FAQs for Infant/Child Care Centre

S/N FAQ Response

1. What subsidies are available for There are two components under the Infant/Child Care Subsidy framework:
families with children enrolled in
infant/child care centres?  Basic Subsidy is available for all children who are Singapore Citizens and currently enrolled
in an ECDA-licensed childcare centre. The amount of subsidy that a family receives
depends on the working status of the mother and the type of programme that the child is
enrolled in.

 Additional Subsidy applies to families with mothers who work at least 56 hours or more per
month and the gross monthly household income (HHI) does not exceed $12,000 or $3,000
on per capita income (PCI) basis.

Larger households with at least 5 family members (with 3 or more dependants who are not
earning an income) may choose to have their income assessed via per capita income (PCI),
where:

 PCI = (Total gross monthly household income of family members) / (Number of family
members living in the same household)

 All family members included in the application must be related by blood, marriage and/or
legal adoption and living in the same residential address as reflected in the NRIC of the
main applicant.

 Dependants refer to persons living in the same household who are not earning an income.

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2. What is the eligibility criteria to All parents with a Singapore Citizen child enrolled in an ECDA-licensed child care centre will
receive Basic Subsidy and receive Basic Subsidy. The amount depends on the main applicant’s working status and the
Additional Subsidy? programme type that the child is enrolled in.

To qualify for Additional Subsidy, the main applicant should be working at least 56 hours per
month, and the monthly household income (HHI) should not exceed $12,000, or $3,000 on
per capita income (PCI) basis.

3. How will ECDA determine families’ For salaried employees, the gross monthly income is computed based on average income
household income? What if over the preceding 12-month period (before CPF deduction and including bonuses,
household incomes become commissions, overtime pay, and allowances).
higher/lower next year?
For self-employed persons, the gross monthly income is computed based on the annual trade
income from the latest IRAS Notice of Assessment, divided by 12.

To give parents greater certainty over the amount of subsidies they can receive, ECDA has
introduced fixed points of assessment.

Applicants’ working status and household income will be assessed when

(1) the child enrols in new centre,
(2) the child moves from infant care to child care, and
(3) the child moves from Nursery 2 (N2) to Kindergarten 1 (K1), i.e. at the end of N2.

Changes in household income between these points of assessment will not affect the
subsidies they receive, unless the parents wish to update ECDA and reapply for new rates of
subsidies due to changes in their circumstances.

4. Can I apply for preschool Fathers who are single, widowed, divorced or undergoing separation are eligible for Basic and
subsidies as a single father? Additional Subsidy. They can apply as a “single father” and submit Form 1 along with the
necessary supporting documents:

(1) If father’s name is in child’s birth certificate (BC)

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 Child BC
 Marriage search record from Registry of Marriages / Muslim Marriages

(2) Not in child’s BC

 Court Order
 Police Report on the whereabouts of the mother
 Marriage search record from Registry of Marriages / Muslim Marriages

After verification of the declared marital status and relationship with the child, the monthly
household income will be determined based on the single income of the father.

5. I am not a Singapore citizen Your child must be a Singapore Citizen and meets the eligibility criteria under the Infant/Child
(Permanent Resident or Care Subsidy Framework, in order to receive the Basic Subsidy and Additional Subsidy (if
Foreigner). Will my child be applicable).
eligible for the preschool
subsidies?

6. My child is adopted. Will he/she be Yes. An adopted child who is a Singapore Citizen and meets the eligibility criteria under the
eligible for the preschool Infant/Child Care Subsidy Framework can qualify for the preschool subsidies. You will need
subsidies? to provide official documents for verification of eligibility.

7. If my child is currently in EIPIC The EIPIC programme has its own subsidy framework. Please see https://www.sgenable.sg
(Early Intervention Programme for for details.
Infants and Children), does he/she
qualify for Additional Subsidy?

8. My child is withdrawn from the Children who are enrolled in full-day or half-day programmes are eligible for pro-rated subsidy
child care centre in the middle of during the month of withdrawal, based on the amount of fees paid by parents (e.g. 1 week, 2
the month. Is he/she eligible to weeks, 3 weeks or full month’s fee).
receive preschool subsidies?

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The pro-rated subsidy rate is based on the working status of the subsidy applicant, the
programme type enrolled and the fee payment amount.

The child must also have at least one day of attendance in the centre to be eligible for the
subsidy in the month.

9. Will non-working mothers benefit Yes. Non-working mothers are eligible for Basic Subsidy of up to $150 per month, but not the
from preschool subsidies? Additional Subsidy. They may also be eligible for other benefits such as Baby Bonus and the
Government’s matching contribution in the Child Development Account which can be used to
defray preschool expenses.

