By The Big Buy desk · Last verified 12 October 2026
For babies, full-day infant care at an Anchor Operator (AOP) centre is capped at S$1,235 a month before GST for Singapore Citizen children. Every citizen child gets a Basic Subsidy, reported at S$600 a month if the mother works at least 56 hours a month, and lower-income households get an Additional Subsidy on top. For primary schoolchildren, student care at centres registered for fee assistance usually costs S$220 to S$450 a month, with a median of S$290. The Student Care Fee Assistance (SCFA) scheme currently helps households earning up to S$4,500, rising to S$6,500 from 1 January 2027.
Care for little ones and schoolchildren lets parents work with peace of mind. The subsidies are generous, but you have to claim them, so here is how.
Quick facts
- AOP monthly fee caps, before GST: infant care S$1,235; childcare S$610.
- Partner Operator (POP) infant care is reported capped at S$1,290 before GST; other centres are not capped.
- Infant care Basic Subsidy: reported at S$600 a month for working mothers, S$150 for non-working mothers.
- Infant care Additional Subsidy: household income up to S$12,000 a month in 2026, reported to rise to S$15,000 from January 2027.
- SCFA: household income up to S$4,500 (or S$1,125 per person for 5 or more), rising to S$6,500 (S$1,625) from 1 January 2027.
- SCFA requires both parents to work at least 56 hours a month and a centre registered with MSF.
Infant care: fees and subsidies
Infant care is for babies from 2 months to 18 months old at ECDA-licensed centres. Subsidies are for Singapore Citizen children and are deducted from your invoice by the centre; they are not paid to you.
| Centre type | Full-day infant care fee | After S$600 Basic Subsidy |
|---|---|---|
| Anchor Operator (AOP) | Capped at S$1,235 before GST | S$635, before any Additional Subsidy |
| Partner Operator (POP) | Reported capped at S$1,290 before GST | S$690, before any Additional Subsidy |
| Other private centres | Not capped; reported at S$1,800 to S$2,500 or more | S$1,200 or more |
The Additional Subsidy is means-tested on gross household income, or per capita income for households of five or more. The lower your income, the higher the subsidy, down to a small minimum co-payment for the lowest-income families. Use ECDA’s subsidy calculator on its website for your exact figure.
Student care: fees and SCFA
Student care centres look after primary pupils after school. As of mid-2026, 330 centres were registered to administer SCFA, 55% of them in schools.
| Gross household income (4 or fewer members) | SCFA subsidy (centres under S$295) | Maximum subsidy (centres S$295 and above) |
|---|---|---|
| S$1,500 and below | 98% | S$290 |
| S$2,001 to S$2,200 | 90% | S$266 |
| S$2,801 to S$3,000 | 60% | S$177 |
| S$3,501 to S$4,000 | 30% | S$89 |
| S$4,001 to S$4,500 | 20% | S$59 |
This is a selection of MSF’s current bands; the full table has eleven. From 1 January 2027, MSF says the bands will be redrawn and extended, so the same income will often earn a bigger subsidy. One reported example: a four-person household earning S$4,000 moves from the 30% band to 60%.
Worked example
A family of four earns S$3,000 a month and both parents work. Their child’s student care centre charges S$290. Under the current bands they get 60%: S$290 × 60% = S$174 in subsidy, so they pay S$116 a month.
How to apply
Infant care subsidies
- Choose an ECDA-licensed centre and enrol your child.
- Apply for subsidies through the centre at enrolment, declaring working status and income with Singpass.
- The centre deducts subsidies from your monthly invoice.
- Re-declare when asked, and update the centre if your work or income changes.
Student Care Fee Assistance
- Check the centre is registered with MSF to administer SCFA.
- Apply online through SupportGoWhere.
- Submit the consent form and supporting documents; income is assessed from CPF Board or IRAS records over 12 months.
- MSF or its assessment system may call to verify details. Officials will never ask you to transfer money.
The WahLiao Verdict
If you can, start with an Anchor or Partner Operator centre: the fee caps plus the S$600 Basic Subsidy make a real difference, and lower-income families pay far less again. For student care, pick an SCFA-registered centre and check your band, especially with the wider eligibility from January 2027. Apply at enrolment, keep your declarations up to date, and let the subsidy do its work.
Questions people ask
Can PR children get infant care subsidies?
ECDA’s infant and childcare subsidies are for Singapore Citizen children. SCFA is different: it covers citizen and PR children with at least one citizen in the household.
I earn above the SCFA ceiling. Is there any help?
Not through SCFA today, but check again in January 2027 when the ceiling rises to S$6,500. School-based student care and community programmes can also be cheaper.
Is the subsidy paid to me?
No. For infant care the centre deducts it from your invoice; for SCFA the subsidy is likewise applied to the centre’s fees.
Do both parents need to work?
For SCFA, yes: each parent must work at least 56 hours a month. For infant care, the higher Basic Subsidy depends on the mother working at least 56 hours a month.
Sources: ECDA via AskGov, Anchor Operator fee caps; ECDA, preschool subsidy eligibility; MSF, Student Care Fee Assistance eligibility, bands and application; Little Big Red Dot, MSF’s January 2027 SCFA changes and student care fee figures; The Money Bees, infant care subsidy amounts, POP cap and 2027 ceiling. The Big Buy explains; it does not advise.
Read next: Childcare Fees in Singapore 2026: The Fee Caps and the Subsidies · School Fees in Singapore 2026: Primary, Secondary and Miscellaneous Fees · Back to The Big Buy
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