In forceAmended2003 Revised Edition

Contents

Subsidiary Legislation · 2003 Revised Edition

Child Development Co-Savings Regulations

Official textFrom Singapore Statutes Online, unchanged

reg 1Citation

These Regulations may be cited as the Child Development Co-Savings Regulations.

reg 2Definitions

In these Regulations —“adopted” means adopted in accordance with any written law relating to the adopting of children;“adoptive parent” means —

(a)

in relation to a child who is adopted by a couple who is married at the time of the adoption, the adoptive mother; and

(b)

in relation to a child who is adopted by a sole adopter, the sole adopter;“allied health professional” has the same meaning as in section 2 of the Allied Health Professions Act 2011;“approved childminding operator” means any childminding operator in respect of which there is an approved person;“approved conveyance” and “approved permanent premises” have the meanings given by section 2(1) of the Healthcare Services Act 2020;“approved educational or developmental institution” means any early childhood development centre, preschool, special education school or early intervention centre in respect of which there is an approved person;“approved healthcare-related institution” means any pharmacy department or assistive technology device provider in respect of which there is an approved person;“approved healthcare service provider” means any healthcare service provider in respect of which there is an approved person;“approved institution” means any approved educational or developmental institution, any approved healthcare-related institution, any approved healthcare service provider or any approved childminding operator;[Deleted by S 833/2025 wef 01/01/2026]“approved person” —

(a)

means a person approved under regulation 11(4)(b) as an approved person in respect of an approved institution; and

(b)

includes a person appointed under regulation 11A(2) or 11B(2)(a) as an approved person in respect of an approved institution;“art and musical material” means material that is used to cultivate a child’s interest in art, music or dance, or to reinforce a child’s interest in art, music or dance;“assistive technology device” means any assistive, adaptive or rehabilitative device, equipment or software that assists a person who has a functional, physical or cognitive difficulty, disability or impairment;“birth order”, in relation to a child, means the status of the child as the first, second, third, fourth, fifth or subsequent child of his mother or adoptive parent;“Cash Grant” means a cash grant, other than a Child Development Credit, made by the Government from time to time under regulation 6B for the development of a child;[Deleted by S 829/2021 wef 01/11/2021]“Child Development Account” means a bank account opened and maintained for a member under regulation 4(3), and includes any Children Development Account opened for a member before 1st May 2011;“Child Development Credit” means a cash grant made by the Government from time to time for the development of a child;“childminding operator” means a childminding operator appointed under the scheme known as the Childminding Pilot for Infants;“Childminding Pilot for Infants” means a pilot childminding scheme approved by the Minister and known by that name;[Deleted by S 42/2022 wef 22/01/2022]“co-savings arrangement” means the co-savings arrangement referred to in section 3(3) of the Act;“co-savings member” means a member who is eligible for the co-savings arrangement;[Deleted by S 829/2021 wef 01/11/2021]“early childhood development centre” has the meaning given by section 2 of the Early Childhood Development Centres Act 2017;“early intervention centre” means any premises at which an early intervention programme is provided;“early intervention programme” means a programme, intended for children with one or more developmental needs, that is registered with the Ministry of Social and Family Development;“estimated delivery date” means the estimated date of delivery of a child as certified by a medical practitioner;[Deleted by S 419/2023 wef 26/06/2023]“healthcare service provider” means a person who holds a licence under the Healthcare Services Act 2020 to provide any licensable healthcare service;“healthcare service site”, in relation to a healthcare service provider, means any approved conveyance or approved permanent premises used by the healthcare service provider to provide a licensable healthcare service;“incidental charges” means the charges specified in the Fourth Schedule;[Deleted by S 833/2025 wef 01/01/2026]“insurer” means an insurer that is licensed under the Insurance Act 1966;“integrated medical insurance plan” has the same meaning as in the MediShield Life Scheme (Private Medical Insurance Scheme) Regulations 2015 (G.N. No. S 623/2015);“licensable healthcare service” has the meaning given by section 3(1) of the Healthcare Services Act 2020;“managing agent” means a person appointed by the Minister as a managing agent under regulation 4;[Deleted by S 419/2023 wef 26/06/2023]“medisave-approved plan” has the same meaning as in the MediShield Life Scheme (Private Medical Insurance Scheme) Regulations 2015;“MediShield Life Scheme” means the medical insurance scheme called the MediShield Life Scheme referred to in section 3 of the MediShield Life Scheme Act 2015;[Deleted by S 829/2021 wef 01/11/2021]“member” means a member of the Scheme;“NETS” means the electronic funds transfer at point-of-sale system commonly known as NETS;[Deleted by S 833/2025 wef 01/01/2026][Deleted by S 833/2025 wef 01/01/2026]“parent” includes an adoptive parent;[Deleted by S 833/2025 wef 01/01/2026]“pharmacy department” has the same meaning as in regulation 2 of the Health Products (Licensing of Retail Pharmacies) Regulations 2016;[Deleted by S 833/2025 wef 01/01/2026]“polytechnic” means a polytechnic established by a public Act;“premium” means any premium payable in respect of —

