Can a preschool refund a CDA-paid deposit or overpayment as cash to a Punggol parent? MSF says no: if the refunded amount was originally deducted from the Child Development Account (CDA), the Approved Institution must refund it into the CDA.
The refund must be made within one month from the date agreed by the CDA trustee and the Approved Institution. This is not a universal one-month promise counted from the child’s withdrawal date.
The refunded amount does not receive Government co-matching. Ask the institution when it was credited, then check your child’s CDA statement to verify the refund.
CHAPTER 1 OF 4
Check where the payment came from
The MSF CDA refund guidance concerns money originally deducted from the CDA.
Keep the relevant payment record and any refund agreement. This helps distinguish a CDA payment from a separate amount paid by another method.
CHAPTER 2 OF 4
Separate entitlement from destination
The rule explains where a refund goes when a refund is due. It does not establish that every deposit or preschool payment is refundable.
Ask the centre to identify the amount it has agreed to refund and the applicable terms. Resolve that question separately from the account receiving the money.
CHAPTER 3 OF 4
Record the agreed date
Keep the date agreed between the trustee and institution, and ask when the refund will be credited. Use the agreed-date rule when checking timing.
A helpful enquiry is: “Please confirm the refund amount, the agreed date and when it was returned to the CDA.”
CHAPTER 4 OF 4
Verify the credited amount
MSF advises checking with the institution and verifying the refund in the CDA statement. Compare the credited amount with the amount agreed.
If you cannot identify the entry, ask for clarification using the relevant payment and refund details. Keep the response with your statement for future reference.
Information checked on 12 October 2026. Follow the current official instructions and the guidance given for your child’s situation.
