The Enhanced CPF Housing Grant (EHG) is HDB’s means-tested grant for first-timers buying a new or resale flat. Families receive up to SGD 120,000 at an average monthly household income of up to SGD 1,500, stepping down in SGD 500 bands to SGD 5,000 at SGD 8,501 to SGD 9,000; above SGD 9,000 there is no EHG. Singles receive up to SGD 60,000.
Singapore · maximum EHG for first-timer families
SGD 120,000
Income ceilingSGD 9,000
Singles, at mostSGD 60,000
Singles ceilingSGD 4,500
Amounts setAug 2024
Families, at mostSGD 120,000household income up to SGD 1,500
Income ceilingSGD 9,000a month, household average
Singles, at mostSGD 60,000own income up to SGD 750
Two singles togetherSGD 120,000up to two may each receive it
Resale grants, familiesSGD 230,000EHG plus two resale grants, at most
Bands16SGD 500 apart for families
Key takeaways
- The EHG is for first-timer applicants — no housing subsidy taken before — and applies to both new and resale HDB flats. It was introduced in September 2019.
- The amount depends on average gross monthly household income: SGD 120,000 up to SGD 1,500, then 15 further bands down to SGD 5,000 at the SGD 9,000 ceiling. A single buying alone or with parents is banded on their own income, from SGD 60,000 down to SGD 2,500, with bands half the width of the family bands and a SGD 4,500 ceiling.
- Income is the average gross monthly income over the months worked in the 12-month period ending 2 months before the month of the HFE letter application. It includes the employee’s CPF but not the employer’s CPF or bonuses, and the applicant and/or a core member must have worked continuously for at least 12 months up to 2 months before the HFE letter application, and be working when applying.
- The grant is credited to the CPF Ordinary Accounts of the first-timer citizen and PR core members and can offset the price or reduce the housing loan. For a new flat, HDB lets the downpayment at signing be paid from CPF Ordinary Account savings including the housing grant; couples who defer their income assessment receive the EHG closer to key collection instead.
- The amounts were raised from SGD 80,000 to SGD 120,000 for families and SGD 40,000 to SGD 60,000 for singles, for resale and HFE letter applications from 20 August 2024; new flats from the October 2024 BTO exercise. HDB’s 23 August 2026 release raised the families’ income ceiling for new flats, the resale CPF Housing Grant and HDB loans from SGD 14,000 to SGD 16,000, and the singles’ ceiling from SGD 7,000 to SGD 8,000; HDB’s EHG page still shows the SGD 9,000 EHG ceiling.
Definition
One grant, three ways of counting income
The EHG table used depends on who is buying: a first-timer family, a single, or a first-timer buying with a second-timer.
First-timer familiesSGD 120,000Banded on household income, up to the SGD 9,000 ceiling. Two or more first-timer singles buying together use the same table.
SinglesSGD 60,000Banded on the single’s own income, up to SGD 4,500. Under the singles schemes, only first-timer Singapore Citizens receive the EHG (Singles).
First-timer + second-timerSGD 60,000Banded on half the household income, which must not exceed SGD 4,500. The same table covers a buyer with a non-resident spouse.
A resale buyer must first qualify for the CPF Housing Grant for resale flats before the EHG applies, and the flat needs more than 20 years of lease left; the full grant needs the lease to cover the youngest core member to age 95, otherwise it is pro-rated.
Worked example
How much EHG, band by band
HDB’s EHG amounts by average monthly income. Families are banded on household income; singles on their own income, with every band and amount exactly half the family figure.
