Quick answer: CPF Housing Grants are subsidies (not loans) that offset an HDB flat purchase. The Enhanced CPF Housing Grant (EHG) gives up to S$120,000 for families or S$60,000 for singles, tiered by income. Resale buyers can also stack the Family Grant (up to S$80,000) and Proximity Housing Grant (up to S$30,000) — a combined maximum of S$230,000 for qualifying couples.
Walking into the HDB Hub or logging onto the portal can feel like you missed the memo. The grant names—EHG, Family Grant, PHG—sound cheem, but they’re just different doorways to the same help. Think of this as a friend drawing on a napkin: we’ll go one acronym at a time, exactly what you’ll see on the form, so you walk in knowing the script.
Wondering how much of your HDB purchase CPF grants can actually cover? This guide breaks down each grant, current amounts, and how they stack — for HDB loan eligibility itself (income ceilings, MSR, wait-out periods), see our HDB loan eligibility guide.
What are CPF Housing Grants?
CPF Housing Grants are government subsidies paid into your CPF Ordinary Account (OA) to offset the cost of buying an HDB flat. Unlike a loan, a grant is never repaid — it directly reduces how much you need to borrow. Grants are only for HDB flats; private property purchases don’t qualify for any CPF housing grant.
The main grants
| Grant | Max amount | Applies to | Income cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enhanced CPF Housing Grant (EHG) — families | S$120,000 | BTO or resale | S$9,000/month household |
| Enhanced CPF Housing Grant (EHG) — singles | S$60,000 | BTO or resale | Lower single-buyer tier |
| Family Grant | S$80,000 (4-room or smaller) / S$50,000 (5-room or larger) | Resale only | S$14,000 (S$21,000 extended families) |
| CPF Housing Grant for Singles (Singles Grant) | S$40,000 (2- to 4-room) / S$25,000 (5-room) | Resale only | S$7,000/month |
| Proximity Housing Grant (PHG) — families | S$30,000 (living together) / S$20,000 (within 4km) | Resale only | No income cap |
| Proximity Housing Grant (PHG) — singles | S$15,000 (living together) / S$10,000 (within 4km) | Resale only | No income cap |
A common misconception is that the Family Grant was folded into EHG — it wasn’t. The Family Grant remains a separate, active grant, and eligible resale buyers can stack it on top of EHG and PHG. For a qualifying first-timer couple buying a resale flat near or with parents, combining all three grants can reach up to S$230,000 — meaningfully more than any single grant alone.
Note: EHG applies to both BTO and resale purchases, but the Family Grant and PHG are resale-only — BTO buyers aren’t eligible for either.
Eligibility basics
- At least one applicant must be a Singapore Citizen.
- Generally restricted to first-timer applicants — no prior CPF housing grants received and no private property disposed of within the relevant wait-out period.
- Household income caps vary by grant (see table above) — EHG has its own, lower tiered cap; the Family Grant follows the general S$14,000/S$21,000 HDB household income ceilings.
- The flat’s remaining lease must cover the youngest applicant to age 95 for full grant eligibility.
- Singles must generally be aged 35 or above and apply under the Single Singapore Citizen or Joint Singles scheme to access singles-specific grants.
How to apply
Apply via HDB’s portal during your flat booking (BTO) or resale application, using SingPass. You’ll need income documents and family details; processing typically takes a few weeks to a couple of months. The grant amount is credited directly into your CPF Ordinary Account and applied against your flat purchase — it isn’t paid out as cash. Always check your specific eligibility and amount via HDB’s e-Service before finalising your budget, since grant amounts are tiered and depend on your exact household income.
FAQs about CPF Housing Grants
What is the maximum CPF Housing Grant I can get?
For a qualifying first-timer family buying a resale flat, stacking EHG, the Family Grant, and PHG can reach up to S$230,000. A first-timer single buying resale can stack EHG (Singles) up to S$60,000 with the Singles Grant (up to S$40,000) and PHG (Singles) up to S$15,000 — up to S$115,000 in total.
Is the Family Grant the same as EHG?
No — they’re separate, active grants that can be stacked together. The Family Grant offers up to S$80,000 (4-room or smaller resale flat) or S$50,000 (5-room or larger), on top of whatever EHG amount you qualify for.
Can I use CPF Housing Grants for a private property?
No — CPF Housing Grants are exclusive to HDB flat purchases. Private property buyers can still use CPF savings for their purchase, but without any grant top-up.
Can I get the Family Grant and Proximity Housing Grant for a BTO flat?
No — both the Family Grant and PHG apply to resale flat purchases only. EHG is the one grant available for both BTO and resale.
Last updated July 2026. Grant amounts and eligibility figures checked against current HDB/CPF Board guidance sources on 22 July 2026 — confirm your specific eligibility and amount via HDB’s e-Service, as individual circumstances vary.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not financial advice. Compiled from publicly available sources; while we aim for accuracy, we do not guarantee completeness. Confirm all current grant amounts and eligibility directly with HDB or CPF Board before making decisions. Let us know if you spot anything that needs correcting.
