Extension of Large Family LifeSG Credits to and Providing Additional Support for Blended Families with Stepchildren

Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) whether the Ministry will extend schemes such as the Large Family LifeSG credits under the Large Families Scheme to blended families with stepchildren as they also bear the cumulative responsibility of raising multiple children; and (b) what additional support can be given to help such families provide stability in their children’s formative years.

The Large Family LifeSG Credits under the Large Families Scheme aims to strengthen support for couples with three or more children. Families will receive $1,000 Large Family LifeSG Credits every year for each third and subsequent Singapore Citizen child, from the year that the child turns one to the year that the child turns six.

Families where one or both spouses have remarried, and have three or more Singaporean children under their care and control, including those born within their previous marriage, are eligible for Large Family LifeSG Credits for the years that their third or subsequent child(ren) fulfil the age criteria of the scheme. For administrative purposes, care and control of the child will be proxied by Child Development Account (CDA) trusteeship.

Beyond the Large Families Scheme, benefits that support the growth and development are provided to all Singaporean children, including those from blended families. These include subsidies for education, healthcare, childcare, infant care, the Foreign Domestic Worker Levy Concession, and the CDA. Families requiring additional support may approach Social Service Offices (SSOs) for financial assistance, and Family Service Centres (FSCs) for holistic case management and socio-emotional support.