DPM THARMAN: SINGLE MOTHERS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR PARENTING BENEFITS

When queried by MP Seah Kian Peng, DPM Tharman shared that single mothers are not eligible for two parenting benefit schemes – the Working Mother’s Child Relief and the Foreign Maid Levy Relief – as they are intended “to support married women who remain in the workforce and raise their children within the context of marriage”. He added that these parenting scheme “reflect the prevailing societal norm where marriage is the first step towards family formation”.

Mr Tharman did however indicate that the Government provides support and a range of benefits in areas such as childcare, healthcare and education to children “regardless of their parents’ marital status and this includes single mothers. Benefits include centre-based infant and child care subsidies, Medisave grants for newborns and Medishield coverage for congenital and neonatal conditions.