| Household income (families) | EHG | Own income (single) | EHG |
|---|---|---|---|
| up to SGD 1,500 | SGD 120,000 | up to SGD 750 | SGD 60,000 |
| SGD 1,501 – 2,000 | SGD 110,000 | SGD 751 – 1,000 | SGD 55,000 |
| SGD 2,001 – 2,500 | SGD 105,000 | SGD 1,001 – 1,250 | SGD 52,500 |
| SGD 2,501 – 3,000 | SGD 95,000 | SGD 1,251 – 1,500 | SGD 47,500 |
| SGD 3,001 – 3,500 | SGD 90,000 | SGD 1,501 – 1,750 | SGD 45,000 |
| SGD 3,501 – 4,000 | SGD 80,000 | SGD 1,751 – 2,000 | SGD 40,000 |
| SGD 4,001 – 4,500 | SGD 70,000 | SGD 2,001 – 2,250 | SGD 35,000 |
| SGD 4,501 – 5,000 | SGD 65,000 | SGD 2,251 – 2,500 | SGD 32,500 |
| SGD 5,001 – 5,500 | SGD 55,000 | SGD 2,501 – 2,750 | SGD 27,500 |
| SGD 5,501 – 6,000 | SGD 50,000 | SGD 2,751 – 3,000 | SGD 25,000 |
| SGD 6,001 – 6,500 | SGD 40,000 | SGD 3,001 – 3,250 | SGD 20,000 |
| SGD 6,501 – 7,000 | SGD 30,000 | SGD 3,251 – 3,500 | SGD 15,000 |
| SGD 7,001 – 7,500 | SGD 25,000 | SGD 3,501 – 3,750 | SGD 12,500 |
| SGD 7,501 – 8,000 | SGD 20,000 | SGD 3,751 – 4,000 | SGD 10,000 |
| SGD 8,001 – 8,500 | SGD 10,000 | SGD 4,001 – 4,250 | SGD 5,000 |
| SGD 8,501 – 9,000 | SGD 5,000 | SGD 4,251 – 4,500 | SGD 2,500 |
HDB’s example: a couple earning SGD 4,200 a month
Income bandSGD 4,001 – 4,500
EHG for the householdSGD 70,000
Credited to each OASGD 35,000
HDB’s own worked example: a first-timer citizen and PR couple buying a new flat. The grant is split between the core members’ CPF Ordinary Accounts.
What it means for you
Where the EHG shows up in a purchase
New flatsHDB affordability calculator
The downpayment at signing the Agreement for Lease may be paid from CPF Ordinary Account savings, including the housing grant if eligible. Young couples who defer their income assessment receive the EHG closer to key collection instead.Resale flatsHDB grant calculator
A family must first qualify for the CPF Housing Grant for resale flats. Together with the Proximity Housing Grant, a first-timer family can receive up to SGD 230,000: EHG up to SGD 120,000, CPF Housing Grant up to SGD 80,000 and Proximity Housing Grant up to SGD 30,000.The loan neededMortgage calculator
The grant goes into the CPF Ordinary Account and can offset the price or reduce the housing loan, which lowers the monthly instalment.How income is countedHDB grant calculator
The band is set by average gross monthly income over the months worked in the 12-month period ending 2 months before the month of the HFE letter application. Bonuses and the employer’s CPF are left out; the employee’s CPF is counted.Older flatsHDB affordability calculator
Where the remaining lease does not cover the youngest core member to age 95, the EHG is pro-rated, and a flat needs more than 20 years of lease left to qualify at all.Common misconceptions
Five things people get wrong
The EHG is only for BTO flats.
It applies to new and resale flats. For resale, the buyer must first qualify for the CPF Housing Grant for resale flats.
The EHG ceiling went up to SGD 16,000 in 2026.
HDB’s 23 August 2026 change raised the families’ ceiling for new flats, the resale CPF Housing Grant and HDB loans. HDB’s EHG page still shows SGD 9,000 for families.
The grant is paid in cash.
It is credited to the CPF Ordinary Accounts of the eligible core members and used towards the flat.
Bonuses push a household into a lower band.
Bonuses are excluded from the income HDB assesses, as is the employer’s CPF contribution.
A Permanent Resident single can get the EHG (Singles).
Under the singles schemes, only first-timer Singapore Citizens receive the EHG (Singles). In a family, first-timer citizen and PR core members receive their eligible shares.
Sources and reviewChecked against HDB’s EHG pages, amount tables and 2024 and 2026 releases on 2026-09-26
- HDB — Enhanced CPF Housing Grant for Families — eligibility, income assessment, how it is paid and used
- HDB — Enhanced CPF Housing Grant for Singles — the singles amounts, ceilings and who receives it
- HDB — CPF Housing Grants for resale flats — the resale grant that must be met first
- HDB — Measures to cool the resale market and support first-time buyers (19 Aug 2024) — the 2024 increase and its dates
- HDB — Increase in income ceilings and greater support for families (23 Aug 2026) — the 2026 ceiling changes, which leave the EHG unchanged
Official HDB grant rules and amounts, for general information only. Not financial advice.
Sources:
HDB
This page is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute financial advice. All figures and worked examples are estimates for illustrative purposes, are subject to change, and do not reflect any individual’s circumstances. Always refer to HDB and seek independent professional advice before making any financial decisions.