LivePM Lawrence Wong delivers Budget 2026

Enhancements to CPF

The Government will provide a CPF top-up of up to $1,500 for Singaporeans aged 50 and above, and with CPF retirement savings below the Basic Retirement Sum. Those with lower balances will receive larger top-ups.

The next step of planned CPF contribution rate increases for senior workers will take place in 2027, with employers continuing to receive the CPF Transition Offset to cover half of the increase in employee contributions for 2027.

Also, the Government will shape and develop life-cycle investment products, where members take on more risk when they are younger, and their investments are rebalanced towards safer assets as they approach retirement.

A key requirement of such products will be that fees must be kept low, with the Government to choose two or three credible providers for this voluntary scheme. The Government will also strengthen efforts to help members understand whether this option is suitable for them.

READ MORE: CPF top-ups for seniors with lower savings; higher CPF contributions for senior workers

$400m top-up for Long-Term Care Support Fund 

The Government will provide more support for seniors so that they can age with dignity, security and peace of mind, said PM Wong.

CareShield Life had recently been enhanced to offer higher payouts, giving seniors greater assurance against long-term care costs.

The Government also increased CareShield Life premium subsidies, to help cushion the impact of the higher premiums, he said.

In order to fund the additional subsidies, PM Wong said the Government will top up the Long-Term Care Support Fund by $400 million.

Task force to review support for people with disabilities and their families

More will be done for people with disabilities, as well as their families and caregivers, said PM Wong.

Minister of State for Home Affairs and Social and Family Development Goh Pei Ming is leading a task force to review how the Government can provide more meaningful support at different life stages for people with disabilities and their families.

This includes expanding capacity in community-based facilities, keeping services affordable, and supporting graduates of special education schools to secure meaningful employment and live well in the community.

Strengthening support for people with disabilities is a key priority and a shared responsibility for everyone, said PM Wong, adding that the Government is ready to set aside additional resources to advance these efforts.

Extra $500 a ‘sweetener’ to keep low-income families working towards their goals  

Theresa Tan Senior Social Affairs Correspondent

A scheme to give low-income families a leg up in life has received a major upgrade, presumably in a bid to get more of them to sign up.

The $500 that ComLink+ families will get every quarter is a sweetener of sorts, to motivate them to keep working with family coaches to send their children to pre-school regularly or find a stable CPF-paying job, for instance.

Perhaps the strongest draw for these families: More of the payouts will be in cash, instead of CPF or other forms of top-ups. For families living from hand to mouth, nothing beats cash in hand.

These enhancements come in the wake of new data showing that it has become harder for children born to the poorest families to break out of the poverty trap.

These moves come less than two years after the first of four ComLink+ progress packages was rolled out in August 2024.

Families under ComLink+ can receive around $10k a year in cash and CPF top-ups

The Government will provide a new payout of $500 per quarter for all ComLink+ families who commit to working with family coaches and take active steps to make progress.

PM Wong said the Government will also enhance the additional payouts families receive when they make concrete progress in their goals of maintaining stable employment and good pre-school attendance for their children.

The Government will also provide more of these payouts in cash while continuing to set aside money in CPF accounts. This will help families meet immediate needs while also building their longer-term financial security, PM Wong said.

With these enhancements, a family with two children in pre-school under ComLink+ can receive around $10,000 per year in cash and CPF top-ups.

READ MORE: New $500 payout for ComLink+ families, more cash support in current packages

Government ready to enhance ComLink+ Progress Packages

ComLink+ is built around close and sustained support for families and relies on dedicated family coaches, case workers from family service centres and volunteer befrienders who work directly with families to help them make steady progress, PM Wong said.

Over time, the Government has strengthened its capabilities on the ground and is now ready to enhance the ComLink+ Progress Packages, he said.

Families under ComLink+ paired with family coach to develop action plans, coordinate support

The Government will continue to help lower-income families, especially those with young children, move towards greater stability, self-reliance and social mobility, PM Wong said.

The Government takes a family-centric approach to support such families, he said, adding that under ComLink+, each family is paired with a dedicated family coach, who works with them to develop personalised action plans and coordinate support.

Progress Packages were introduced to recognise and reinforce families’ efforts. These are more than financial assistance, PM Wong said, adding that they are like social contracts, where family coaches work with families to set clear goals such as securing a stable job.

The families receive additional payouts when such milestones are achieved, he added.

Monthly household income threshold raised for pre-school subsidies and student care fee assistance

From the start of 2027, the Government will extend means-tested pre-school subsidies to more families by raising the monthly household income threshold to $15,000. This will benefit more than 60,000 families, said PM Wong.

Eligible parents, including those who previously qualified, can also receive more in infant care and childcare subsidies.

The monthly household income threshold for Student Care Fee Assistance will be raised to $6,500, so that more families can qualify.

PM Wong said the Government is taking a holistic review of the student care sector to better meet the caregiving needs of families with primary school-aged children.

PHOTO: ST FILE

Keeping pre-school and student care affordable

Pre-school fee caps have been reduced over the years, PM Wong said, adding that subsidies have been increased.

Childcare fees for dual-income families are comparable to primary school and after-school student care fees, he added.

Lower- and middle-income families also receive means-tested subsidies, which further reduce out-of-pocket expenses, PM Wong noted ahead of announcing measures that will help parents better meet the caregiving needs of their young children.

Additional $500 in Child LifeSG credits to help defray day-to-day household expenses

In Budget 2025, $500 was announced under Child LifeSG credits for each Singaporean child aged 12 and below. This was to help parents defray their day-to-day household expenses.

In Budget 2026, the Government will provide another $500 in Child LifeSG credits to families for each Singaporean child aged 12 and below. 

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