(a)

insurance cover under the MediShield Life Scheme; or

(b)

an integrated medical insurance plan or a medisave‑approved plan,and includes any goods and services tax thereon;“preschool” means a school or a private education institution that provides education at a standard that is preschool, or care, to children below 7 years of age, or both of such education and care (whether under the name of a preschool, a kindergarten or otherwise);[Deleted by S 419/2023 wef 26/06/2023]“qualified practitioner” has the same meaning as in regulation 2 of the Health Products (Licensing of Retail Pharmacies) Regulations 2016;“relevant time”, in relation to —

(a)

a child who is not adopted, means the date on which he is born or the date on which he becomes a citizen of Singapore, whichever is the later; and

(b)

a child who is an adopted child, means the date on which he is adopted or the date on which he becomes a citizen of Singapore, whichever is the later.“Scheme” means the Child Development Co-Savings Scheme established under regulation 3;“service agreement”, in relation to a managing agent, means the agreement entered into between the Government and the managing agent in relation to the operation and administration of the Scheme;“sibling” means the natural sibling, step-sibling or adopted sibling of a member;“special education school” means a school or a private education institution that provides special education for students with physical or intellectual disabilities.

“adopted” means adopted in accordance with any written law relating to the adopting of children;

“adoptive parent” means —

(a)

in relation to a child who is adopted by a couple who is married at the time of the adoption, the adoptive mother; and

(b)

in relation to a child who is adopted by a sole adopter, the sole adopter;

“allied health professional” has the same meaning as in section 2 of the Allied Health Professions Act 2011;

“approved childminding operator” means any childminding operator in respect of which there is an approved person;

“approved conveyance” and “approved permanent premises” have the meanings given by section 2(1) of the Healthcare Services Act 2020;

“approved educational or developmental institution” means any early childhood development centre, preschool, special education school or early intervention centre in respect of which there is an approved person;

“approved healthcare-related institution” means any pharmacy department or assistive technology device provider in respect of which there is an approved person;

“approved healthcare service provider” means any healthcare service provider in respect of which there is an approved person;

“approved institution” means any approved educational or developmental institution, any approved healthcare-related institution, any approved healthcare service provider or any approved childminding operator;

“approved person” —

(a)

means a person approved under regulation 11(4)(b) as an approved person in respect of an approved institution; and

(b)

includes a person appointed under regulation 11A(2) or 11B(2)(a) as an approved person in respect of an approved institution;

“art and musical material” means material that is used to cultivate a child’s interest in art, music or dance, or to reinforce a child’s interest in art, music or dance;

“assistive technology device” means any assistive, adaptive or rehabilitative device, equipment or software that assists a person who has a functional, physical or cognitive difficulty, disability or impairment;

“birth order”, in relation to a child, means the status of the child as the first, second, third, fourth, fifth or subsequent child of his mother or adoptive parent;

“Cash Grant” means a cash grant, other than a Child Development Credit, made by the Government from time to time under regulation 6B for the development of a child;

“Child Development Account” means a bank account opened and maintained for a member under regulation 4(3), and includes any Children Development Account opened for a member before 1st May 2011;

“Child Development Credit” means a cash grant made by the Government from time to time for the development of a child;

“childminding operator” means a childminding operator appointed under the scheme known as the Childminding Pilot for Infants;

“Childminding Pilot for Infants” means a pilot childminding scheme approved by the Minister and known by that name;

