What changed on 24 Aug 2026
The income ceiling to buy a new flat went up. The ceiling for the EHG did not.
A couple earning $9,001 to $16,000 can now buy a BTO flat but gets no EHG on it. On a resale flat, the same couple can still get the Family Grant of up to $80,000.
All HDB grants at a glance
| Grant | Amount |
|---|---|
| Enhanced CPF Housing Grant (Families) New and resale · first-timers · income up to $9,000 | $5,000 to $120,000 |
| Enhanced CPF Housing Grant (Singles) New and resale · singles 35+ · income up to $4,500 | $2,500 to $60,000 |
| CPF Housing Grant (Family) Resale · first-timer families · income up to $16,000 | $50,000 to $80,000 |
| Half-Housing Grant Resale · first-timer married to a second-timer | $25,000 to $40,000 |
| CPF Housing Grant (Singles) Resale · singles 35+ · income up to $8,000 | $25,000 to $40,000 |
| Proximity Housing Grant (Families) Resale · live with or within 4km of parents or child | $20,000 to $30,000 |
| Proximity Housing Grant (Singles) Resale · live with or within 4km of parents | $10,000 to $15,000 |
| Step-Up CPF Housing Grant Second-timer families · 2- and 3-room flats · income up to $7,000 | $15,000 |
| Fresh Start Housing Grant Second-timer families with young children in public rental | Up to $75,000 |
| CPF Housing Grant for ECs New EC from a developer · first-timer families · income up to $12,000 | Up to $30,000 |
| Top-Up Grant You bought as a single with the Singles Grant, then married | Up to $40,000 |
| Citizen Top-Up Grant SC + PR household: the PR becomes a citizen, or a citizen child is born | $10,000 |
How much you can stack
| Buying | First-timer family | First-timer single |
|---|---|---|
| Resale flat | $230,000 | $115,000 |
| New flat (BTO, SBF) | $120,000 | $60,000 |
| New EC | $30,000 | Not eligible |
On resale, the grants stack in this order: the Family Grant first, then the EHG (only if you qualify for the Family Grant), then the PHG. On a new flat, first-timers get the EHG only. New ECs get the EC grant only, with no EHG or PHG.
Income ceilings from 24 Aug 2026
| Ceiling | Monthly household income |
|---|---|
| Buy a new flat, or get the Family Grant (families) | $16,000 |
| Extended families (buying with parents) | $24,000 |
| Singles buying alone | $8,000 |
| Joint singles | $16,000 |
| EHG, families and joint singles | $9,000 |
| EHG, singles | $4,500 |
| Step-Up and Fresh Start | $7,000 |
| EC grant | $12,000 |
Income is your average gross monthly household income over the 12 months before you apply for the HFE letter, counting everyone buying and living in the flat. The PHG has no income ceiling.
What stops you from getting grants
- Private property. Owning one, or selling one in the last 30 months, rules out grants, new flats, new ECs and HDB loans. Overseas homes count. The separate 15-month wait for buying a resale flat without grants ended on 28 Jul 2026.
- Remaining lease. Flats with 20 years or less left get no grants. The full EHG needs the lease to cover the youngest buyer to age 95; otherwise it is cut.
- Age. Families need buyers aged 21 and above. Singles buying alone must be 35 or older.
- Citizenship. At least one buyer must be a Singapore Citizen. PR couples can buy resale without grants.
- Work. The EHG needs at least 12 months of continuous work before the HFE application. Students and NSFs buying new can defer the income check to just before key collection.
Divorced, widowed or buying again
Divorce and widowhood do not reset your first-timer status; your subsidy history decides it. A divorced or widowed parent with a child under their custody, care and control can buy as a family from 21. Without a child, you buy as a single from 35. If you still own a share of the matrimonial flat, that must be settled under the court order first.
If a first-timer marries someone who has had a subsidy, the couple gets the Half-Housing Grant on resale, and the EHG is worked out on the singles table using half their income.
What the checker tells people
Four real cases, worked out by the same rules the checker uses.
- Family Grant$80,000
- EHG$70,000
- Proximity Grant$20,000
- Singles Grant$40,000
- EHG$20,000
- Proximity Grant$15,000
- EHG$0
No EHG above $9,000. On resale they would still get the $80,000 Family Grant.
- EHG$0
- Step-Up Grant$15,000
- Proximity Grant$20,000
Questions
What is the most grant money I can get?
$230,000 for a first-timer family buying a resale flat: $80,000 Family Grant, $120,000 EHG and $30,000 PHG. A first-timer single can get up to $115,000 on resale. On a new flat, the maximum is the EHG: $120,000 for families and $60,000 for singles.
Are HDB grants paid in cash?
No. Grants go into your CPF Ordinary Account and are used for the flat. When you sell, the grant and the interest it would have earned go back into your own CPF account.
Can I get grants if I own private property?
No. Everyone in the household must not own private property, in Singapore or overseas, and must not have sold one in the last 30 months. You can still buy a resale flat without grants using a bank loan, and sell the private home within 6 months of completing the purchase.
I am divorced. Am I a first-timer again?
No. Divorce does not reset your status. If you took a housing subsidy before, you are a second-timer. With a child under your custody, care and control, you can buy as a family from age 21.
Does my PR spouse affect the grants?
Yes. An SC + PR couple gets $10,000 less Family Grant on resale, or pays $10,000 more for a new flat. You get $10,000 back as the Citizen Top-Up Grant when your spouse becomes a citizen or you have a citizen child. Apply within 6 months.
Which grants do second-timers get?
The Step-Up Grant ($15,000, for 2- and 3-room flats, income up to $7,000), the Proximity Housing Grant if you have never taken it, and the Fresh Start Housing Grant for families with young children living in public rental. The most second-timers can get is $45,000 from Step-Up and PHG together.
Check every grant for your case
The checker asks a few quick questions and stacks every grant you qualify for, with the reason for each.