19/08/2026
When I was pregnant, I realised there wasn’t much information specifically for self-employed parents.
Most articles explain what you’re entitled to, but not how the claims actually work in real life.
I personally handled all the paperwork and claim submissions for our family, so I ended up learning the system inside out. After multiple calls with CPF/MSF and going through the process myself, these are the things I wish someone had told me.
💡 The Government reimbursement has a maximum weekly cap, but your actual reimbursement is calculated based on your Net Trade Income (from your Notice of Assessment). This means not every self-employed parent will automatically receive the maximum $20,000 (for the Government-paid portion of the 1st & 2nd child’s leave) or $40,000 (for the 3rd child onwards).
💡 Many people estimate that you’ll need a Net Trade Income of roughly $130,000 per year before the reimbursement formula reaches the current weekly cap. This isn’t an official Government requirement, it’s simply an estimate based on the reimbursement formula.
💡 If both parents are self-employed, don’t forget to compare both parents’ declared incomes. Depending on your situation, planning your maternity and paternity benefit claims thoughtfully may help your family maximise the total reimbursement available.
💡 Don’t leave everything until after baby arrives. Understand the eligibility requirements, prepare your documents, know which Notice of Assessment will be used and familiarise yourself with the claim process early. It’s one less thing to worry about during the newborn stage.
I hope this post helps another self-employed parent navigate the system with a little more confidence than I had.
📌 Save this for future reference, and send it to another business owner who’s planning to start or grow their family.
This post is based on my own experience and publicly available Government information. It isn’t financial or legal advice, and everyone’s circumstances may differ.
