Eligible Mothers |
Q1 Who is
eligible under the scheme? |
A:
Working mothers (both employed and self-employed) will qualify for
the scheme if the child for whom they are claiming 3rd Child
Maternity Leave (3CML) fulfills the following conditions: |
- Child is the
third live birth of the mother (stepchildren or adopted children
are not considered) |
- Child is a
Singapore citizen |
- Child's mother
must be lawfully married to the child's father at the time of the
child's birth. |
Q2 What is
considered a live birth? |
A: A
live birth is deemed as such when the child is born alive (i.e.
not a still birth) |
Q3 Is
there any age/educational qualification tied to the eligibility? |
A:
No. There are no eligibility criteria based on age or educational
qualification. |
Employed Mothers |
Q4 Is
there a minimum period of employment before I qualify for the
scheme? |
A:
Yes. You must have worked with your employer for at least 180 days
before the birth of your child. |
Q5 How
much can I claim? |
A:
You can claim up to 8 weeks' salary, subject to a maximum of
S$20,000 (including CPF contributions). It will be pro-rated
according to the actual duration of the maternity leave period. |
Q6 I
already have a first child and I am now expecting twins. Would I
qualify to claim for both my 2nd child maternity leave and 3rd
child maternity leave? |
A:
You can only claim either the 2nd child or 3rd child maternity
leave, but not both. Employees who are already entitled to
maternity leave under the Employment Act will not be entitled to
3CML. |
Q7 If my
baby is born before 1 April 2001 and I am still on maternity leave
as at 1 April 2001, will I be eligible for the scheme? |
A:
Yes. You are still eligible for the scheme if you fulfill the
eligibiltiy criteria. However, you can only claim for the period
of maternity leave consumed on or after 1 April 2001. |
Q8 Where
can I obtain the declaration forms? |
A:
The declaration forms can be obtained from MCDS by calling the
toll-free line or downloading from MCDS website. |
Self-Employed
Mothers |
Q9 How do
I claim for 3 CML if I am self-employed? |
A:
Within a month from the birth of the child, you can make a claim
to MCDS for the loss of income during the maternity leave period.
You will be reimbursed based on your average income over the 180
days before the maternity leave period. |
Q10 What
documents must I submit to show proof of my income status? |
A:
The following documents should be submitted to MCDS with your
claims. They are: |
- A six-month
income and expenditure statement for the period preceding the
maternity leave |
- Latest
available year-end income |
- Latest
available year-end income and expenditure account declared for
taxation |
- Certificate of
Registration/Incorporation of Business/Company |
- Any other
documents to support your claim |
Q11 I became
self-employed only 3 months before my confinement. Can I claim for
3CML? |
A:
No. You must have been engaged in a particular
business/trade/profession or vocation for at least 180 days before
you can claim 3CML on the income derived from that business/
trade/profession or vocation. |
Q12 Is there a
time frame for me to submit the claim? |
A:
The claim should be submitted within one month after the birth of
the child. |
MCDS Hotline:
1800-253 7737 |