First-Timer and Second-Timer Couple Applicants

For flat applications received from September 2019 sales launch onwards:

As a couple comprising a first-timer and second-timer (FT/ ST couple), you may be eligible for the Enhanced CPF Housing Grant (EHG) (Singles).

Calculation of grant amount

The EHG (Singles) amount is based on the average gross monthly household income (halved) assessed over the months worked during the assessment period, i.e. a 12-month period prior^ to the date of your flat application (see example 3 below). The incomes of all working persons in the household (i.e. applicants and occupiers) are included in the assessment. Families with lower household incomes will receive a larger grant amount.
 

^For young couples buying a flat, find out if you are eligible for the deferred income assessment.

For flat applications received before September 2019 sales launch:

As a couple comprising a first-timer and second-timer (FT/ ST couple), you may be eligible for the following CPF housing grants:

• Additional CPF Housing Grant (AHG) (Singles)
• Special CPF Housing Grant (SHG) (Singles)

^# Buyers of 2-room Flexi flats on short lease (15 to 45 years) are eligible for the AHG and SHG (if the flat is in a non-mature estate). The grant amount will be adjusted according to the lease chosen.

^For young couples buying a flat, find out if you are eligible for the deferred income assessment.

Calculation of grant amount

The AHG (Singles) and/or SHG (Singles) amount is based on the average gross monthly household income (halved) assessed over the months worked during the assessment period, i.e. a 12-month period prior^ to the date of your flat application. The incomes of all working persons in the household (i.e. applicants and occupiers) are included in the assessment. Families with lower household incomes will receive a larger grant amount. See examples below.

^For young couples buying a flat, find out if you are eligible for the deferred income assessment.

Check if you are a first-timer applicant

You will be considered a first-timer applicant if you have not received any housing subsidy from HDB. This means that you must not:

• Be the owner of a flat bought from HDB
• Have sold a flat bought from HDB
• Have taken the CPF Housing Grant to buy an Executive Condominium (EC) unit, Design, Build and Sell Scheme (DBSS) flat or an HDB resale flat, or taken over ownership of such a flat or EC unit
• Have transferred the ownership of a flat bought directly from HDB, or an HDB resale flat bought under the CPF Housing Grant Scheme
• Have ever taken other forms of housing subsidy, such as Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme benefits or HUDC estate privatisation

How to apply

If eligible, please download the relevant EHG application form or AHG application form or AHG/ SHG application form  and submit it to us during your flat booking appointment.

When you come for the flat booking appointment, please remember to bring the necessary income documents (see below) for the 12 months prior to your flat application. If you are eligible for the deferred income assessment your income documents will be accessed on a later date.

Disbursement

The CPF housing grants will be fully credited into the CPF Ordinary Account of the Singapore Citizen (SC) first-timer, who must be listed as a co-applicant. If the first-timer is a Singapore Permanent Resident (SPR) or is listed as an occupier, the CPF housing grants will be credited to the CPF Ordinary Account of the SC spouse who is a second-timer, provided he/ she has never received the EHG, AHG and/ or SHG for Family previously. No cash is disbursed.

Usage

CPF housing grants can be used to:

• Offset the purchase price of the flat
• Reduce the mortgage loan for the flat purchase

The grant cannot be used for the cash downpayment (if any) and monthly mortgage instalment payments.

If you are buying the flat with a bank loan, the grant will also be included in the computation of the CPF withdrawal limit

Income documents

The income documents you are required to bring depend on your nature of employment. We may also request further documentation if needed. For young couples buying a flat, you may wish to find out if you are eligible for the deferred income assessment.

