# Childcare and infant care subsidies explained: basic subsidy, additional subsidy and minimum co-pay

> How ECDA subsidies work for a Singapore citizen child in full-day childcare or infant care, who gets the additional subsidy, how the net fee is worked out, and how the income bands widen from 1 January 2027.

- Tool: [Infant Care & Childcare Subsidy Calculator](https://toolsg.com/en/childcare-subsidy-calculator)
- Language: en (available: en, zh, ms, ta)
- Last verified against official sources: 2026-10-20
- Source site: ToolSG — a planning guide, not official or financial advice. Cite the agencies listed under Sources.

## Key figures at a glance

| Fact | Value | Source |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Basic subsidy, full-day childcare (working applicant) | $300 a month | [ECDA](https://www.ecda.gov.sg/parents/preschool-subsidies/infant-and-childcare-subsidy-scheme/overview) |
| Basic subsidy, full-day infant care (working applicant) | $600 a month | [ECDA](https://www.ecda.gov.sg/parents/preschool-subsidies/infant-and-childcare-subsidy-scheme/overview) |
| Basic subsidy, non-working applicant | $150 a month — No additional subsidy for a non-working applicant. | [ECDA](https://www.ecda.gov.sg/parents/preschool-subsidies/infant-and-childcare-subsidy-scheme/overview) |
| Additional subsidy income ceiling in 2026 | Household income $12,000, or per capita income $3,000 — Above both, only the basic subsidy applies. The ceiling rises to $15,000 / $3,400 from 1 January 2027. | [ECDA](https://file.go.gov.sg/ecda-subsidy-table-cc-ifc.pdf) |
| Additional subsidy income ceiling from 1 January 2027 | Household income $15,000, or per capita income $3,400 — Wider bands, same dollar amounts. The calculator switches on the effective month you pick (default: this month). | [ECDA](https://file.go.gov.sg/ecda-subsidy-table-cc-ifc.pdf) |
| Maximum additional subsidy, full-day childcare (2026) | $467 in the lowest band down to $80 in the top band — Minimum co-pay from $3 to $315. | [ECDA](https://file.go.gov.sg/ecda-subsidy-table-cc-ifc.pdf) |
| Maximum additional subsidy, full-day infant care (2026) | $710 in the lowest band down to $40 in the top band — Minimum co-pay from $40 to $700. | [ECDA](https://file.go.gov.sg/ecda-subsidy-table-cc-ifc.pdf) |

## Getting preschool subsidies: step by step

You apply through the centre. The calculator estimates what you should expect to pay.

1. **Confirm the child qualifies** (Before enrolling) — The child must be a Singapore citizen in a licensed centre. Check ECDA for other conditions.
2. **Work out the working status** (Before applying) — A working applicant is the mother or a single father working at least 56 hours a month. Working status decides the basic subsidy and whether additional subsidy applies.
3. **Find the income band** (Before applying) — Use the more generous of the household income band and the per capita income band, from the table for the month you are paying fees (2026 bands until 31 December 2026, wider bands from 1 January 2027).
4. **Estimate the net fee** (Before choosing a centre) — Net fee is the centre's fee minus basic and additional subsidy, but never less than the minimum co-pay.
5. **Apply through the centre** (At enrolment) — Apply through the centre, which confirms the actual amount. Tools: [Singapore Baby Bonus Calculator](https://toolsg.com/en/baby-bonus-calculator)

## How the subsidies work

For a Singapore citizen child in a licensed centre, the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) gives:

1. A **basic subsidy**, which depends on the applicant's working status and the programme, not on income.
2. An **additional subsidy** for working applicants whose household income falls within the ceiling. It steps down as income rises.

The family still pays at least a **minimum co-pay**, even when the subsidies would otherwise cover the whole fee.

**Net fee = the larger of (minimum co-pay) and (centre fee − basic − additional).**

## Full-day childcare, 1 January to 31 December 2026

Working applicant, basic subsidy $300.

| Household income | Per capita income | Max additional | Min co-pay |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| $3,000 and below | $750 and below | $467 | $3 |
| $3,001 to $4,500 | $751 to $1,125 | $440 | $25 |
| $4,501 to $6,000 | $1,126 to $1,500 | $340 | $58 |
| $6,001 to $7,500 | $1,501 to $1,875 | $260 | $104 |
| $7,501 to $9,000 | $1,876 to $2,250 | $190 | $162 |
| $9,001 to $10,500 | $2,251 to $2,625 | $130 | $232 |
| $10,501 to $12,000 | $2,626 to $3,000 | $80 | $315 |
| Above $12,000 | Above $3,000 | none | none |

## Full-day infant care, until 31 December 2026

Working applicant, basic subsidy $600.

| Household income | Per capita income | Max additional | Min co-pay |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| $3,000 and below | $750 and below | $710 | $40 |
| $3,001 to $4,500 | $751 to $1,125 | $640 | $110 |
| $4,501 to $6,000 | $1,126 to $1,500 | $500 | $250 |
| $6,001 to $7,500 | $1,501 to $1,875 | $380 | $360 |
| $7,501 to $9,000 | $1,876 to $2,250 | $240 | $500 |
| $9,001 to $10,500 | $2,251 to $2,625 | $100 | $640 |
| $10,501 to $12,000 | $2,626 to $3,000 | $40 | $700 |
| Above $12,000 | Above $3,000 | none | none |

A non-working applicant receives a $150 basic subsidy and no additional subsidy.