“co-savings arrangement” means the co-savings arrangement referred to in section 3(3) of the Act;

“co-savings member” means a member who is eligible for the co-savings arrangement;

“early childhood development centre” has the meaning given by section 2 of the Early Childhood Development Centres Act 2017;

“early intervention centre” means any premises at which an early intervention programme is provided;

“early intervention programme” means a programme, intended for children with one or more developmental needs, that is registered with the Ministry of Social and Family Development;

“estimated delivery date” means the estimated date of delivery of a child as certified by a medical practitioner;

“healthcare service provider” means a person who holds a licence under the Healthcare Services Act 2020 to provide any licensable healthcare service;

“healthcare service site”, in relation to a healthcare service provider, means any approved conveyance or approved permanent premises used by the healthcare service provider to provide a licensable healthcare service;

“incidental charges” means the charges specified in the Fourth Schedule;

“insurer” means an insurer that is licensed under the Insurance Act 1966;

“integrated medical insurance plan” has the same meaning as in the MediShield Life Scheme (Private Medical Insurance Scheme) Regulations 2015 (G.N. No. S 623/2015);

“licensable healthcare service” has the meaning given by section 3(1) of the Healthcare Services Act 2020;

“managing agent” means a person appointed by the Minister as a managing agent under regulation 4;

“medisave-approved plan” has the same meaning as in the MediShield Life Scheme (Private Medical Insurance Scheme) Regulations 2015;

“MediShield Life Scheme” means the medical insurance scheme called the MediShield Life Scheme referred to in section 3 of the MediShield Life Scheme Act 2015;

“member” means a member of the Scheme;

“NETS” means the electronic funds transfer at point-of-sale system commonly known as NETS;

“parent” includes an adoptive parent;

“pharmacy department” has the same meaning as in regulation 2 of the Health Products (Licensing of Retail Pharmacies) Regulations 2016;

“polytechnic” means a polytechnic established by a public Act;

“premium” means any premium payable in respect of —

(a)

insurance cover under the MediShield Life Scheme; or

(b)

an integrated medical insurance plan or a medisave‑approved plan,and includes any goods and services tax thereon;

“preschool” means a school or a private education institution that provides education at a standard that is preschool, or care, to children below 7 years of age, or both of such education and care (whether under the name of a preschool, a kindergarten or otherwise);

“qualified practitioner” has the same meaning as in regulation 2 of the Health Products (Licensing of Retail Pharmacies) Regulations 2016;

“relevant time”, in relation to —

(a)

a child who is not adopted, means the date on which he is born or the date on which he becomes a citizen of Singapore, whichever is the later; and

(b)

a child who is an adopted child, means the date on which he is adopted or the date on which he becomes a citizen of Singapore, whichever is the later.

“Scheme” means the Child Development Co-Savings Scheme established under regulation 3;

“service agreement”, in relation to a managing agent, means the agreement entered into between the Government and the managing agent in relation to the operation and administration of the Scheme;

“sibling” means the natural sibling, step-sibling or adopted sibling of a member;

“special education school” means a school or a private education institution that provides special education for students with physical or intellectual disabilities.

reg 3Establishment of Scheme

For the purposes of Part 2 of the Act, there shall be established a scheme to be called the Child Development Co-Savings Scheme.

reg 4Managing agents

(1)

The Minister may appoint one or more managing agents to operate and administer the Scheme for and on behalf of the Minister on the terms and conditions specified in the service agreement or agreements.

(2)

A managing agent shall have such powers and perform such duties as may be imposed by these Regulations or as may be specified in the service agreement.

(3)

A managing agent shall, on receipt of an application under regulation 5(3A) and on the instruction of the Director, open and maintain for the member concerned a Child Development Account —

(a)

into which shall be credited —

(i)

in the case of a co-savings member, any co-investment sum contributed by or on behalf of any parent of the member under regulation 6(1);

(ii)

in the case of a co-savings member, any co-payment sum contributed by the Government under regulation 6(2);

(iii)

any other sum contributed by or on behalf of any parent of the member under regulation 6A(1);

(iv)

in the case of a member whose parents have obtained a judgment for the dissolution or annulment of their marriage or judicial separation, any matrimonial assets divided between the parents by a court pursuant to the divorce, annulment or judicial separation proceedings and ordered to be transferred into the member’s Child Development Account;

(v)

any Child Development Credit or Cash Grant for which the member is eligible; and

(vi)

interest to be paid by the managing agent on the amount standing to the credit of the member’s Child Development Account at such rate per annum and at such intervals as the managing agent may determine; and

(b)

out of which shall be met all withdrawals authorised under regulation 9.

