Grant schedule in force from 20 August 2024
HDB grants: what you get, and the resale-only rule that decides S$110,000
Two of the three main grants are not available on a new flat from HDB. Quoting them on both routes overstates a Build-To-Order purchase by up to S$110,000, which is enough to pick the wrong flat.
The rule
The Proximity Housing Grant is available on resale flats only. It is not available on a new flat from HDB, at any amount.
This is the single most expensive misunderstanding in the grants system. A first-timer family living with their parents can be told the Proximity Housing Grant is worth “up to S$30,000” on their Build-To-Order flat. It is worth nothing on a Build-To-Order flat. Together with the CPF Housing Grant, which is also resale-only, that is up to S$110,000 of difference between the two routes — and it is the kind of gap that decides which flat you should buy, not just what it costs.
The Enhanced CPF Housing Grant (EHG)
Amounts below are the schedule in force from 20 August 2024. The grant steps down as average gross monthly household income rises, and it is available to first-timers on both new and resale flats.
| Average gross monthly household income | EHG | Income | EHG |
|---|---|---|---|
| S$1,500 or less | S$120,000 | S$5,500 or less | S$55,000 |
| S$2,000 or less | S$110,000 | S$6,000 or less | S$50,000 |
| S$2,500 or less | S$105,000 | S$6,500 or less | S$40,000 |
| S$3,000 or less | S$95,000 | S$7,000 or less | S$30,000 |
| S$3,500 or less | S$90,000 | S$7,500 or less | S$25,000 |
| S$4,000 or less | S$80,000 | S$8,000 or less | S$20,000 |
| S$4,500 or less | S$70,000 | S$8,500 or less | S$10,000 |
| S$5,000 or less | S$65,000 | S$9,000 or less | S$5,000 |
| Above S$9,000 | No EHG |
| Average gross monthly income | EHG | Income | EHG |
|---|---|---|---|
| S$750 or less | S$60,000 | S$2,750 or less | S$27,500 |
| S$1,000 or less | S$55,000 | S$3,000 or less | S$25,000 |
| S$1,250 or less | S$52,500 | S$3,250 or less | S$20,000 |
| S$1,500 or less | S$47,500 | S$3,500 or less | S$15,000 |
| S$1,750 or less | S$45,000 | S$3,750 or less | S$12,500 |
| S$2,000 or less | S$40,000 | S$4,000 or less | S$10,000 |
| S$2,250 or less | S$35,000 | S$4,250 or less | S$5,000 |
| S$2,500 or less | S$32,500 | S$4,500 or less | S$2,500 |
| Above S$4,500 | No EHG |
The singles table is not simply half the family table — the steps are genuinely different at every band, which is why it is reproduced in full rather than described as “half”.
Separately from the amount tables, HDB requires at least one applicant to have been in continuous employment for the 12 months before the flat application and to still be working at the point of application, assessed when you apply for an HDB Flat Eligibility letter. That condition is set out by the Ministry of National Development, linked below.
The Proximity Housing Grant (PHG) — resale flats only
There are exactly four amounts. Each is tied to a living arrangement; there is no range and no sliding scale.
| Who is buying | Living with parents or married child | Living within 4 km of them |
|---|---|---|
| Families | S$30,000 | S$20,000 |
| Singles | S$15,000 | S$10,000 |
- There is no income ceiling on the Proximity Housing Grant.
- It is not limited to first-timers — second-timers may receive it too.
- It may be taken once in a lifetime.
- The 4 km distance is measured from the address on the NRIC of the parents or child.
HDB attaches further conditions that turn on facts a web page cannot check for you: the flat must have more than 20 years of lease remaining, the proximity must hold throughout the Minimum Occupation Period, parents buying to live near a child’s flat are excluded, and for singles the “living near” tier is limited to 2- to 5-room flats.
The CPF Housing Grant — also resale only
| Flat size | Families | Singles |
|---|---|---|
| 2- to 4-room | S$80,000 | S$40,000 |
| 5-room or bigger | S$50,000 | S$25,000 |
An income ceiling applies to this grant. Because it differs from the Enhanced CPF Housing Grant’s ceiling, check it on HDB’s own page rather than carrying the S$9,000 figure across.
