MediSave top-up, CDC vouchers, LifeSG credits: Budget 2025 boost for families
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Budget 2025 will introduce more support across the board, targeted at helping households cope with the cost of living.
ST PHOTOS: KELVIN CHNG, GIN TAY, FILE
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SINGAPORE – Budget 2025 will introduce more support across the board, targeted at helping households cope with the cost of living.
On Feb 18, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced in his Budget speech
The Straits Times looks at what benefits Singaporean families will get.
For all households
1. $800 in CDC vouchers
All households will receive $800 in CDC vouchers, with $500 to be disbursed in May and the remaining $300 in January 2026.
2. More rebates for utilities
Eligible households living in Housing Board flats will receive up to $760 in U-Save rebates in financial year 2025 to offset their utility expenses.
The payments will be disbursed in April, July, and October 2025 and January 2026.
For all families
1. $500 in credits for each Singaporean child aged up to 12
Accessible through the LifeSG application, these credits can be used on household expenses such as groceries and utilities.
Children aged one to 12 in 2025 will receive them in July, while credits for those born in 2025 will be disbursed in April 2026.
2. $500 top-ups to Edusave or Post-Secondary Education accounts for older children
Students aged 13 to 16 will receive the top-up in their Edusave Account, while those aged 17 to 20 will receive it through their Post-Secondary Education Account.
The top-ups, which will be disbursed in July, support education-related expenses such as approved school fees and enrichment programmes.
3. Cheaper childcare
Full-day childcare fee caps will be reduced at government-supported pre-schools, lowering fees by $30 a month from 2026.
Fees will be capped at $610 for anchor operator centres and $650 for partner operator centres, down from the current $640 and $680 respectively. These pre-schools receive government funding to keep their fees low.
READ MORE: Each Singaporean household to get $800 in CDC vouchers
For families with three or more young children
Eligible parents with three or more children will receive additional support of up to $16,000 per child as part of the new Large Families Scheme.
1. Doubling First Step Grant
Parents will receive $10,000 through the Child Development Account (CDA) First Step Grant for their third and subsequent Singaporean child born from Feb 18 onwards.
This is double the $5,000 they already receive for every child.
The CDA can be used for approved expenses like pre-school fees and healthcare costs.
2. More MediSave top-ups
Parents will receive $5,000 through the mother’s MediSave account for their third and subsequent Singaporean child born from Feb 18 onwards.
This Large Family MediSave Grant can be used to offset the mother’s pregnancy and delivery expenses, as well as approved dependant’s medical bills and hospitalisation fees.
This new grant is in addition to the current MediSave grant for newborns, where up to $4,000 is given to each newborn’s MediSave account.
3. $1,000 a year in LifeSG credits until children turn six
Parents will receive $1,000 annually in Large Family LifeSG Credits for their third and additional Singaporean child.
Families that already have three or more children aged six and below in 2025 will also receive the $1,000 in credits every year for their third or additional children until they turn six.
Credits will be accessible through the LifeSG application, and can be used to help with household expenses like groceries and utilities.
The credits will be disbursed in September for eligible children turning one to six in 2025, and in April in following years.
READ MORE: More financial support for large families with three or more young children
For seniors
1. Cash matching for MediSave top ups from Jan 2026
For eligible seniors aged 55 to 70, the Government will match every dollar of voluntary cash top-ups to their MediSave accounts, capped at $1,000 a year.
The scheme will run for the next five years.
2. Upgrading programme extended to private property households
Seniors living in private property households will be able to benefit from a home upgrading programme from 2026 to 2028.
The Enhancement for Active Seniors programme, which is currently only for those in public housing, offers senior-friendly fixtures like ramps and grab bars.
3. Increase in Home Caregiving Grant
Seniors who need permanent assistance will receive up to $200 more in grants for caregiving needs, up from a cap of $400 currently.
READ MORE: More help for seniors, including those living in private property
For vulnerable families
1. Increase in ComCare assistance
Lower-income households will from April 2025 receive higher rates of temporary and long-term assistance to meet basic living expenses.
2. More support for families in rental flats to buy homes
More families with children living in public rental flats will be able to buy a new two- or three-room flat on a more affordable shorter lease.
Currently, only families who have already used one housing subsidy are eligible for such leases. The Fresh Start Housing Scheme will be extended to families who are first-time buyers, and grants for eligible families will increase from $50,000 to $75,000.
READ MORE: Eligible families in rental flats to get higher grant of $75,000 for BTO purchase
For people with disabilities
1. Matching retirement savings
A scheme helping Singaporeans with lower retirement savings will be extended to people with disabilities of all ages from January 2026.
The Matched Retirement Savings Scheme provides a dollar-for-dollar matching grant for cash top-ups made to the CPF Retirement Account, and currently only seniors aged 55 and above are eligible for it.
Now, those with disabilities who are under the age of 55 will receive the dollar matching for cash top-ups to their CPF Special Account.
2. Higher subsidies for adult disability services, more for those born in 1969 or earlier
Subsidy rates for adult disability services will be raised by up to 15 percentage points, with additional long-term subsidies for Singaporeans born in 1969 or earlier.
The subsidies will also be expanded to more households as the maximum qualifying per capita household income will be raised to $4,800.
3. Matching top-ups by caregivers
Lower- and middle-income caregivers who set aside money in trust accounts in the Special Needs Trust Company for their loved ones with a disability will get a dollar-for-dollar matching grant of up to $10,000.
READ MORE: More help for people with disabilities to secure jobs