## What changes from 1 January 2027

ECDA's table (updated 6 October 2026) widens the income bands from 1 January 2027. The basic subsidies ($300 childcare, $600 infant care, $150 non-working) and the additional-subsidy and co-pay amounts for every band stay the same; only the income bands move up, and the per capita bands are no longer a quarter of the household bands. The calculator uses the 2026 bands for any month before January 2027 and the 2027 bands from January 2027.

Full-day childcare from 1 January 2027 (working applicant, basic subsidy $300):

| Household income (2027) | Per capita income (2027) | Max additional | Min co-pay |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| $3,500 and below | $750 and below | $467 | $3 |
| $3,501 to $5,500 | $751 to $1,200 | $440 | $25 |
| $5,501 to $7,500 | $1,201 to $1,700 | $340 | $58 |
| $7,501 to $9,000 | $1,701 to $2,100 | $260 | $104 |
| $9,001 to $11,000 | $2,101 to $2,600 | $190 | $162 |
| $11,001 to $13,000 | $2,601 to $3,000 | $130 | $232 |
| $13,001 to $15,000 | $3,001 to $3,400 | $80 | $315 |
| Above $15,000 | Above $3,400 | none | none |

Full-day infant care from 1 January 2027 (working applicant, basic subsidy $600):

| Household income (2027) | Per capita income (2027) | Max additional | Min co-pay |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| $3,500 and below | $750 and below | $710 | $40 |
| $3,501 to $5,500 | $751 to $1,200 | $640 | $110 |
| $5,501 to $7,500 | $1,201 to $1,700 | $500 | $250 |
| $7,501 to $9,000 | $1,701 to $2,100 | $380 | $360 |
| $9,001 to $11,000 | $2,101 to $2,600 | $240 | $500 |
| $11,001 to $13,000 | $2,601 to $3,000 | $100 | $640 |
| $13,001 to $15,000 | $3,001 to $3,400 | $40 | $700 |
| Above $15,000 | Above $3,400 | none | none |

## Worked examples (2026 and 2027)

| Case | Subsidy | Net fee |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Working, full-day childcare, household income $3,000, fee $800 | $300 + $467 = $767 | max($3, $800 − $767) = $33 |
| Working, infant care, household income $3,000, fee $1,400 | $600 + $710 = $1,310 | max($40, $90) = $90 |
| Not working, childcare, fee $800 | $150 | $650 |
| 2026: working, household income $13,000, size 3, childcare, fee $1,000 | $300 only | $700 |
| 2027: same family, from 1 January 2027 | $300 + $130 = $430 | max($232, $570) = $570 |

> **Tip:** Per capita income can put a big household in a better band than raw household income. A household of five with $14,000 income has a per capita income of $2,800, which is within the 2026 ceiling. Check the month: the same family can sit in a different band before and after 1 January 2027.

## Common mistakes

- **Using the wrong year's bands.** The 2026 bands apply until 31 December 2026 and the wider bands from 1 January 2027; use the month your fees are charged.
- **Forgetting the minimum co-pay.** The net fee never drops below it.
- **Treating working status loosely.** The threshold is 56 hours a month.
- **Looking only at household income.** The per capita band can be better.
- **Assuming a non-working applicant gets additional subsidy.** They do not.

## Related tools

- [Baby Bonus calculator](https://toolsg.com/en/baby-bonus-calculator) — cash gift and CDA money for a newborn.
- [Compound interest calculator](https://toolsg.com/en/compound-interest-calculator) — growth of money saved for the child.

## Frequently asked questions

**How much is the basic childcare subsidy in Singapore?**

For a working applicant, $300 a month for full-day childcare and $600 for full-day infant care. Non-working applicants receive $150 basic.

**What is the maximum additional subsidy in 2026?**

$467 a month for full-day childcare and $710 for full-day infant care, at household income of $3,000 or less (or PCI $750 or less).

**Who counts as a working mother?**

The main applicant (usually the mother, or a single father) who works at least 56 hours a month.

**What is minimum co-pay?**

A published floor so parents still pay a small amount even when subsidies are large. Net fee is the greater of co-pay and fee minus subsidies.

**Does household size matter?**

Yes. ECDA can use per-capita income. A larger household may qualify for a more generous band.

**Is Kindergarten Fee Assistance included?**

No. This page is infant care and childcare centre subsidies, not KiFAS.

**Are 2027 income-ceiling changes included?**

Yes. Choose the effective month: before 1 January 2027 the 2026 bands apply (ceiling $12,000 household income or $3,000 per capita); from 1 January 2027 the wider ECDA bands apply (ceiling $15,000 or $3,400). The dollar amounts are unchanged.

**Is this ECDA advice?**

No. Confirm with your centre and ECDA. Rates can change.


## Sources

- [ECDA — Infant and childcare subsidy scheme overview](https://www.ecda.gov.sg/parents/preschool-subsidies/infant-and-childcare-subsidy-scheme/overview)
- [ECDA — Subsidy tables for childcare and infant care (updated 6 Oct 2026)](https://file.go.gov.sg/ecda-subsidy-table-cc-ifc.pdf)