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Government-Paid Maternity Benefit

Working mothers, including self-employed mothers, who are not eligible for the GPML* may apply to receive Government-Paid Maternity Benefit, as long as they have been in employment for a total of at least 90 days in the 12 months preceding the birth of their child.

If you had different employers over the 12 months preceding the birth of your child, the total duration of these employment periods can be added up to meet the 90 days minimum employment criterion for Government-Paid Maternity Benefit.

The Maternity Benefit you are eligible for is equivalent to the Government-paid portion of the GPML (equivalent to 8 weeks for the 1st and 2nd confinements, and 16 weeks for the 3rd and each subsequent confinement).

The amount of Maternity Benefit you will receive is based on your gross rate of pay and employer CPF contributions, as well as net trade income earned in the 12 months preceding the birth of your child (computed by dividing the total monthly gross rate of pay in the 12 months over 365 days). Mothers should apply for the Government-Paid Maternity Benefit within 15 months of their child's birth.

You are eligible if:

  1. Your child is a Singapore Citizen;

    AND

  2. You have been in employment for a total of at least 90 days in the 12 months preceding the birth of your child.

* This condition does not apply to working mothers whose contracts expire after the birth of their child and who have received some GPML. Please refer to the FAQs under Government-Paid Maternity Benefit.

For information on the submission of claims and other queries, please visit https://www.profamilyleave.gov.sg/

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  • 1. Can I claim Government-Paid Maternity Benefit (GPMB) and enjoy ML at the same time?

    No. An employee who qualifies for GPML under her latest employment will not be able to claim GPMB.

    However, working mothers who have received some GPML but whose contracts expire after delivery may also qualify for GPMB. The total maternity benefits (GPML and GPMB) is up to a total of 8 weeks (for the 1st and 2nd child) or 16 weeks (for 3rd and each subsequent child). For information on submission of claim and other queries, please visit https://www.profamilyleave.gov.sg/

  • 2. How do I apply for GPMB? What documents will I need to prove the number of days I worked?

    Eligible parents can apply for GPMB anytime within 15 months from the birth of your child. Applications for GPMB can be made online through www.profamilyleave.gov.sg, and more information on GPMB is available here.

  • 3. How is the amount of GPMB determined?

    The GPMB is based on the Government-Paid portion of maternity leave (i.e. 8 weeks for 1st and 2nd child order; 16 weeks for 3rd and each subsequent child orders, pro-rated to the mother’s level of economic activity in the 12 months preceding childbirth. The amount of GPMB is calculated based on the total income earned in the 12 months before childbirth, divided over 365 days to obtain a daily GPMB rate. Net trade income from self-employment can also be included in the computation of total income that attracts GPMB payment.

    For example, if a mother works for 4 months at a rate of $5,000 per month (including employer CPF contributions) in the 12 months (or 365 days) preceding delivery, and gives birth to her first child (i.e. 8 weeks or 56 days), her GPMB will be:

  • 4. What can be included as income for GPMB computations?

    For employees, your gross rate of pay and employer CPF contributions from employment in Singapore, over the 12 months preceding the birth of your child can be included for GPMB computations. It includes commission-based income but excludes bonuses and Directors’ fees (with effect from 1 Jan 2021). For local employees earning above $500 a month, there should be a corresponding CPF contribution for the income earned.

    For self-employed persons, your net trade income, over the 12 months preceding the birth of your child, can be used for GPMB computations.

    Both trade income and income from employment can be combined for GPMB computations.

    * Excludes overtime payments, bonus payments, annual wage supplements, special expenses incurred by the employee in the course of the employee’s employment, productivity incentive payments and travelling, food or housing allowances.

  • 5. How are the 90 days of service in the 12 months before delivery calculated?

    If you are under a term contract, the tenure of the contract (inclusive of the start date, end date, weekends and public holiday) would be used to compute the period of service. Employment duration under different terms can be amalgamated.

    If you are a daily rated employee, the duration employed would be computed based on the actual number of days worked.

    For all employees who work for multiple employers over the same period, the 'overlapping' period would only be counted 'once' (using both salaries) in computing the length of service. Both salaries will be used in the computation to reflect the total income earned in the 12 months period.

  • 6. Why do I only get 8 weeks' worth of GPMB for my first 2 confinements, and 16 weeks for subsequent confinements?

    The GPMB is based on the Government-Paid portion of ML, i.e. 8 weeks for the 1st 2 child order, and 16 weeks for the 3rd and subsequent child orders.

Last Updated : 11 Oct 2020