CPF housing grant eligibility is a factor most will consider when buying their HDB flat. That’s because for first-timers eyeing a BTO flat or resale flat, getting a CPF housing grant (or HDB grant/resale grant) is probably the most important aspect as it helps make homes more ‘affordable’.
As the title suggests, CPF housing grants for HDB are credited into your CPF Ordinary Account (OA) via CPF top-up and must be returned to your CPF account once you sell the flat. Some might even argue not to use your CPF to pay for housing. But hey, in a country where houses are expensive, the HDB grant helps to aid your purchase and make it easier to own a home.
But with so many grants and eligibility conditions, it can get pretty confusing. From enhanced CPF housing grants (EHG grant) to proximity HDB grants, we’ll explain everything you need to know about the CPF housing grants and how you can qualify for them.
Overview: CPF Housing Grants Available for Different Flat Types
The type of HDB grants you’re eligible for will largely depend on the following things:
- The type of HDB flat: BTO flat, Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) flat, Open Booking of Flats flat, resale HDB flat, or executive condominium (EC)
- Whether you’re a first-time or second-time applicant (or have received an HDB grant previously)
- Whether you’re buying as a family/couple or single
- Your income ceiling
Assuming that you’re buying as a couple, are both Singaporeans, and are first-time home buyers, below is the grant amount that you’re both eligible for each flat type:
| Grant/unit type | HDB flat type | Income ceiling | Grant amount |
| Enhanced CPF Housing Grant (EHG) | BTO or Resale | $9,000 | Up to $80,000 |
| CPF Housing Grants for Resale Flats (Families) | Resale | $14,000 | Up to $50,000 |
| Proximity Housing Grant (PHG) | Resale | None | Up to $30,000 |
| Step-Up CPF Housing Grant (applicable for second-timer applicants) |
BTO or Resale | $7,000 | Up to $15,000 |
| CPF Housing Grants for EC | Executive Condo | $12,000 | Up to $30,000 |
Note: Singapore Permanent Resident (PR) households are not eligible for grants. Only households with at least one Singapore Citizen (SC) can enjoy subsidised flats and grants from HDB. To qualify for the grants, all applicants must be at least 21 years old if they’re buying as a couple/family, and 35 years old for singles. Here’s what you need to know about PRs buying HDB flats in Singapore.
In summary, the maximum grant type and the amount you can get for each type of flat are:
- BTO/SBF flat: EHG ($5,000 to $80,000)
- Resale HDB flat: EHG + Family Grant + PHG ($65,000 to $160,000)
- EC: Family Grant ($5,000 to $30,000)
1. Enhanced CPF Grant (EHG): For BTO and Resale Flats
The Enhanced CPF Housing Grant (EHG) replaced both the former Additional CPF Grant (AHG) and Special CPF Housing Grant (SHG). With EHG, first-time applicants buying as a family/couple can get up to $80,000 in grants, while singles can enjoy up to $40,000. The EHG grant applies to 2-room Flexi flats on a 99-year lease in non-mature estates and 2-room Flexi flats on short leases. All resale flats under the Joint Single Scheme and up to 5-room under the Single Singapore Citizen Scheme are also applicable.
Eligibility to Receive EHG Grant
Grant amount: Up to $80,000 for families, and up to $40,000 for singles or those under the non-citizen spouse scheme.
Monthly household income ceiling: $9,000 or less for families. Singles or Singapore citizens married to foreigners must earn less than $4,500 per month for the past year to qualify.
Employment: At least one applicant must be working for at least a year.
Type of HDB flat: BTO, Sale of Balance, and resale flats with a remaining lease of more than 20 years. HDB flats announced for SERS are not applicable.
Remaining flat lease: The remaining lease must be also enough to cover the youngest buyer until 95 years old, or the grant will be pro-rated.
Previous housing subsidies: All applicants or essential occupiers must be first-timers.
Ownership: You and the other flat applicants must not own any property locally and overseas or have disposed of them 30 months before your new flat application.
Single and Non-Citizen Spouse Scheme:
If you’re buying as a single or with a non-resident spouse, your income must not exceed $4,500, and you must have been employed for the past year. If are buying a flat with other singles or a resale flat with your parents, then your income must not exceed $9,000. Like families and couples buying with the EHG, the remaining lease must have at least 20 years left and cover you until you’re 95 years old. You cannot own any property in Singapore or abroad or must dispose of any property within 30 months before applying for the flat.
For SC marrying a non-citizen, you’ll be eligible for the EHG if half of your household income for the past year does not exceed $4,500. Before applying for the flat, you and your spouse must also work for the past year. As with other schemes, the remaining lease of the flat must be 20 years or more, enough to cover the youngest buyer until 95 years old. Both buyers must also not own any property locally and overseas, or have disposed of them within 30 months before applying for the flat.
2. CPF Housing Grant: For Resale Flats
The CPF Housing Grant is for first-time families/married/engaged couples who want to buy a resale HDB flat. For SC households, the grant amount is $50,000 for 2- to 4-room resale flats and $40,000 for 5-room or bigger resale flats.