Worked example
- BuyersMarried couple, first-timers, both Singapore Citizens
- Average gross monthly household incomeS$4,800
- Living arrangementMoving in with the wife’s parents
- FlatA 4-room flat
If they buy a resale flat
- EHG: income S$4,800 falls in the “S$5,000 or less” band = S$65,000
- CPF Housing Grant, family, 4-room resale = S$80,000
- PHG, family, living with parents = S$30,000
- Total = S$65,000 + S$80,000 + S$30,000 = S$175,000
If they buy a new flat from HDB instead
- EHG: unchanged, available on both routes = S$65,000
- CPF Housing Grant: resale only = S$0
- PHG: resale only = S$0
- Total = S$65,000
The answer S$175,000 on the resale route against S$65,000 on the new-flat route — a difference of S$110,000 in grants, entirely because two of the three grants are resale-only. That does not make resale the better buy; a new flat is priced differently. It does mean any comparison that quotes the Proximity Housing Grant on both sides is wrong by S$30,000 before it starts.
What changes this answer
- Whether you are buying resale or new. Two of the three grants above exist only on the resale route. If the route is not settled, the honest answer is a conditional one — not a number that quietly assumes an answer.
- Your average gross monthly household income over the past 12 months. The EHG steps at every band; being S$1 into the next band changes the grant by thousands.
- First-timer or second-timer status, for each applicant. The EHG and the CPF Housing Grant are first-timer grants; the Proximity Housing Grant is not.
- Whether anyone has taken the Proximity Housing Grant before. It is once per lifetime.
- The distance to your parents’ or child’s registered address, and whether you will live with them or merely near them — that is the difference between S$30,000 and S$20,000 for a family.
- The flat size. The CPF Housing Grant splits at 5-room.
- Whether an applicant meets the 12-month continuous employment condition.
- The flat’s remaining lease. Proximity Housing Grant conditions require more than 20 years remaining.
Sources
Every figure above comes from these official pages. We link them so you can check the number yourself rather than take ours on trust.
- HDB — Proximity Housing Grant (couples and families): amounts, the 4 km condition and the resale-only rule
- HDB — Proximity Housing Grant (singles)
- HDB — CPF Housing Grants for resale flats
- HDB — Flat and grant eligibility, including the Enhanced CPF Housing Grant amount tables and income ceilings
- MND — written answer on the 12-month continuous employment requirement for housing grant eligibility
Common follow-up questions
Can I get the Proximity Housing Grant on a BTO flat?
No. The Proximity Housing Grant is available on resale flats only. It is not available on a new flat bought from HDB, at any amount.
How much is the Proximity Housing Grant?
There are four amounts, each tied to a living arrangement, on resale flats only: S$30,000 for a family living with parents or a married child, S$20,000 for a family living within 4 km of them, S$15,000 for a single living with parents and S$10,000 for a single living within 4 km.
Is there an income ceiling for the Proximity Housing Grant?
No. There is no income ceiling, and it is not limited to first-timers. It may be taken once in a lifetime.
What is the maximum Enhanced CPF Housing Grant?
Under the schedule in force from 20 August 2024, up to S$120,000 for first-timer families with an average gross monthly household income of S$1,500 or less, and up to S$60,000 for first-timer singles aged 35 and above earning S$750 or less. The income ceiling is S$9,000 a month for families and S$4,500 for singles.
Does the Enhanced CPF Housing Grant apply to both new and resale flats?
Yes, unlike the Proximity Housing Grant and the CPF Housing Grant, the Enhanced CPF Housing Grant is available to first-timers on both routes.
This page explains the published rules and shows the arithmetic so you can check it. It is general information, not financial or legal advice, and it cannot know your full circumstances. Rules change — the effective date above tells you which version this page states. Confirm anything you are about to act on with the official source, or ask Dex with your own numbers.
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