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Financial Support for Elderly Care in Singapore
Over an extended period of time, long-term care can become costly. Fortunately, there are subsidies available in Singapore that can help lighten the financial load of some medical costs.
Read on to find out about the following financial support options in Singapore:
- Intermediate and long-term care (ILTC) services
- Home Caregiving Grant (HCG)
- ElderShield or CareShield Life
- Interim Disability Assistance Programme for the Elderly (IDAPE)
1. Intermediate and long-term care (ILTC) services
The Ministry of Health (MOH) provides subsidies for patients who require intermediate and long-term care services. The eligibility criteria stipulates that patients have to:
- Be a Singapore citizen or Permanent Resident
- Meet the admission criteria
- Currently be receiving care from an MOH-funded service provider
MOH uses a household means test and where the patient is based to determine the type and level of subsidy given.
The following subsidies target:
- Patients in community hospital subsidised wards
- Patients in ILTC non-residential services (home and centre-based services)
- Patients in ILTC residential services (except community hospitals)
Patients in community hospital subsidised wards
Household Per Capita Monthly Income | Subsidy Rate | |
Singapore Citizens | Permanent Residents | |
$800 and below | 75% | 50% |
$801 to $1,200 | 60% | 40% |
$1,201 to $2,000 | 50% | 30% |
$2,001 to $2,800 | 45% | 25% |
$2,801 to $3,300 | 40% | 20% |
$3,301 and above | 20% | 10% |
Patients in ILTC non-residential services (home and centre-based services)
This applies to patients in
- Eldercare Centres (such as Day Rehabilitation Centres, Dementia Day Care Centres, Maintenance Day Care Centres, Senior Care Centres)
- Psychiatric Day Rehabilitation and Home-Based Services (such as Home Palliative Care, Home Medical, Home Nursing, Home Help and Home Personal Care).
Household Per Capita Monthly Income | Subsidy Rate | |
Singapore Citizens | Permanent Residents | |
$800 and below | 80% | 55% |
$801 to $1,200 | 75% | 50% |
$1,201 to $1,900 | 60% | 40% |
$1,901 to $2,000 | 50% | 30% |
$2,001 to $2,800 | 30% | 15% |
$2,801 and above | 0% | 0% |
Patients in ILTC residential services (except community hospitals)
This applies to patients in
- Chronic Sick Hospitals
- Nursing Homes
- In-patient Hospices
- Psychiatric Rehabilitation Homes
- Psychiatric Sheltered Homes
Household Per Capita Monthly Income | Subsidy Rate | |
Singapore Citizens | Permanent Residents | |
$800 and below | 75% | 50% |
$801 to $1,200 | 60% | 40% |
$1,201 to $1,900 | 50% | 30% |
$1,901 to $2,000 | 40% | 20% |
$2,001 to $2,800 | 20% | 10% |
$2,801 and above | 0% | 0% |
2. Home Caregiving Grant (HCG)
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The Home Caregiving Grant (HCG) pays out $200 monthly to eligible care recipients for the purpose of supporting loved ones with at least permanent moderate disability (always requiring some assistance to perform three or more Activities of Daily Living).
This grant can be used to help with caregiving expenses like eldercare, caregiver support services in the community and/or hiring a domestic helper.
Find out if you are eligible for this grant here.
3. ElderShield or CareShield Life
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CareShield Life and ElderShield offer payouts upon severe disability to support long-term care costs.
Severe disability is defined as needing assistance in at least three of these activities of daily living:
- Eating
- Getting dressed
- Using the toilet
- Bathing
- Moving
- Walking around
- Getting from the bed to a chair or vice versa
4. Interim Disability Assistance Programme for the Elderly (IDAPE)
For those who are not eligible for CareShield Life and ElderShield, the Interim Disability Assistance Programme for the Elderly (IDAPE) is another scheme that can help.
To be eligible, seniors must be
- Born on or before 30 September 1932; or
- Born between 1 October 1932 and 30 September 1962, with pre-existing disabilities as of 30 September 2002.
Household Monthly Income per Person* | Monthly Cash Benefits |
$0 – $2,000 | $250 |
$2,001 – $2,800 | $150 |
*For households with no income, the annual value (AV) of property must be ≤ $13,000