Support for Single Unwed Mothers

Mr Gabriel Lam asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) how many single-income unwed mothers currently receive ComCare assistance or any other forms of financial assistance from the Government; and (b) apart from the two-pronged approach to support single unwed parents, whether the Ministry is considering introducing a specific support framework or support tier for this group that is distinct from divorced or widowed single parents.

Answer

1.    Among all single unwed mothers who gave birth to children between 2021 and 2025, and remained single as of 2025, about 20% received ComCare Short-to-Medium or Long-Term assistance in 2025.

2.    Government benefits that support the growth and development of children are extended to every Singapore citizen child, regardless of their parents’ marital status. These include subsidies for education, healthcare, childcare, infant care, the Migrant Domestic Worker Levy Concession and the SG Child Support Package announced at the 2026 National Day Rally, which provides families with stronger and more sustained financial support to help raise their children from birth through the growing years. 

3.    As the needs and archetypes of lower-income families vary, we do not intend to introduce a specific support framework for single unwed parents. Instead, lower-income households that need social assistance may approach Social Service Offices for support, irrespective of their marital status, for their needs to be assessed holistically.