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In my conversations with many real estate agents, one of the most common complaints I heard is that we are not entitled to the many benefits that our employed peers enjoy.
These benefits include CPF contributions, annual leave, maternity, paternity and childcare leave, and medical benefits, among others.
Real Estate Agents, or otherwise known as Real Estate Salesperson (RES) fall under the self-employed category. Consequently, we are our own boss and thus do not have access to the aforementioned benefits.
But, are there any benefits that property agents are eligible for?
In this piece, I would like to share some benefits which many of my fellow realtors frequently overlook.
Pro-Family Leave Scheme Benefits
The Pro-Family Leave Schemes under the Marriage and Parenthood Package (M&P) aim to promote a pro-family environment in Singapore. These schemes support parents in having and raising children.
(1) Government-Paid Child Care Leave & Extended Child Care Leave Benefits
Real Estate moms and dads, are you aware that we are entitled to paid childcare leave benefits every year if our child is under 12 years old?
Omg.... am I missing out on something? Why am I not aware of this?
Lol. I hear many of you silently asking yourself now.
Under Government-Paid Child Care Leave and Extended Child Care Leave schemes, real estate agents can enjoy paid child care leave benefits to care and spend quality time with their children.
For parents with a Singapore Citizen child below 7 years old, you and your spouse are entitled to 6 days of childcare leave each. Employer will pay for first 3 days of the leave, and government will pay for the next 3 days. As we are classified as self-employed, we can claim for the 3 days (ie. 4th to 6th day) from government, capped at $500 per day or a total of $1,500 per year.
Government-paid child care leave is capped at $500 per day, or $1,500 per year.
For parents with Singapore Citizen child between 7 and 12 years old, you and your spouse are entitled to 2 days of childcare leave under the Extended Child Care Leave Scheme. Government will pay for these 2 days of leave, capped at $500 per day or a total of $1,000 per year. Therefore we can claim both days from government.
If you have been a real estate agent continuously for 3 months, and your child is a Singaporean, you will be eligible to claim under this scheme.
The amount to reimburse is calculated based on your Notice of Assessment (NOA) from the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS).
All claims must be submitted no later than 3 months after the last day of the calendar year.
For example:
Mr Tan has been a real estate agent for 10 years. He has a 5-year-old child. The total income reflected in his NOA is $120,000. Mr Tan claimed 3 days of childcare leave in Jan 2020. He will be reimbursed by the government for these 3 days for approximately $1,384.62.
Click here for the online Government-Paid Leave calculator to estimate the amount you can be reimbursed.
(2) Government-Paid Maternity Leave Benefits
Real Estate Moms, have you claimed your maternity leave benefits for the little one whom you have just given birth to?
Working mothers (including self-employed) can enjoy maternity leave benefits under this scheme. This will help to provide sufficient time for mothers to recover from childbirth and to care for their newborns
For your 1st and 2nd child, the Government will reimburse for the 9th to 16th week of your maternity leave. It is capped at $10,000 per 4 weeks or a total of $20,000 per child.
For 3rd and subsequent child, the Government will pay for all 16 weeks of your maternity leave. It is capped at $10,000 per 4 weeks or a total of $40,000 per child.
If you have been a Real Estate Agent continuously for 3 months, and your child is a Singaporean, you will be eligible to claim under this scheme.
The amount to be reimbursed is calculated based on your Notice of Assessment (NOA) from the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS). All claims must be submitted no later than 3 months after the last date of maternity leave is taken.
For example:
Jane gave birth to her 3rd child on 1 Jan 2020. She has been a real estate agent for the past 8 years, and her NOA reflects a total income of $240,000.
She took 16 weeks of maternity leave starting 1 Jan 2020. Under the Government-Paid Maternity Leave, she is being reimbursed approximately $40,000.
Click here for the online Government-Paid Leave calculator to estimate the amount you can be reimbursed.
(3) Government-Paid Paternity Leave Benefits
Dads, you are entitled to paid paternity leave benefits too!
To encourage shared parental responsibility, the government will be paying paternity leave to working fathers (including self-employed).
Moms, I can hear you screaming for joy!
Yes, aren't we glad there will be someone to help with the crying baby?
If you child is born before 1 Jan 2024, fathers can enjoy up to 2 weeks of paternity leave. It must be taken within 12 months from the child's date of birth, and submitted within 3 months from the last day of leave.
