To them defray the costs of raising a child during the COVID-19 pandemic, parents of Singaporean children born from Oct 1, 2020, to Sept 30, 2022, can get a one-off $3,000 Baby Support Grant, the National Population and Talent Division (NPTD) of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in a media release.
The Baby Support Grant (BSG) will supplement the existing Baby Bonus cash gift, which can go up to $10,000, and will be deposited into the same bank account as what parents' nominated when they enrol their child for the Baby Bonus Scheme (BBS), and the cash gift. The grant also adds to the Marriage Parenthood Package.
Payments for the BSG will start from April 1 next year or within one month of enrolment in the Baby Bonus scheme, whichever is later.
Baby Support Grant: Frequently Asked Questions
The BSG will be deposited into the same bank account, which is used to receive the Baby Bonus Cash Gift. As IT system changes will be needed to give out the BSG, the grant will be deposited from 1 Apr 2021, or within 1 month of enrolment into the Baby Bonus Scheme (BBS), whichever is later. Parents can visit this website to enrol into the BBS scheme.
There are no restrictions on the use of BSG.
Each eligible child gets a $3,000 BSG. Therefore, parents of twins can receive $6,000.
My child was born in October but before the grant was announced on 9 October, is my child eligible for the grant?
Yes, parents of Singaporean children born from Oct 1, 2020, to Sept 30, 2022, (inclusive of both dates) are eligible for the one-off grant of $3,000. Each couple will get $3,000.
Why is the grant only applicable for babies born from 1 Oct 2020 when parents would have been affected by the pandemic even earlier in 2020?
According to NPTD, said it understands that parents who have missed the start date might be disappointed. "But we would like to seek the public's understanding that specific start dates are needed for any new measure or enhancement."
The NPTD added that parents of children born before 1 Oct 2020 still enjoy the numerous benefits and support measures under the Marriage and Parenthood Package.
Impact of COVID-19 On Marriages And Births In Singapore
According to NPTD, the ongoing pandemic has resulted in parents opting to delay having children.
In a survey of about 4,100 Singaporeans found that about 3 in 10 respondents or 30 percent said they are likely to delay plans to get married or have a child due to the pandemic.
Survey results suggest that uncertainty about the global COVID-19 situation was the top reason for the delay, with 60 percent of respondents facing this concern. The other top reasons include uncertainty regarding employment prospects and safety of healthcare facilities.
Among those who planned to delay having children, 76 per cent would delay for up to two years while the rest would delay for even longer or were not sure how long they would delay.
The government said the additional support for newborns was introduced after receiving feedback that COVID-19 has led to some people to postponing parenthood plans.
“This is fully understandable, especially when they face uncertainty with their income,” Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat said during a ministerial statement on a Monday (Oct 5).
He reiterated that households would continue to be taken care of alongside support for businesses and workers, pointing out that this month, eligible households will receive the GST voucher rebate, the first tranche of grocery vouchers, and rebates for service and conservancy charges.
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