10. If I am unable to work due to Parents of all Singapore Citizen children who attend infant/child care, regardless of their
medical reasons or with working status, are eligible for Basic Subsidy.
extenuating circumstances (such
as taking care of sickly family Mothers (or single father applicants) who are not working receive a Basic Subsidy of $150.
members, or with a child with
special needs), can I qualify for On a case-by-case basis, ECDA provides higher subsidies to non-working mothers under the
preschool subsidies? following Special Approval categories:

 Looking for employment

 Studying/training/on course (for at least 56 hours a month)
 Pregnancy
 Medically unfit for work due to hospitalisation, long-term illness and/or permanent
disability
 Taking care of sick or special needs family member
 Caring full-time for a younger child aged 24 months and below
 Incarcerated

Parents can approach their child care centre personnel who will assist in applying for Special
Approval:

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 For new enrolment – use Form 1 to apply for subsidy (including Special Approval).
 For existing enrolment – use Form 2 to submit a new application for Special Approval
or seek extension of subsidy support under Special Approval.

Parents will receive system notifications via email and SMS on their subsidy application status
and actions required (where applicable). Centres will also receive a copy of the notifications.

11. Will I enjoy Additional Subsidy if Yes. Eligible children enrolled in half-day infant/child care programmes qualify for subsidies
my child is enrolled in half-day pro-rated at 50% of full-day infant/child care programmes.
programmes?

12. How do I apply for the Basic Please approach your child care centre personnel who will assist you with the application for
Subsidy and Additional Subsidy? preschool subsidies.

13. Can I use the Basic and Additional Yes, as long as the child care centre is licensed with ECDA. The subsidies will be disbursed
subsidies at all child care centres? via the centre where your child is enrolled in. You will only need to pay the subsidised fees
(i.e. child care fee less the Basic Subsidy and Additional Subsidy, if applicable).

14. Am I expected to update my centre To give parents greater certainty over the amount of subsidies they can receive, ECDA has
if I stop working? introduced fixed points of assessment.

Applicants’ working status and household income will be assessed when

(1) the child enrols in new centre,
(2) the child moves from infant care to child care, and
(3) the child moves from Nursery 2 (N2) to Kindergarten 1 (K1), i.e. at the end of N2.

Changes in household income between these points of assessment will not affect the
subsidies they receive, unless the parents wish to update ECDA and reapply for new rates of
subsidies due to changes in their circumstances.

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15. What is the minimum co-payment Parents who are eligible for Additional Subsidy will be subject to a minimum co-payment
amount? amount. The minimum co-payment amount increases progressively as household or per
capita income rises.

For example, a family earning less than $3,000 will minimally have to co-pay $3 for child care,
while a family earning $10,501 - $12,000 will have to co-pay at least $390.

16. How does a child care centre For GST registered child care centres, GST is charged on the full value of the monthly fee
calculate the GST on childcare fee before subsidy.
and subsidy?
Parent will have to pay net school fees after subsidy plus GST charged on the full value of the
monthly fee.

17. Is there additional help for larger Larger households with at least 5 family members (with 3 or more dependants who are not
families with many elderly or earning an income) may choose to have their income assessed via per capita income (PCI),
young dependants? where:

 PCI = (Total gross monthly household income of family) / (Number of family members living
in the same household)

 All family members included in the application must be related by blood, marriage and/or
legal adoption and living in the same residential address as reflected in the NRIC of the
main applicant.

 Dependants refer to persons living in the same household who are not earning an income.

18. Are there any other schemes You may use the Baby Bonus cash gift and the funds in the Child Development Account,
available to help defray preschool where the government matches dollar-for-dollar contributions to defray kindergarten and child
expenses? care expenses.

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19. Can I receive further financial Yes. Low-income families with difficult family circumstances and face difficulties in paying their
assistance, even after the Basic preschool fees (even after receiving Basic and Additional Subsidy) can apply for Child Care
Subsidy and Additional Subsidy? Financial Assistance. These families can also apply for the one-time Start-up Grant, to pay
for the initial costs of enrolling their child into an infant or child care centre.

Children who are Singapore Citizens and placed in affordable child care centres can be
considered for this financial assistance. Both parents should also be working at least 56 hours
per month, or produce valid reasons for not working, such as he/she is on medical leave,
under incarceration, looking for work or has been certified as a full-time caregiver for a
dependant. Relevant supporting documents should accompany the application.

Eligible families may apply for the assistance through the child care centre. For more
information, please approach your child care centre.

20. Will I receive notifications on my Parents will receive system notifications via email and SMS on their subsidy application status
application status? and actions required (where applicable). Centres will also receive a copy of the notifications.