Higher Monthly Allowance for Singapore Families Fostering Teenagers from October

It is part of government efforts to encourage more people here to take on the role

- Joyce Lim

Foster parents will be given more financial support from October as part of efforts by the Government to encourage more people to take on the role.

Those caring for teenagers aged 13 and above will get a monthly fostering allowance of $1,300 per child, up from $1,100.

The allowance for foster parents caring for teenagers with special or medical needs will be raised from $1,500 to $1,800, to cover the additional costs of therapy, intervention and transport.

The higher allowance, to be paid from November, is expected to benefit around 130 foster teenagers and their foster parents, the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) said in a statement on Aug 23.

Announcing these updates, Minister of State for Home Affairs and Social and Family Development Goh Pei Ming said: "Children who have experienced trauma often have higher social and emotional needs. This can be even more pronounced for teenagers, who are going through a complex and formative stage of life.

"We want to increase the number of foster families caring for our teens."

He added: "We recognise that the cost of caring for teenagers is often higher than for younger children, from food to expenses on transport, telecommunications and recreational activities."

He was speaking on Aug 23 at the Fostering Open House 2025 held at Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre.

As at December 2024, there were 530 foster children and 633 foster families, said MSF.

Mr Goh said about 130 of these children are aged 13 and above.

Yet, there are more than twice as many in residential care, such as children's homes, he added.