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Nature of Employment	Documents to Submit
Employed person	12 months’ payslips preceding the flat application Or Letter from employer certifying salaries for 12 months preceding the flat application. The letter must contain the: Company stamp/ letterhead Certifying officer’s name, signature, and designation And CPF Yearly Statement of Account for current year and the immediate past year CPF statements showing contributions for the 12 months preceding the flat application Notes: If you are employed full-time but on no-pay leave (e.g. full-time studies) for less than 6 months out of the 12 months in review, we will consider you as employed and take your last drawn full-time pay to assess your eligibility for the housing grant(s). If you are employed full-time but on no-pay leave for 6 months or more out of the 12 months in review, your income will not be considered in the assessment.
Self-employed person	Latest Notice of Assessment (NOA) from IRAS Or Statement of Annual Accounts certified by an audit firm And Valid Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) Computer Information (Business Profile) Or Valid licence of trade
Part-time worker/ Commission-based person	12 months’ payslips/ commission statements preceding the flat application Or Letter from employer certifying salaries for the 12 months preceding the flat application. The letter must contain the: Company stamp/ letterhead Certifying officer’s name, signature, and designation And (for commission-based person) CPF Yearly Statement of Account for current year and the immediate past year CPF statements showing contributions for the 12 months preceding the flat application
Odd job worker	Latest NOA from IRAS And Previous year’s NOA from IRAS
Full-time student receiving stipends	Letter from the education institute stating the period and nature of study (full or part-time) Copy of signed contract between the applicant and the education institute stating the conditions of the stipend Notes: You will be considered as employed if you receive regular payment for work conducted for the educational institute as required, during your full-time studies. E.g. you conduct teaching/ research work for the educational institute, as required in the contract for the payments You will not be considered as employed for all other work done during full-time studies.

Income/ allowance that will be considered for the income ceiling

• Allowances (fixed/ variable) received on a regular basis, such as allowances for food, transport, laundry, uniform
• Sustenance Allowance
• Stipend received on a regular basis for work conducted for the educational institute, during full-time studies

Income/ allowance that is not considered for the income ceiling

• Alimony allowance
• Bonuses
• Income from ad hoc overtime work
• Interest from deposit accounts
• National Service Allowance
• Pension
• Rental income
• Scholarship overseas allowance
• Overseas cost of living allowance
• Director’s fee

Examples of EHG

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Example 1

Mr and Mrs Z (both SCs) are an FT/ ST couple; Mr Z is a second-timer who had previously bought a subsidised HDB flat, whereas Mrs Z is a first-timer. They applied for a 4-room Build-To-Order (BTO) flat in Punggol in September 2019.

They have been working continuously for the past 12 months and draw an average gross monthly household income of $4,000. Their assessed household income for the EHG (Singles) is $2,000 (i.e. half of $4,000).

Grant Type		EHG (Singles)
Flat Type Applied For		4-room flat in a non-mature estate
Conditions	Income Ceiling	$4,500 (Half of their average monthly household income is $2,000)
	Previous Housing Subsidies	FT/ ST couple
	Employment	Mr and Mrs Z have both been working continuously for the past 12 months, and were still working at the time of their flat application
	Remaining Lease of Flat	≥ 20 years
Grant Amount		$27,500
Disbursement of Grant		Mrs Z receives $27,500

The EHG (Singles) amount of $27,500 will be disbursed solely to Mrs Z, the first-timer SC applicant.

Example 2

Mr and Mrs L (both SCs) are an FT/ ST couple; Mr L is a second-timer who had previously bought a subsidised HDB flat, whereas Mrs L is a first-timer. They applied for a 5-room BTO flat in Tampines in September 2019.

They have been working continuously for the past 12 months and draw an average gross monthly household income of $6,000. Their assessed household income for the EHG (Singles) is $3,000 (i.e. half of $6,000).

Grant Type		EHG (Singles)
Flat Type Applied For		5-room flat in a mature estate
Conditions	Income Ceiling	$4,500  (Half of their average monthly household income is $3,000)
	Previous Housing Subsidies	FT/ST couple
	Employment	Mr and Mrs L have both been working continuously for the past 12 months, and were still working at the time of their flat application
	Remaining Lease of Flat	≥ 20 years
Grant Amount		$17,500
Disbursement of Grant		Mrs L receives $17,500

The EHG (Singles) amount of $17,500 will be disbursed solely to Mrs L, the first-timer SC applicant.

Example 3

Mr and Mrs B (both SCs) are an FT/ ST couple; Mr B is a second-timer who had previously bought a subsidised HDB flat, whereas Mrs B is a first-timer. They applied for a 4-room BTO flat in Tampines in September 2019.

Mr B has been working continuously since September 2018, and his average gross monthly income for the 12 months worked from September 2018 to August 2019 was $2,300.

Mrs B worked only in October to December 2018, and her average gross monthly income for the 3 months worked was $2,100.

Mr and Mrs B’s average gross monthly household income would be $4,400. Their assessed household income for the EHG (Singles) is $2,200 and the EHG (Singles) amount of $25,000 will be disbursed solely to Mrs B, the first-timer SC applicant.