07 Sep 2005

Title: Other benefits available for children born before 1 April 2001

1. Mdm Shirley Yeo (“Baby Bonus blues hit home a second time”, ST, 25 August 2005) had suggested that children born from January to March 2001 be accorded the same Baby Bonus co-saving benefits as those born after April 2001.
2. We recognise that some parents whose children were born before 1 April 2001, may be disappointed that they do not qualify for the Baby Bonus Scheme, and hence the Children Development Account (CDA) and Post-Secondary Education Account (PSE Account). Every Government scheme must have clear conditions and a clear start date, so as to ensure that administration of the scheme is transparent. Inevitably, not all families will be able to benefit equally from all schemes.
3. Mdm Yeo and other parents with children born before 1 April 2001 will be pleased to know that they can enjoy other benefits under the parenthood package. These benefits include child care leave, child care subsidy, foreign maid levy discount and the revised tax breaks. More information on these schemes can be found at http://www.family.gov.sg/marriagenparenthood.

Lee Kim Hua (Mr)
Director, Family Services
Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports

Chua Kwan Ping (Mr)
Director, Finance
Ministry of Education