Student care centre fees in Singapore vary, with centres charging $200 – $1200 monthly. Some households cannot afford to send their kids to student care centres because even the lowest charge is too high for them. The government introduced Student Care Fees Assistance (SCFA) to subsidise afterschool care cost but it is restricted only for those eligible.
Singaporeans or Permanent Residents
A child can only get assistance with student care centre fees if they are Singaporean or a permanent resident. This means at least one of the parents should be Singaporean or at the very least, a permanent resident.
In cases where the child is a permanent resident, at least one of the immediate family members (parent or sibling) should be a permanent resident. If the parents are deceased, the child is eligible for primary school student care fees assistance, based on the status of the parents as Singaporean citizens or permanent residents.
If the parents are divorced or if the Singaporean parent loses custody, student care fees in Singapore can still be subsidised because the child doesn’t lose their connection with the parents.
Working Hours (At least 56 Hours)
Both parents working at least 56 hours a month are also eligible for SCFA. If only one parent works these hours, and the family still needs help with the student care fees, the other parent should show they are actively seeking employment.
A parent going to school or a certified caregiver for a family member entirely dependent on them, such as an elderly family member or a child with special needs, is exempted from the employment eligibility criteria. To benefit from SCFA, the family should prove they are eligible for the exemptions.
Monthly Gross Household Income $4,500 Or Less (Family of 4)
Households with a gross income of $4,500 monthly are entitled to afterschool care cost support. This income is limited to what the parents earn. If the household has more people with an income, it doesn’t count as part of the household income. However, this condition is only limited to a household with up to four people.
Those earning the $4,500 limit are entitled to a 20% maximum subsidy for primary school student care fees of $295 or less. The maximum subsidy is $59 for student care fees in Singapore higher than $295. The lower the income, the higher the subsidy. For example, a family of four with an income of $1,500 or less can get a subsidy of up to 98% or a maximum of $290 of the student care fees.
$1,125 (Maximum) Per Capita Income (Family of 5 or More)
The other income eligibility criterion is for households with five or more members. Households with a maximum per capita income of $1,125 get up to 20% subsidy for student care centres charging less than $295 student care fees in Singapore. For student care centres charging more, the maximum subsidy is $59.
The lower the per capita income, the higher the subsidy. For example, households with a per capita income of $375 or less are entitled to a 98% subsidy (for student care fees <$295) or a maximum of $290 (for afterschool care cost >$295).
These are the current conditions for households to benefit from subsidies for student care fees in Singapore. However, before enrolling your child to a student care centre, you should check if they are registered for SCFA under the Ministry of Social and Family Development.