(4)

A managing agent may, with the approval of the Minister and by instrument in writing, delegate all or any of its powers and duties referred to in paragraph (2) to any person.

(5)

Any power conferred on or duty imposed on a managing agent or delegated by a managing agent to another person shall be subject to the authority and directions of the Minister.

Subregulation 1

Subregulation 2

A managing agent shall have such powers and perform such duties as may be imposed by these Regulations or as may be specified in the service agreement.

Subregulation 3

A managing agent shall, on receipt of an application under regulation 5(3A) and on the instruction of the Director, open and maintain for the member concerned a Child Development Account —

(a)

into which shall be credited —

(i)

in the case of a co-savings member, any co-investment sum contributed by or on behalf of any parent of the member under regulation 6(1);

(ii)

in the case of a co-savings member, any co-payment sum contributed by the Government under regulation 6(2);

(iii)

any other sum contributed by or on behalf of any parent of the member under regulation 6A(1);

(iv)

(v)

any Child Development Credit or Cash Grant for which the member is eligible; and

(vi)

(b)

out of which shall be met all withdrawals authorised under regulation 9.

Subregulation 4

A managing agent may, with the approval of the Minister and by instrument in writing, delegate all or any of its powers and duties referred to in paragraph (2) to any person.

Subregulation 5

Any power conferred on or duty imposed on a managing agent or delegated by a managing agent to another person shall be subject to the authority and directions of the Minister.

reg 4AEligibility for membership of Scheme

(1)

[Deleted by S 829/2021 wef 01/11/2021]

(1A)

[Deleted by S 829/2021 wef 01/11/2021]

(2)

[Deleted by S 829/2021 wef 01/11/2021]

(2A)

Subject to regulation 4B, where a child who is not adopted is born —

(a)

on or after 1 January 2009; or

(b)

before 1 January 2009, but the estimated delivery date of the child is a date on or after 1 January 2009,the child shall be eligible to become a co-savings member if the following conditions are satisfied:

(i)

he is a citizen of Singapore at the time of his birth or he becomes a citizen of Singapore within 12 years of his birth;

(ii)

in the case of a child mentioned in sub‑paragraph (a) who is born before 1 September 2016 and whose estimated delivery date for his mother’s confinement is before that date, his mother —

(A)

is lawfully married to his natural father at the time he is conceived; or

(B)

becomes lawfully married to his natural father after he is conceived, whether or not such marriage remains subsisting; and

(iii)

he is born alive to his mother.

(2B)

Subject to paragraph (2C) but without prejudice to paragraph (2A), with effect from 1st May 2011, a child who is not adopted shall be eligible to become a member if the following conditions are satisfied:

(a)

he is born on or after 1 January 2009;

(b)

he is a citizen of Singapore at the time of his birth or he becomes a citizen of Singapore within 6 years of his birth; and

(c)

he is born alive to his mother.

(2C)

Without prejudice to paragraph (2A), with effect from 5th December 2012, a child who is not adopted shall be eligible to become a member if the following conditions are satisfied:

(a)

he is born on or after 1 January 2009;

(b)

he is a citizen of Singapore at the time of his birth or he becomes a citizen of Singapore within 12 years of his birth; and

(c)

he is born alive to his mother.

(3)

[Deleted by S 829/2021 wef 01/11/2021]

(3A)

[Deleted by S 829/2021 wef 01/11/2021]

(4)

Subject to paragraph (4A) and regulation 4B, a child who is born, and adopted, on or after 1 January 2009 shall be eligible to become a co-savings member if the following conditions are satisfied:

(a)

he is a citizen of Singapore at the time of his adoption or he becomes a citizen of Singapore within 12 years of his birth;

(b)

his adoptive parent is a person who is lawfully married, or widowed or divorced, at the time he is adopted; and

(c)

he is below 12 years of age at the time he is adopted.

