Marriage is the beginning of a wonderful journey between two people who share a bond that transcends the mundane. Many embark on this journey together with happiness, bliss and the pitter patter of little feet as their goal.
There are however real challenges faced by couples, as they begin their journey together, especially when they start to plan for children. Challenges such as work-life balance, childcare options and the cost of child-rearing.
The Singapore Government has responded by enhancing pro-family measures to make Singapore a truly conducive environment for you to start and raise your family.
We've put together a list of schemes which may be relevant to you at the various points of your journey with your better half. We wish you all the very best that life has to offer.
PUBLIC HOUSING
The Singapore Government has various public housing schemes to help couples who are just starting out, to minimise the stresses of getting a roof over their heads as they being their lives as husband and wife.
Fiance/Fiancee Scheme
This scheme allows couples who intend to get married to purchase an HDB flat from the open market.
The applicant and fiance/fiancee must either be a Singapore Citizen or a Singapore Permanent Resident of 21 years and above.
The couple must also register their marriage with the Registries of Civil or Muslim Marriages accordingly and submit their Marriage Certificate to the HDB within 3 months of taking possession of the flat.
For further information, you can visit the HDB InfoWEB.
Priority Schemes
The HDB offers various forms of Priority Schemes to help meet the needs of applicants in the best way possible.
Under the First Timers Scheme, the HDB reserves up to 90 percent of flats on offer in the Build-To-Order System (BTO) and Balloting Exercise (BE) to first timers to help ensure that the pressing needs of such applicants are met.
Under the Married Child Priority Scheme, the HDB encourages married children to reside in the same estate as or neighbouring estate from their parents. This Scheme aims allow married children to foster care for their aged parents.
The Third Child Priority Scheme aims to encourage Singaporeans to have more than two children. Under this scheme, up to 5 percent of available flats are reserved for such applicants.
For further information on the various priority schemes, you can visit the HDB InfoWEB.
CPF Housing Grant Scheme
The CPF Housing Grant Scheme for Families aims to assist assist first-timer citizen households to buy a resale flat from the
open market.
The amount varies between $15,000 to $40,000 depending on type of grant.
For further information, you can visit the HDB InfoWEB.
CHILDREN, WHAT WOULD LIFE BE WITHOUT THEM?
To encourage Singaporeans to have children, the Singapore Government has put in place various programmes to help couples along, every step of the way.
CONCEPTION & MATERNITY
Medisave for Assisted Conception Procedures
To help couples better afford treatment for Assisted Conception Procedures, you can withdraw $6,000, $5,000 and $4,000 from your Medisave for the first, second and third treatment cycles respectively. This is an increase from the previous $4,000 withdrawal limit per treatment.
Medisave Maternity Package
The Medisave Maternity Package allows you to use your Medisave for the delivery and pre-delivery Medisave expenses of your first four children. The privilege is extended to the fifth and subsequent child if you and you spouse have a combined Medisave balance of at least $15,000 at the time of delivery.
Maternity Leave
To allow working mothers, to have more time to recover from childbirth and care for their newborn, Maternity Leave was extended from 8 to 12 weeks with effect from 1 October 2004 for all births.
The additional 4 weeks of maternity leave can be taken in a block or taken flexibly, in mutual agreement with the employer, over a period of 6 months from the child's birth.
For the first two confinements, the employer pays for the first 8 weeks of maternity leave while the government pays for the additional 4 weeks. For the third and fourth confinements, the government will pay for the entire 12 weeks of maternity leave. The employer will continue paying the mother for the duration of the maternity leave and then claim reimbursement from the government.
THE JOYS OF PARENTHOOD
Some mothers might say the pain of childbirth is nothing compared to the years of "pain" bringing up your child. To help ease that "pain", the Singapore Government has put in place many programmes and schemes.
Baby Bonus Scheme
Introduced on 1 April 2001, this scheme was introduced by the Singapore Government to arrest declining birth rates. Since its introduction this scheme has evolved, having gone through two rounds of enhancements, the first on 1 August 2004 and the most recent on 17 August 2008.
The latest enhancement increased benefits to the first and second child and extended benefits to Singapore citizen children beyond the fourth child.
The cash gifts for the first and second children was increased to $4,000 and $6,000 for the third and fourth child.
The dollar-for-dollar matching by the Government into the Children's Development Account (CDA) was increased to $6,000 for the first and second child, $12,000 for the third and fourth child and $18,000 for the fifth and subsequent child.
Tax Incentives
Working Mother's Child Relief
Introduced in the year of assessment 2005, this relief was introduced to reward families with children as well as to encourage married women to stay in the workforce after having children.
From Year of Assessment 2009 onwards, a working mother can claim between 15 - 25 percent of her earned income for each child, depending on the birth order.
Parenthood Tax Rebate
The Parenthood Tax Rebate is a lump sum rebate given to married Singaporeans to encourage them to have more children by providing some financial support.
The rebate can be used to offset income tax payable and can be shared by both parents.
Child Relief / Handicapped Child Relief
This relief is given in recognition of families' efforts in supporting their children and caring for handicapped children.
Relief for each qualifying child is $4,000 while that for each handicapped child is $5,500.
Grandparent Caregiver Relief
This relief provides recognition for grandparents help working mothers by taking on the role as caregiver to their grandchildren.
This relief is given in addition to Parents Relief as well as Foreign Maid Levy Relief.
Foreign Maid Levy Relief
To encourage married women to remain in the workforce, this relief is given to working mothers. The maximum amount claimed depends on the levy paid for that year of assessment.
Infant and Child Care Subsidies
Since 17 August 2008, the Singapore government has increased infant and childcare subsidies to help give better support for parents with young children, as well as to encourage those without children to have them.
Refer to our article for a clearer picture on the above subsidies.
- Family.sg