Silver Housing Bonus Singapore 2026: Eligibility, Amount and LBS Comparison

Silver Housing Bonus Singapore 2026: quick answer

The Silver Housing Bonus is a cash bonus for eligible seniors who right-size to a 3-room or smaller HDB flat and commit part of their housing proceeds to CPF Retirement Account savings for retirement payouts.

After the enhancement from 1 December 2025, the maximum Silver Housing Bonus is up to $40,000 per household: up to $30,000 base bonus plus an additional $10,000 if you right-size to a 2-room or smaller flat, including a Community Care Apartment.

Last verified: 25 June 2026, against HDB and CPF official pages. HDB assesses eligibility at the point of SHB application, so treat this as a planning guide, not final approval.

Table of contents

1. What the Silver Housing Bonus is

2. Silver Housing Bonus eligibility

3. How much SHB cash bonus you can get

4. CPF RA commitment and calculator logic

5. SHB vs Silver Support Scheme

6. SHB vs Lease Buyback Scheme

7. How to apply for Silver Housing Bonus

8. Related senior and CPF guides

9. FAQ

1. What the Silver Housing Bonus is

The Silver Housing Bonus, or SHB, is for seniors who are prepared to move to a smaller home. Instead of staying in the same flat, you sell your existing property, buy a 3-room or smaller HDB flat, and commit part of the proceeds to CPF RA for retirement payouts.

• It is a right-sizing scheme. SHB rewards the move to a smaller HDB flat, not just age or income alone.
• It supports retirement income. The CPF RA commitment goes towards retirement payouts, including CPF LIFE where applicable.
• It is not Silver Support. Silver Support is quarterly cash support for lower-income seniors. SHB is a housing monetisation bonus tied to right-sizing.

CPF describes SHB as a way to supplement retirement income if you are moving to a 3-room or smaller flat and committing housing refunds towards retirement payouts.

2. Silver Housing Bonus eligibility

The headline eligibility is that at least one owner must be a Singapore Citizen aged 55 or above, and the household must right-size to a 3-room or smaller HDB flat.

HDB assesses eligibility at the SHB application stage. The main conditions are below.

Use HDB’s Silver Housing Bonus page as the source of truth, especially because some private summaries still show older bonus amounts.

3. How much SHB cash bonus you can get

For most HDB flat owners and private property owners with annual value of $21,000 or less, the base SHB is up to $30,000 per household if you commit a net increase of $60,000 to CPF RA after right-sizing.

If you right-size to a 2-room or smaller flat, including a Community Care Apartment, you can qualify for an additional $10,000 cash bonus that is not pro-rated. That is how the maximum reaches $40,000 per household.

4. CPF RA commitment and calculator logic

The Silver Housing Bonus calculator logic starts with your net sale proceeds and CPF housing refunds. To qualify for the maximum base bonus, you generally commit a net increase of up to $60,000 per household to CPF RA after right-sizing.

• CPF refunds can count. HDB says the commitment can use CPF housing refunds, so you may not need to top up cash if the refunds are enough.
• The base bonus is pro-rated. For HDB flats and private properties with AV $21,000 or less, the cash bonus is $1 for every $2 committed to CPF RA.
• Higher-AV private property is lower. For private property with AV above $21,000 and up to $31,000, the pro-ration is $1 for every $6 committed.
• The extra $10,000 is different. The additional bonus for right-sizing to 2-room or smaller is not pro-rated.

This is why a simple SHB calculator can mislead if it ignores CPF housing refunds, resale levy, the next flat price, private-property AV and the 2-room or smaller extra bonus.

5. SHB vs Silver Support Scheme

Silver Housing Bonus and Silver Support Scheme sound similar, but they solve completely different problems. This distinction matters because Google often mixes the two in related questions.

If you were looking for quarterly payouts instead of right-sizing, read our Silver Support Scheme guide.

6. SHB vs Lease Buyback Scheme

The easiest way to compare them is this: Silver Housing Bonus is for moving to a smaller flat, while Lease Buyback Scheme is for staying in the same flat and selling the tail-end lease back to HDB.

For the stay-in-place option, compare this with our HDB Lease Buyback Scheme guide and HDB’s LBS page.

7. How to apply for Silver Housing Bonus

You apply for SHB as part of the right-sizing transaction sequence, not as a standalone payout form before you sell or buy. HDB says you will be informed of the SHB application procedure during the completion appointment of your second housing transaction.

• Get HDB flat eligibility sorted. You need to meet the eligibility conditions to buy the next HDB flat and obtain a valid HFE letter where required.
• Mind the transaction timing. Booking a new HDB flat or submitting the resale flat application must happen before selling the existing property or within 12 months after sale completion.
• Submit within one year. HDB says the SHB application must be submitted within one year from the legal completion date of the second housing transaction.
• Keep CPF refund details handy. The CPF RA commitment may be met using CPF housing refunds if sufficient, so the sale and refund numbers matter.

8. Related senior and CPF guides

SHB is one part of the senior housing and retirement support map. These guides help you compare the surrounding options.

• HDB Lease Buyback Scheme: the stay-in-place alternative for seniors who do not want to move.
• Senior citizen discounts in Singapore: concessions, deals and related schemes for older Singaporeans.
• CPF retirement sums explained: BRS, FRS, ERS and CPF LIFE payout planning.
• Silver Support Scheme: quarterly cash support for lower-income seniors.
• CPF accrued interest property guide: useful when planning sale proceeds and CPF housing refunds.
• BTO vs resale HDB guide: helpful if your next flat decision includes a resale 3-room or smaller home.
• Singapore government payouts schedule: the full calendar of cash, CPF, voucher and senior support schemes.

9. Frequently asked questions about Silver Housing Bonus

Who is eligible for Silver Housing Bonus?

At least one owner must be a Singapore Citizen aged 55 or above, household income must be $14,000 or less, and you must right-size from an eligible existing property to a 3-room or smaller HDB flat while meeting HDB’s property ownership, net proceeds and timing rules.

How much is the Silver Housing Bonus amount?

The maximum is up to $40,000 per household after the 1 December 2025 enhancement. This is up to $30,000 base bonus plus an additional $10,000 for right-sizing to a 2-room or smaller flat, including a Community Care Apartment.

Is there a Silver Housing Bonus calculator?

You can estimate the logic, but the actual amount depends on your existing property, next flat, net sale proceeds, CPF housing refunds, CPF RA commitment and whether you buy a 2-room or smaller flat. HDB assesses the final eligibility and amount.

Is Silver Housing Bonus the same as Silver Support Scheme?

No. Silver Housing Bonus is a one-time housing right-sizing bonus. Silver Support Scheme is quarterly cash support for lower-income seniors. They can sound similar in search results, but they are separate schemes.

What is the difference between Lease Buyback and Silver Housing Bonus?

Lease Buyback lets eligible seniors stay in the same flat and sell the tail-end lease to HDB. Silver Housing Bonus requires right-sizing to a 3-room or smaller HDB flat. The best choice depends on whether moving is acceptable.

Can private property owners get Silver Housing Bonus?

Yes, but only within HDB’s annual value limits. Private residential property owners with annual value up to $31,000 can qualify if they meet the other rules, with lower bonus caps for annual value above $21,000.

If you are comparing senior housing options for yourself or a parent, shortlist two paths first: right-size for the Silver Housing Bonus, or stay put and study the HDB Lease Buyback Scheme. Then check CPF retirement sums and the wider Singapore government payouts schedule.