(4A)

The condition in paragraph (4)(b) need not be satisfied if the child mentioned in paragraph (4) —

(a)

is born on or after 1 September 2016, or born before that date but whose estimated delivery date for his mother’s confinement is on or after that date; and

(b)

is adopted on or after that date.

(5)

Subject to paragraph (6) but without prejudice to paragraph (4), with effect from 1st May 2011, a child who is adopted shall be eligible to become a member if the following conditions are satisfied:

(a)

he is born, and adopted, on or after 1 January 2009;

(b)

he is a citizen of Singapore at the time of his adoption or he becomes a citizen of Singapore within 6 years of his birth; and

(c)

he is below 6 years of age at the time he is adopted.

(6)

Without prejudice to paragraph (4), with effect from 5th December 2012, a child who is adopted shall be eligible to become a member if the following conditions are satisfied:

(a)

he is born, and adopted, on or after 1 January 2009;

(b)

he is a citizen of Singapore at the time of his adoption or he becomes a citizen of Singapore within 12 years of his birth; and

(c)

he is below 12 years of age at the time he is adopted.

Subregulation 1A

[Deleted by S 829/2021 wef 01/11/2021]

Subregulation 2

[Deleted by S 829/2021 wef 01/11/2021]

Subregulation 2A

Subject to regulation 4B, where a child who is not adopted is born —

(a)

on or after 1 January 2009; or

(b)

(i)

he is a citizen of Singapore at the time of his birth or he becomes a citizen of Singapore within 12 years of his birth;

(ii)

in the case of a child mentioned in sub‑paragraph (a) who is born before 1 September 2016 and whose estimated delivery date for his mother’s confinement is before that date, his mother —

(A)

is lawfully married to his natural father at the time he is conceived; or

(B)

becomes lawfully married to his natural father after he is conceived, whether or not such marriage remains subsisting; and

(iii)

he is born alive to his mother.

Subregulation 2B

(a)

he is born on or after 1 January 2009;

(b)

he is a citizen of Singapore at the time of his birth or he becomes a citizen of Singapore within 6 years of his birth; and

(c)

he is born alive to his mother.

Subregulation 2C

Without prejudice to paragraph (2A), with effect from 5th December 2012, a child who is not adopted shall be eligible to become a member if the following conditions are satisfied:

(a)

he is born on or after 1 January 2009;

(b)

he is a citizen of Singapore at the time of his birth or he becomes a citizen of Singapore within 12 years of his birth; and

(c)

he is born alive to his mother.

Subregulation 3

[Deleted by S 829/2021 wef 01/11/2021]

Subregulation 3A

[Deleted by S 829/2021 wef 01/11/2021]

Subregulation 4

Subject to paragraph (4A) and regulation 4B, a child who is born, and adopted, on or after 1 January 2009 shall be eligible to become a co-savings member if the following conditions are satisfied:

(a)

he is a citizen of Singapore at the time of his adoption or he becomes a citizen of Singapore within 12 years of his birth;

(b)

his adoptive parent is a person who is lawfully married, or widowed or divorced, at the time he is adopted; and

(c)

he is below 12 years of age at the time he is adopted.

Subregulation 4A

The condition in paragraph (4)(b) need not be satisfied if the child mentioned in paragraph (4) —

(a)

is born on or after 1 September 2016, or born before that date but whose estimated delivery date for his mother’s confinement is on or after that date; and

(b)

is adopted on or after that date.

Subregulation 5

Subject to paragraph (6) but without prejudice to paragraph (4), with effect from 1st May 2011, a child who is adopted shall be eligible to become a member if the following conditions are satisfied:

(a)

he is born, and adopted, on or after 1 January 2009;

(b)

he is a citizen of Singapore at the time of his adoption or he becomes a citizen of Singapore within 6 years of his birth; and

(c)

he is below 6 years of age at the time he is adopted.

Subregulation 6

Without prejudice to paragraph (4), with effect from 5th December 2012, a child who is adopted shall be eligible to become a member if the following conditions are satisfied:

(a)

he is born, and adopted, on or after 1 January 2009;

(b)

he is a citizen of Singapore at the time of his adoption or he becomes a citizen of Singapore within 12 years of his birth; and

(c)

he is below 12 years of age at the time he is adopted.

Read on from reg 4B