who are already enrolled into the Baby Bonus Scheme and are receiving this existing Baby Bonus cash gift at the time of birth. Parents can register children for the Baby Bonus Scheme as usual as long as they fulfill the criteria for the scheme and are born between the dates listed above, and the enrollment into the Baby Support Grant will be automatic.
This article covers specific questions regarding eligibility and the use of the Baby Support Grant
Administrative Concerns
The Baby Support Grant will be credited to the bank account that is registered for the Baby Bonus Scheme – this should be the same bank account where parents and caregivers will receive the Baby Bonus cash gift. The Baby Support Grant will be credited into this account within 1 month of registration for the Baby Bonus Scheme, while the usual Baby Bonus cash gift is provided within 2 weeks of either the child’s birth or registration for Baby Bonus, whichever comes later.
To register for the Baby Bonus Scheme (and therefore the Baby Support Grant), you can go to the Baby Bonus Online website, which can be found here. MSF has also released a series of videos to help new users navigate the Baby Bonus Online website under the tag of #BiteSizedBabyBonus, which can be found on the Facebook Baby Bonus Parenting Resources page.
There are no restrictions on the use of the Baby Support Grant, but MSF encourages that it be used for the sake of offsetting the costs of having children during these difficult times. This can include paying for healthcare or childcare fees.
The grant is provided for every child – that is, if you have twins or triplets, you will receive $3,000 per child as long as each child is eligible for the Baby Bonus Scheme.
Baby Support Grant Eligibility
As long as children meet the eligibility conditions for the Baby Bonus Scheme (they are a Singaporean Citizen and their parents – biological or adoptive – are lawfully married) and are born between 1 October 2020 and 30 September 2022, they are eligible for the scheme. This includes adopted children or children in the process of obtaining Singaporean Citizenship.
It is also the same for Singaporeans living overseas, whose children are born overseas. As long as the child’s parents are married, the child is a Singaporean Citizen (or receiving Singaporean Citizenship), and their birthdates fall in the above range, they are eligible. They can then be registered for the Baby Bonus Scheme and receive both the cash gift and Baby Support Grant.
This should apply to foreign adoptive children as well, as long as they fulfil the same criteria (adoption has been completed, adoptive parents are married, the child has received Singaporean Citizenship).
Dates of Birth and Estimated Dates of Birth
If your child’s actual birth date is within the specified range (1 October 2020 – 30 September 2022), then you are automatically qualified for the Baby Support Grant and do not need to provide any additional documentation. You will simply receive the grant within 1 month of enrollment into the scheme.
However, if your child is yet to be born and you would like to ensure that you receive the Baby Support Grant, you may ask your doctor for an Estimated Date of Delivery (EDD) document, which will list the date on which your physician thinks your child will be delivered.
This document should include the following items:
- The child’s estimated delivery date
- The mother’s name and identification number
- The name of the clinic
- The doctor’s signature
In the case that your EDD was within the range, but your child’s actual date of birth was out of range, you can still receive the Baby Support Grant if you are eligible for the original Baby Bonus Cash Gift – that is, you have yet to receive the cash gift. To receive the BSG – as it is not quite automatic in this case – you will need to email a copy of your doctor’s certification on your child’s EDD as well as other relevant information (including your child’s birth certificate) to MSF at msf_babybonus@msf.gov.sg for a review of your situation.
With this new Baby Support Grant, parents may now receive up to $21,000 in benefits (Baby Support Grant, Baby Bonus Cash Gift, Baby Bonus CDA co-matching) for the birth of their first child in addition to any other relevant government benefits (Government-Paid Maternity Leave, Government-Paid Paternity Leave, subsidies, levy concessions, etc.) as part of the Marriage and Parenthood Package. The government hopes that these efforts help Singaporean Citizens in their efforts to raise a family by reducing their financial worries, and will likely continue to work on similar efforts.
To find out what benefits you may receive under the package, the government has released a feature on the LifeSG application called the Family Support Calculator, which will tell you – based on your individual and family situation – what benefits you may receive. You can also contact MSF’s Baby Bonus hotline at 1800-111-2222 locally.
For more information, do read the rest of our articles on Baby Bonus Corner and All About CDA.
Are you a young parent navigating the financial complexities of raising a child? Our experienced financial advisor is here to help you make informed decisions about your financial future. From understanding government grants and benefits to creating a comprehensive financial plan tailored to your unique situation, we are committed to supporting you every step of the way.
Contact our financial advisor today and take control of your family’s financial well-being.
