NDR 2026: HDB income ceiling raised to S$16,000, EC ceiling to S$18,000; extra ballot per child from Feb
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced at the National Day Rally on 23 Aug 2026 that income ceilings for BTO flats will rise from S$14,000 to S$16,000, and for executive condominiums from S$16,000 to S$18,000. First-timer families with or expecting children will receive one additional ballot chance
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced on Sunday (23 Aug) that income ceilings for buying new HDB flats will be raised, with the BTO ceiling moving from S$14,000 to S$16,000 and the EC ceiling from S$16,000 to S$18,000. The changes, part of the National Day Rally (NDR) 2026, aim to ensure the vast majority of Singaporeans can still access subsidised public housing as incomes have risen since the last adjustment in 2019.
First-timer families with or expecting children will get an additional ballot chance per Singaporean child aged 18 and below from February 2027, for all BTO and Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) applications. “The more children you have, the more ballot chances you will receive – because we want to help growing families secure a home sooner,” said Mr Wong. Currently, first-timers receive two ballot chances and second-timers one; eligible first-timers under the FT(PMC) category already get three chances.
The revised ceilings take effect for eligible families who apply for an HDB Flat Eligibility (HFE) letter from Monday (24 Aug). The income ceiling for single buyers aged 35 and above will also rise, from S$7,000 to S$8,000. For ECs, the new ceiling applies only to new units in projects with land sale tender closing dates on or after 24 Aug, not to balance units or projects with tenders already awarded.
To give buyers time to adjust, the next BTO sales exercise will be held in November instead of October, launching about 7,960 flats in Bedok, Geylang, Sembawang, Tengah, Toa Payoh and Yishun, along with community care apartments in Toa Payoh. HDB and MND urged all flat buyers who wish to participate to apply for an HFE letter early and submit all required documents by 25 Sep 2026.
Mr Wong noted that Singaporeans are marrying later, meaning many young couples now earn more by the time they settle down and cross the current ceilings. The median monthly household income rose to S$12,446 last year from S$11,558 in 2024, a 6.8 per cent real increase after inflation. “These improvements give us confidence to do more,” he said. Mr Wong also said larger families will automatically receive more financial support, including additional MediSave top-ups and transport help, and has asked Minister Chee Hong Tat to consider further housing support for larger families.
