Government Paid Maternity Benefit for Self-Employed MaMas! -

So much to plan ahead!

Hello there mama-to-be, we are sure that you are still basking in the joy of your new pregnancy! At this stage you may not look pregnant yet, but you will soon be feeling it! It is early days, but it is never too early to begin planning ahead for your newborn’s arrival. Once your baby arrives, you will need sufficient time to recover from childbirth and take care of your newborn.

What is the Government-Paid Maternity Benefit?

In Singapore, most mothers are able to enjoy maternity leave benefits under the Government-Paid Maternity Leave (GPML) scheme, however if you are a self-employed or working mother who does not qualify, the other scheme you may try to apply for is the Government-Paid Maternity Benefit (GPMB). This scheme benefits mothers under short-term employment periods, on the condition that they have been in employment for a minimum of 90 days in the 12 months before your child’s date of birth.

What are the cash benefits of the Government-Paid Maternity Benefit scheme?

The GPMB is equivalent to the Government-paid portion of maternity leave but before we dive further into the claimable cash benefits under GPMB, a term we should familiarise ourselves with is ‘Child Order’.

As shown below, the definition of the term ‘child order’ is slightly different depending if the child is born before or after 1 July 2017.

– The number of birth(s) by the mother and with an estimated delivery date (EDD) before 1 July 2017

-The number of birth(s) by the mother and with an estimated delivery date (EDD) on or after 1 July 2017 and adopted-in children (must be below 12 months of age at the point of formal intent to adopt – FIA)

Under GPMB, cash benefits will be provided by the government based on the following formula:

A = Gross rate of pay + Employer CPF contributions over 12 months
B = Net trade income derived by the person from her business, trade or profession in Singapore over 12 months
C = 56 days (for 1st and 2nd child order) or 112 days (3rd and subsequent child order)

The amount of cash benefits you may claim is capped at $10,000 per 4 weeks:

– With a maximum of $20,000 for 8 weeks for your 1st and 2nd child order

– Or a maximum of $40,000 for 16 weeks for your 3rd and subsequent child order

More information can be found at https://www.profamilyleave.gov.sg/

How do I apply?

Keep a record of your employment contract(s) or business periods in the past 1 year leading up to the birth of your child.
Submit your claim via the GPL Portal not exceeding 15 months after giving birth. Please prepare the following scanned documents in your submission:

a) All your employment contracts within the last 12 months before your child’s date of birth.

b) Your pay slips or the latest Notice of Assessment from IRAS
Check your application status on GPL Portal.

The GPMB is a great scheme that provides some financial relief for mothers who are not eligible for government-paid maternity leave. You may contact the Government-Paid Leave Schemes administrator at 1800-253-4757 should you require more assistance.