A Guide to Infant & Child Care Government Subsidies For Singaporeans

TL;DR — What Parents Need to Know

• If your child is a Singapore Citizen and enrolled at KidsCampus, there are two types of Government preschool subsidies:
  1. Basic Subsidy (BS)
  2. Additional Subsidy (AS)
• Subsidy type and amount depend on:

• • The Applicant’s working status (for BS & AS), and
  • Your Household Income (HHI) or Per Capita Income (PCI) (for AS).

• Basic Subsidy:

• • Up to $600/month (Infant Care)
  • Up to $300/month (Child Care)

• Additional Subsidy:

• • Up to $710/month (Infant Care)
  • Up to $467/month (Child Care)

• Subsidies are automatically offset against school fees — parents only pay the remaining balance each month.
• At present, Government preschool subsidies are not available to foreigners or Singapore Permanent Residents (PRs).
• The KidsCampus team is here to help and will guide you through the subsidy application process.

 

At KidsCampus, we understand that choosing quality early childhood care is an important decision — and managing childcare costs is a key consideration for many families.

For Singapore Citizen children, the Government’s Infant and Child Care Subsidy Scheme helps make Infant Care and Child Care more affordable. This guide explains how the subsidies work and how your family may benefit when enrolling your child at KidsCampus.

 

Q: What is the Infant and Childcare Subsidy Scheme?

The Government’s Infant and Child Care Subsidy Scheme provides financial support for Singapore Citizen children enrolled in licensed preschools, such as KidsCampus and Alora.

Subsidies are available for:

• Infant Care: 2 to 18 months
• Child Care: 18 months to 6 years

• Once approved, subsidies are directly applied to your school fees, and parents only need to pay the remaining balance each month.

 

Q: Is my Child eligible?

Singapore Citizen children are eligible for Government subsidies for Infant Care and Child Care.

At this moment, subsidies are not available for children who are foreigners or Singapore Permanent Residents (PRs).

The type and amount of subsidy will depend on the Applicant.

 

Q: Who is the Applicant?

The Applicant is typically:

• The child’s mother, or
• The child’s father (for a single-parent household)

 

Q: Working vs Non-Working Applicant – How does it Affect the Subsidy?

Subsidy eligibility and amount depends on whether the Applicant is classified as:

• A Working Applicant (working at least 56 hours per month), or
• A Non-Working Applicant (working less than 56 hours per month)

Work may include full-time, part-time, or freelance employment.

 

Q: What Types of Subsidies are Available?

1. Basic Subsidy (BS)

• Available to all Singapore Citizen children enrolled at KidsCampus and Alora.
• Child must attend preschool at least one day in the month.

Subsidy amounts:

• Working Applicant
  • $600/month (Infant Care)
  • $300/month (Child Care)
• Non-Working Applicant
  • Typically $150/month (Infant Care & Child Care) unless there is Special Approval.

 

2. Additional Subsidy (AS)

• To qualify, the Applicant must work at least 56 hours per month, and
• Have either:
  • Gross Monthly Household Income (HHI) of $12,000 or below, or
  • Per Capita Income (PCI) of $3,000 or below (for households with 5 or more members)

Subsidy amounts:

• Working Applicant
  • Up to $710/month (Infant Care)
  • Up to $467/month (Child Care)
• Non-Working Applicant
  • Typically not applicable, unless under Special Approval

 

Typical Subsidy Amounts for Our Full-Day Programmes

👉 Swipe left/right to view table

 

 

Q: How is Gross Monthly Household Income (HHI) Assessed?

HHI is the default method used to assess eligibility for Additional Subsidy (AS).

HHI = Combined average gross monthly income of both parents (or the Applicant only, for single-parent household).

To be Noted:

• For married couples, both parents’ incomes are considered, even if residential addresses differ.
• For Salaried Employees, income is based on a 12-month average from CPF or recent income tax records. Income includes bonuses, commissions, allowances, overtime pay, and employee CPF contributions.
• For Self-Employed persons, income is assessed based on declared trade income over a 12-month period based on income tax records or CPF declarations.
• Household or personal expenses are not considered.

All subsidy applications are means-tested, and the HHI is determined by the Government.

 

Q: How is Gross Monthly Per Capita Income (PCI) Assessed?

While HHI is the default, PCI may be used in certain situations.

PCI is considered only when:

• There are at least 5 family members (related by blood, marriage, and/or adoption); and
• All the family members share the same residential address

PCI = Total average gross monthly household income (HHI) of family members ÷ number of family members

PCI eligibility and amounts are means-tested and determined by the Government.

 

Q: When are Subsidies Assessed? What If There Are Changes to Income?

Subsidies are assessed at Three fixed points:

• When your child enrols at KidsCampus or Alora;
• When your child graduates from Infant Care to Child Care; and
• When your child progresses from Nursery to Kindergarten 1.

If your household income changes between the fixed points, subsidies remain unchanged unless you apply for a subsidy reassessment.

 

Q: What is “Special Approval” for Non-Working Applicants?

Non-Working Applicants may apply for time-limited higher subsidies under Special Approval if they are, for example:

• Pregnant
• Actively looking for a job
• Medically unfit for work
• Caring for a child aged 24 months and below who is not enrolled in preschool
• Caring for a child with special needs
• Caring for a sick family member
• Studying or undergoing training for at least 56 hours/month

 

Q: Are there other Government subsidies available?

• Non-parent caregivers (e.g. legal guardians or foster parents) may apply for higher subsidies under Special Approval.
• Families receiving ComCare Assistance or living under the HDB Public Rental Scheme may qualify for maximum preschool subsidies under Special Approval until the next fixed point of subsidy assessment.

 

Q: How do I apply for Subsidies?

Subsidy applications are completed through KidsCampus or Alora during your child’s enrolment.

Our team will be happy to:

• Explain your eligibility, and
• Walk you through how subsidies apply to your child’s enrolment.

At KidsCampus, we’re committed to partnering with parents every step of the way — from enrolment to subsidy applications — so we can focus on what matters most: your child’s growth, confidence, and love for learning.

 

Disclaimer & Usage of This Article

Subsidy eligibility criteria, amounts, and conditions are determined by the Government and may change from time to time. While we endeavour to ensure that the information provided in this article is accurate at the time of publication, we do not guarantee that it is error-free, complete, or current.

The information contained herein is provided for general reference purposes only and should not be relied upon as definitive or professional advice.

As every family is unique, please speak to our KidsCampus team to see how subsidies will apply to you.

Image: Freepik/jcomp (for illustration purposes only)