Single mothers

If you’re a single mother, you are eligible for Shared Parental Leave (SPL) or Shared Parental Leave Benefit (SPB), just like with Government-Paid Maternity Leave. You can take the full duration of SPL/SPB to support your caregiving needs.

If you marry the child’s father within the first year of your child’s birth, both of you can decide how to share the leave.

Single fathers

If you’re a single father, SPL/SPB is not automatically granted, similar to Government-Paid Paternity Leave. However, you may submit an appeal, and it will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

You are still eligible for other leave schemes such as Unpaid Infant Care Leave, Childcare Leave, and Extended Childcare Leave to support your caregiving responsibilities.

Widowed parents

If your spouse has passed away, you can still use any unused portion of SPL/SPB (in blocks of full weeks) that was allocated to your spouse.

If you wish to change the sharing arrangement after the first 4 weeks of your child’s birth, please write in to contactus@profamilyleave.gov.sg and we will change the sharing arrangement for you. You will not need to seek your employer’s approval. We understand that losing a spouse is beyond your control, and this flexibility is meant to give you added support.

Divorced parents

If you and your child’s other parent were married at any time between conception and the child’s birth, you are still eligible for SPL/SPB - even if you are no longer married at the time of the child’s birth.

Will both parents’ agreement be required to change the sharing arrangement?

Related questions

If my spouse and I qualify for different leave schemes (one for SPL, one for SPB), how do we share the leave/benefits?

If my spouse is a stay-at-home parent or unemployed, will I still be eligible for the full duration of Shared Parental Leave (SPL) or Shared Parental Leave Benefit (SPB)?

Will employers’ agreement be required to change the sharing arrangement?

Will single parents be eligible for the new Shared Parental Leave (SPL) or Shared Parental Leave Benefit (SPB)?