Budget 2026: All families with children aged 12 and below to receive S$500 Child LifeSG credits in 2026
All families with a Singaporean child aged 12 and below in 2026 will receive $500 in Child LifeSG Credits (CLC) per child, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced in his Budget speech. The move comes alongside enhanced pre-school and student care subsidies to help ease the cost of raising children.
- Every Singaporean child aged 12 and below in 2026 will receive S$500 in Child LifeSG Credits.
- Income thresholds for pre-school and student care subsidies will be raised, benefiting over 60,000 families.
- The Government is reviewing the student care sector to better support families with primary school children.
SINGAPORE: All families with a Singaporean child aged 12 and below in 2026 will receive SS$500 in Child LifeSG Credits (CLC) per child, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced during his Budget speech on 12 February.
The credits can be used to pay for daily household expenses such as groceries and utilities at physical and online merchants that accept PayNow or NETS QR payments.
This new payout is on top of the one-off S$500 CLC per child announced in 2025, as part of ongoing measures to help families cope with the cost of raising children.
PM Wong said the Government wants to create conditions that give young couples confidence to start a family.
“The decision to get married and have children is deeply personal. But for those who wish to take this step, the Government will do more to support them along the way,” he said.
Disbursement Timeline
The Child LifeSG Credits were first introduced in Budget 2025, with around 450,000 children expected to benefit.
For the earlier tranche:
- Children born between 2013 and 2024 received their credits in July 2025.
- Children born in 2025 will receive theirs in April 2026.
For the latest round announced in Budget 2026:
- Children born between 2014 and 2025 will receive the credits in July 2026.
- Children born in 2026 will receive theirs in April 2027.
The credits are accessible via the LifeSG app.
Higher Income Thresholds for Pre-School Subsidies
Beyond direct cash support, the Government will enhance pre-school subsidies by raising income thresholds under the Infant and Childcare Additional Subsidy Scheme.
Key changes include:
- Gross Monthly Household Income (HHI) ceiling increased from S$12,000 to S$15,000.
- Per Capita Income (PCI) threshold (for households with at least five members) raised from S$3,000 to S$3,400.
There will also be adjustments to subsidy tiers. For instance, families with a S$8,000 HHI can now receive a maximum of S$260 in additional subsidies, up from S$190 previously.
The Kindergarten Fee Assistance Scheme (KiFAS) will also see similar increases in income eligibility thresholds.
More than 60,000 families are expected to benefit from these enhancements.
Student Care Subsidies Increased
The Government will also enhance the Student Care Fee Assistance (SCFA) scheme.
Changes include:
- HHI threshold raised from S$4,500 to S$6,500.
- PCI threshold increased from S$1,125 to S$1,625.
Around 13,000 children enrolled in student care centres registered with the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) are expected to benefit.
Existing beneficiaries do not need to take any action, as the revised subsidies will be automatically applied from January 2027.
Review of Student Care Sector
PM Wong added that the Government is undertaking a “holistic review” of the student care sector to better support families with primary school-going children.
“We will continue to keep pre-school and student care affordable to support the critical early years of a child’s development,” he said.
The measures form part of broader efforts to address cost-of-living concerns and encourage family formation in Singapore.
