Which government schemes should a new first-time BTO couple actually apply for?

From my experience, as first-timer married couples buying a BTO you should check the CPF Housing Grants that apply to new flats, and if you're buying resale later there are additional grants like the Enhanced CPF Housing Grant and the Family Grant. The exact amounts depend on your combined income ceiling, so use the HDB flat eligibility check and the grant calculator on the HDB website to see your figures. Beyond housing, look at the Baby Bonus and the CDA co-savings scheme when kids come, and the MediSave grant for newborns. For lower-income households there's extra support through schemes like ComCare and the Workfare payments. Rules and quantums change, so always verify on the official HDB and CPF sites. My advice is to make an HDB appointment, they'll tell you exactly what you qualify for based on your income.

We were confused too, so we booked an HDB financial planning appointment and it cleared everything up in one session, highly recommend doing that. For our BTO the main help was the CPF Housing Grant based on our combined income, which reduced our loan meaningfully. Since our income was on the lower side we qualified for a larger grant, so don't assume you get nothing, check properly. Later, when our baby arrived, Baby Bonus cash gift and the CDA matched savings genuinely helped with expenses, plus the newborn MediSave grant. Keep in mind income ceilings and eligibility can change year to year, so rely on the official calculators, not forum hearsay. Also apply for grants correctly during the flat purchase because timing matters. For a decision this big involving your CPF, the free HDB appointment is worth it.