- Under the Approved Person/Institution Terms and Conditions, each business outlet or centre belonging to the same eligible institution must be independently registered as an AI before it can deduct funds from the CDA for approved uses. For example, if a company owns 3 business outlets in Ang Mo Kio, Bedok, and Clementi, all three outlets must be registered independently as an AI before they can deduct funds from the CDA for approved uses.
Can Approved Institution deduct administrative fees from the CDA?
All Approved Institutions are not allowed to deduct administrative fees from the CDA. Funds in the CDA are intended to support the educational and developmental needs of children and should not be used to pay for administrative fees.
This includes, but are not limited to, (a) Charges for processing CDA payments, (b) Penalty fees for the late payment of school fees, and (c) Penalty charges and Bank charges for failed direct debits in the CDA. Please click [here](refer to Appendix 1 of the T&Cs) to check the types of expenses that an AI can deduct from the CDA.
Can my organisation withdraw from the AI status?
To withdraw your organisation’s Approved Institution (AI) status, you may submit the request using the ‘Withdraw AI status’ service on our [Approved Institution Portal].
You must also ensure that your organisation terminates the Baby Bonus NETS service with NETS.
Can the Approved Institution (AI) make a refund in the CDA on behalf of parents for the payments made in cash?
Cash payments collected by Approved Institution (AI) from parents should be refunded in cash. The AI is required to make a refund into the CDA if the refunded amount was originally deducted from the CDA. The refunded amount will not be matched. Should an AI need to refund any payment made out of the CDA, the refund must be made into the CDA: (a) via the AI Portal or GIRO, from the corporate bank account into which the said payment was made to; (b) with the word ‘refund’ as part of the transaction details; and (c) within one month from the date agreed upon by both the trustee and AI.How can I change the Approved Person (AP) for my AI?
The existing Approved Person (AP) can submit a request by writing to [MSF_BabyBonus@msf.gov.sg]with the following information:
New AP’s details:
1. Name (as in NRIC/FIN):
2. NRIC/FIN no:
3. Residential Address:
4. Designation:
5. Tel (Mobile):
6. Tel (Office):
7. Email:
Approved Institution (AI) details for Change of Approved Person (AP):
1) Institution Names:
2) Institution Codes:
3) Unique Entity Number (UEN):
4) Institution’s addresses:
Where a new AP needs to be appointed due to organisational or management changes, the email request to change an AP must be submitted to MSF within 7 working days of such change. Please note that the newly-appointed AP will then receive a notification to accept the AP/AI Terms and Conditions via the Approved Institution Portal within 7 working days of the approval of such change.
How can I check whether my organisation is eligible to be a Baby Bonus Approved Institution?
You can check your organisation's eligibility to be a Baby Bonus Approved Institution (AI) on the [AI Portal].
How can I update MSF with the details of my business and the Approved Person’s (AP) particulars?
The Approved Person may update business and/or personal particulars, by selecting the ‘Update AI Details’ service on our [Approved Institution] Portal. The following categories of AI may update the details through their respective governing bodies, which will then be updated automatically in the AI Portal:
• Early childhood development centres which hold a licence under the Early Childhood Development Centres Act;
• Hospitals or clinics licensed by the Ministry of Health (MOH); and
• Pharmacies licensed by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA)
Please note that every Approved Person must notify MSF of any change in his or the Approved Institution’s particulars through the Approved Institution Portal within 7 working days of such change.
How can I verify the identity of the Child CDA member and/or the siblings?
Approved Institutions can identify the Child Development Account (CDA) member through the child’s name embossed on the CDA NETS card. If details on the NETS card is insufficient for verification, AI can further verify by asking parent to login to Baby Bonus Online for their child's CDA details.
Please note that an AI (excluding pharmacies) must verify and record the sibling relationship for CDA NETS transactions above $500 or recurring CDA GIRO transactions, which are incurred for the CDA member’s sibling.
The verification of the sibling relationship can be done, for example, by asking the parent to declare in writing the relationship between the member and the member’s sibling, or asking the parent to login to the Parent Portal via [Baby Bonus Online](Click “View/Update My Baby Bonus Details” > Click “View Statement” > “CDA Details”).
Alternatively, you may provide your children’s birth certificates for verification by the AI.
How do I access the Approved Institution (AI) portal?
The Approved Person should use his/her Singpass to access the [Approved Institution portal].
How do I apply to provide the Baby Bonus NETS service?
Approved Institutions that need to enable the Baby Bonus NETS service on their NETS terminal must submit the [NETS Service Application Form]with their Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) Registration Number, and a copy of the 'MSF Letter of Approval' to:
NETS Sales & Customer Service Contact Centre
298 Tiong Bahru Road
#02-01
Central Plaza Singapore 168730
MSF will send the Letter of Approval to the AI within 3 weeks from acceptance of Terms and Conditions. When an institution withdraws its status as an AI, it must also ensure that it terminates the Baby Bonus NETS service with NETS.
How do I ensure proper deductions from the CDA?
To ensure proper deductions from the Child Development Account (CDA), Approved Institutions must ensure that deductions are made only for approved expenses for the child/child’s siblings as stipulated in the Approved Person/Institution Terms and Conditions. In addition, an AI should verify that the person making withdrawals is the CDA trustee.
For recurring CDA GIRO transactions or CDA NETS transactions above $500 that are incurred for the CDA member’s sibling, the AI (excluding pharmacies) must verify and record the relationship between member and the member’s sibling.
The verification may be made, for example, by asking the trustee to declare in writing the relationship between the member and the member’s sibling, or asking the parent to login to the Parent Portal via [Baby Bonus Online](Click “View/Update My Baby Bonus Details” > Click “View Statement” > “CDA Details”).
How do I find out more information about Approved Institutions (AI)?
To find more about Approved Institutions, please visit our [Approved Institution Portal].
How much does an organisation need to pay to register as an Approved Institution (AI) with MSF?
No payment is required to register as an Approved Institution (AI) with MSF.I am an Approved Institution offering early intervention programme (EIP) registered with Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA). Can Child Development Account (CDA) be used?
The CDA can be used for basic fees and approved indirect education expenses (detailed under Appendix 1 of the [Approved Person/Approved Institution Terms and Conditions]) for children up to 6 years old.
I am supposed to receive a refund from the Approved Institution (AI). How do I know whether the refund has been credited into my child’s CDA?
You can check with the Approved Institution when the refund was credited into your child’s CDA. You can also check your child’s CDA statement for confirmation of the refund. Note that the refund must be made into the CDA within one month from the date agreed upon by both the CDA trustee and the AI.