The grant amount for SC-SPR households is $40,000 for 2- to 4-room resale flats and $30,000 for 5-room or bigger ones. Below are the eligibility conditions:
Eligibility to Receive CPF Housing Grant (for Resale Flats)
Monthly household income ceiling: $14,000 or less for couples, $21,000 if buying as an extended or multi-generation family.
Employment: At least one applicant must be working for at least a year.
Flat type: 2-room or bigger.
Remaining flat lease: More than 20 years.
Household status: You and the family member(s) buying the resale flat must be first-timer applicants, and must not have owned/bought any HDB property, including EC, Design, Build and Sell Scheme (DBSS) flat from a developer. You have also not received any CPF Housing Grant to buy a resale flat and have not received any form of housing subsidy (e.g. benefitted under the Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS), HUDC estate privatisation).
Ownership: You and the other flat applicants must not own any property locally and overseas or dispose of them 30 months before your new flat application. All applicants also cannot invest in private residential property from the date of flat application till after the 5-year Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) is fulfilled. You must not also be buying an HDB resale flat announced for SERS.
If your household comprises a Singaporean and a foreigner, you can apply under the Non-Citizen Spouse Scheme. Under this scheme, you can get $25,000 for 2- to 4-room resale flats and $20,000 for 5-room resale flats. Your gross monthly household income must not exceed $14,000, and all applicants must be first-time applicants.
3. Proximity Housing Grant (PHG): For Resale Flats
Since its introduction, the PHG has benefitted thousands of Singaporean families. Apart from living within 4km of your parents, there are other eligibility conditions that you need to know. The proximity housing grant is stackable with other grants and has no income cap. It is also not restricted to first-time homebuyers.
The HDB proximity housing grant also applies if your parents/children stay in a private property. Do note that if you are a parent buying your child a flat, you will not be eligible for the PHG.
Eligibility to Receive Proximity Housing Grant
Grant amount: $20,000 for living within 4km of your parents/children, and $30,000 if you’re staying with them. Singles will enjoy $10,000 if they choose to live within 4km of where their parents live, and $15,000 if they live with their parents.
Monthly Household Income Ceiling: No income ceiling.
Flat type: The resale flat must be 2-room or larger.
Remaining flat lease: More than 20 years.
Previous housing subsidies: Must not have received the PHG previously.
Read our Proximity Housing Grant guide for more information.
4. Step-Up CPF Housing Grant: For BTO and Resale Flats
If you wish to upgrade from a 2-room subsidised HDB flat in a non-mature estate to a 3-room subsidised HDB flat in a non-mature estate, you may receive the Step-Up CPF Housing Grant of $15,000 if you’re applying for your second subsidised HDB flat.
For a 2-room or 3-room HDB flat in a non-mature estate, second-timer families who are rental tenants can apply for the Step-Up CPF Housing Grant as well.
Eligibility to Receive Step-up Housing Grant
Grant amount: $15,000
Monthly Household Income Ceiling: $7,000
Employment: At least one applicant must be working for at least a year prior to the flat application as well as the time you submit the flat application.
Flat type: 2-room resale flat, 2-room Flexi flat, and 3-room flat.
Remaining flat lease: More than 20 years.
Previous housing subsidies: Second-timer if they live in a 2-room flat in a non-mature estate and are upgrading to a 3-room flat.
Ownership: You and the other flat applicants must not own or been gifted any property locally and overseas, or have disposed of them 30 months before your new flat application.
5. CPF Housing Grants: For Executive Condominiums
First-time EC buyers will also be able to enjoy the CPF Housing Grants when they buy any type of EC from HDB. The grant amount depends on your income and your household type.
Eligibility to Receive CPF Housing Grant (for ECs)
Grant amount: $10,000 to $30,000 for SC households, $10,000 to $20,000 for SC-SPR households.
Monthly Household Income Ceiling: $12,000 or less.
Employment: At least one applicant must be an SC to be eligible for the grants in the table above.
Flat type: Any executive condo.
Household status: First-timer applicant if you have not received any housing subsidy from HDB or bought any HDB flat previously.
Here’s a table on the differences between the Family Grant and Half-Housing Grant, according to HDB:
| Gross monthly household income | Family grant (for SC household) | Family grant (for SC/SPR households) | Half-Housing Grant (If you are a first-timer SC and your co-applicant is a second-timer who has previously taken one housing subsidy) |
| $10,000 or lower | $30,000 | $20,000 | $15,000 |
| $10,001 to $11,000 | $20,000 | $10,000 | $10,000 |
| $11,001 to $12,000 | $10,000 | N.A. | $5,000 |
| $12,001 to $16,000 | N.A. | N.A. | N.A. |
A Half-Housing Grant is for first-time SC applicants with an applicant who has previously received a housing subsidy. The eligible flat type for this grant would be a 2-room or bigger.
For SC-SPR households, you can enjoy an additional $10,000 when the SPR converts into an SC via the Citizen Top-Up. You need to submit your application to HDB within 6 months of being eligible for it.
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