Ms He Ting Ru asked the Minister for Social and Family Development in each of the last three years, in relation to infant care and child care respectively (a) how many children have received subsidies; (b) what is the percentage of those who have received (i) non-working mother subsidies (ii) working applicant basic subsidies and (iii) working applicant additional subsidies; and (c) of those receiving additional subsidies, what is the median amount for the additional subsidies for each category.
Answer
All families with Singaporean children enrolled in infant care and child care programmes receive the Basic Subsidy, with a higher rate given to families with working mothers. The total number of infants and children receiving the Basic Subsidy has grown in tandem with rising enrolment, from around 107,000 in 2019 to around 126,000 in 2021. About 95% are for families with working mothers.
2 Families with a monthly household income of $12,000 and below, and with a working mother, are also eligible for the means-tested Additional Subsidy. In 2019, around 35% of families with children enrolled in infant care and child care programmes received Additional Subsidy. In 2020 and 2021, due to revisions in the qualifying income ceiling from a monthly household income of $7,500 to $12,000, around 60% of such families received the Additional Subsidy.
3 The Additional Subsidy for full-day infant care is up to $710/month (median in 2021 $380). The Additional Subsidy for full-day child care is up to $467/month (median in 2021 $260).