Singapore Baby Bonus Scheme & CDA Guide 2026

1. Baby Bonus Cash Gift: 2026 Amounts and Payment Schedule

For eligible Singapore Citizen children born on or after 14 February 2023, the enhanced Baby Bonus Cash Gift is **S$11,000 for the 1st and 2nd birth order** and **S$13,000 for the 3rd and subsequent birth order**. The Cash Gift is paid through the child's Child Savings Account (CSA), which is opened automatically when the CDA is opened. The Cash Gift is separate from the CDA First Step Grant and separate from Government CDA co-matching.

2. Child Development Account: First Step Grant and Government Co-Matching

All eligible Singapore Citizen children receive a **S$5,000 CDA First Step Grant**. For a 3rd or subsequent birth-order child born on or after **18 February 2025**, the Large Families Scheme provides an additional **S$5,000**, bringing the total First Step Grant to **S$10,000**. The additional S$5,000 is part of the Large Families Scheme rather than a replacement of the base Baby Bonus First Step Grant.

Parents can deposit their own money into the CDA and receive a **dollar-for-dollar Government co-matching contribution** until the child's applicable birth-order cap is reached. The current caps are **S$4,000 for the 1st child, S$7,000 for the 2nd child, S$9,000 for the 3rd and 4th child, and S$15,000 for the 5th and subsequent child**. The Government matching is credited after eligible deposits; it is not an instant cash rebate at the point of deposit.

3. Eligibility: Citizenship, Marriage and Unwed-Parent Rules

The Baby Bonus Scheme is not a universal payment to every child born in Singapore. The child must satisfy the applicable **Singapore citizenship** conditions, and the exact benefit can depend on the child's date of birth, date of citizenship, birth order and whether the parents are lawfully married. A child who becomes a Singapore Citizen later can receive benefits subject to the applicable pro-ration rules and scheme conditions.

For the **Baby Bonus Cash Gift**, the parents must be lawfully married under the applicable rules. Children of parents who are not married can nevertheless receive **CDA benefits**: Singapore Citizen children born on or after **1 September 2016** to single parents who have never been married can qualify for the CDA First Step Grant and Government co-matching up to the applicable cap. Therefore, the statement that an unmarried mother receives the Cash Gift is incorrect, while the statement that she can receive CDA benefits is correct subject to eligibility.

4. Application, CDA/CSA Setup, Payment Timing and Approved Uses

Parents apply for Baby Bonus through **LifeSG**. From 1 July 2024, Baby Bonus applications are submitted online through LifeSG, either together with birth registration for an eligible Singapore Citizen newborn or through the separate Baby Bonus service for a child whose birth has already been registered. The parent who submits the application becomes the default CDA trustee and CSA joint account holder, subject to the applicable account rules.

After successful enrolment, parents choose **POSB/DBS, OCBC or UOB** for the child's CDA and CSA and then complete account opening with the bank. Once the CDA and CSA are successfully opened, MSF states that the first Cash Gift payment is generally received within **7 to 10 working days**, the CDA First Step Grant within **2 weeks excluding public holidays**, and Government co-matching contributions within **2 weeks excluding public holidays** after eligible deposits.

5. What Changes in 2026: Baby Bonus Continues, Then Transitions in April 2027

As of **August 2026**, the Baby Bonus Scheme remains the applicable scheme for children within its current eligibility period. The Government has announced the new **SG Child Support Package**, which will replace the Baby Bonus Scheme and Large Families Scheme for the new regime. The new package's payouts begin from **April 2027**, so a 2026 guide must distinguish the current Baby Bonus rules from the future package rather than presenting the future package as already in force.

Children born between **1 January 2014 and 31 March 2027** who are already enrolled in Baby Bonus will be automatically transitioned to the SG Child Support Package from April 2027. Children born on or after **1 April 2027** will be enrolled directly into the new package. Parents of children who are eligible for Baby Bonus but are not yet enrolled can still enrol under the Baby Bonus Scheme before the transition, subject to the applicable rules.