Enhanced Marriage and Parenthood Package

The Government will enhance the Marriage & Parenthood Package as announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the National Day Rally on 17 Aug 2008.

Paid Maternity Leave
Maternity leave will be extended from 12 to 16 weeks for all Singaporean births.
(Applicable to me if I decided to have no. 2, thinking thinking thinking)

Paid Childcare Leave
Childcare leave will be extended from two to six days per year for working parents with any Singaporean child under the age of seven, regardless of the number of qualifying children.
(Very good to have this!)

New Infant care Leave
A working parent will be able to have six days of unpaid infant care leave if he or she has a Singaporean child under the age of two, regardless of the number of qualifying children.
(Not applicable, is unpaid anyway)

Baby bonus


Centre-Based Infant Care and Childcare Subsidy
The infant care subsidy will be increased from $400 to a maximum of $600 per month to help parents offset the cost of centre-based care. The subsidy applies to all Singaporean children regardless of child order.

The childcare subsidy will be increased from $150 to a maximum of $300 per month. The subsidy applies to all Singaporean children regardless of child order.
(Not applicable because my child is being taken care by bbsitter, why no subsidy for those taken care by caregiver???)

Qualifying Child Relief/Handicapped Child Relief (QCR/HCR)
From Year of Assessment 2009, parents can claim higher amounts of QCR or HCR for all their qualifying children. The new quantum of QCR and HCR are $4,000 and $5,500 respectively for each child. You are only eligible to claim either QCR or HCR on the same child. QCR/HCR may be shared with your spouse based on the apportionment agreed by both parties.

Working Mother's Child Relief (WMCR)
From Year of Assessment 2009, working mothers can enjoy higher amount of WMCR, up to 100% of their earned income for all their qualifying Singaporean children. The amount of WMCR claimable for each child is based on a specified percentage of the working mother’s earned income corresponding to the child order.



Where the working mother is claiming both QCR/ HCR and WMCR, QCR/HCR will be allowed first and WMCR will be limited to the remaining balance. The amount of relief claimable for both QCR/HCR and WMCR is capped at $50,000 per child.

Parenthood Tax Rebate
From the Year of Assessment 2009, parents can claim PTR for their first child, fifth child and each subsequent child that are born or legally adopted on or after 1 Jan 2008. The amount of PTR claimable for each qualifying Singaporean child is based on the child order.



PTR can be used to offset your income tax payable and may be shared with your spouse, based on the apportionment agreed by both parties. Any unutilised rebate will be carried forward to subsequent years until it is fully utilised.