The government will reimbursement both weeks of paternity leave, capped at $2,500 per week, or maximum $5,000 per year.
If you child is born on or after 1 Jan 2024, fathers will be entitled up to 4 weeks of paternity leave. It must be taken within 12 months from the child's date of birth, and submitted within 3 months from the last day of leave.
The government will reimbursement all 4 weeks of paternity leave, capped at $2,500 per week, or maximum $10,000 per year.
This is calculated based on your Notice of Assessment (NOA) from the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS).
To be eligible, you must have been a real estate agent continuously for 3 months. You must also be the natural father and be lawfully married to the child's mother. The child must be a Singapore citizen.
For example:
Mr Tan has been a real estate agent for 3 years and is earning a yearly income of $240,000.. His wife gave birth to a baby in February 2023. Mr Tan took 2 weeks of paternal leave to take care of his wife and baby.
Under the Government-Paid Paternity Leave Benefits, Mr Tan is being reimbursed approximately $5,000 by the government.
Click here for the online Government-Paid Leave calculator to estimate the amount you can be reimbursed.
(4) Government-Paid Shared Parental Leave Benefits
This SPL scheme allows for a total of 10 weeks of paid leave to be shared between parents. This is an enhancement over previous arrangements, which permitted working fathers to share only up to 4 weeks of their wife's Government-Paid Maternity Leave.
The new SPL scheme will be phased in starting 1 April 2025, with an initial allocation of 6 weeks, to 10 weeks by 1 April 2026.
(5) Adoption Leave Benefits For Mothers
For Real Estate Moms who are looking to adopt a child, you are entitled to Adoption Leave Benefits too!
For each of your 1st and 2nd child, the Government pays for the 5th - 12th week of your adoption leave, capped at $10,000 per 4 weeks or $20,000 for each child.
For each of your 3rd and subsequent child, the Government pays for all 12 weeks of your adoption leave, capped at $10,000 per 4 weeks or $30,000 for each child.
To enjoy these benefits, you have to be the child's adoptive mother. The child must be less than 12 months old when you take this leave.
If the child you adopt is not a Singapore Citizen, either you or your husband have to be a Singaporean. The child must also obtain Singapore Citizenship within 6 months after the adoption order is passed.
Moms can share up to 4 weeks of this leave scheme with Dads too, under the Government-Paid Shared Parental Leave!
For example:
Jasmine has been a real estate agent for 2 years. She is earning an annual income of $120,000. Jasmine and her husband adopted a child in June this year. This is their first child.
Under the Adoption Leave For Mothers, Jasmine is being reimbursed approximately $18,461.54 by the government.
Click here for the online Government-Paid Leave calculator to estimate the amount you can be reimbursed.
Read more on Government Paid Leave.
Conclusion
I hope what I have shared is useful. If you think my article benefits any of your friends, please feel free to share it with them.
For many who know me or read my blog regularly, you will know I have a vision to mentor women who want to build a career in real estate.
Why women? Some might ask.
During the past 18 years when I was a real estate agent, I was blessed with 2 beautiful boys. I was able to spend a lot of time with them during their growing-up days due to the nature of my work. For that, I am really thankful.
It was also during this time when I see many of my peers sucked into the long hours of a salaried job. A number of them are mothers who have young children. They often feel guilty about not spending enough time with their kids but yet can't do much about it.
I also have friends who are single or have grown-up kids. Many of them are super career women who feel so burned out from the long hours of a salaried job. They will like to spend more time pursuing what they want in life.
If you are thinking of making a career change, let's have a non-obligated discussion to see if we have what it takes to make it work!
Drop me a whatsapp or schedule an appointment with me using the link below.
See you soon!
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About The Author
Vivian joined the real estate industry in 2002. Having been in the real estate business for almost 2 decades, she knows the rewards and challenges that a real estate agent face.
While the real estate career offers lucrative income and flexible work hours, it also presents many challenges - financial insecurity as we do not have basic pay, time management as we juggle work, children and family all at one time.
Only those who have walked the same journey will understand.
Vivian would now like to pay it forward by mentoring fellow agents, especially women who want to build a real estate career.
It is her vision to see women achieving their dreams, and live their lives with purpose and passion through a successful real estate career.
Connect with Vivian at 98577714 to embark on this journey.