What Senior Care Financial Assistance Options Are Available For Seniors And Caregivers in Singapore?

People of old age don't have it easy. They often face certain conditions that require proper care, support, and assistance. This is why senior care is incredibly essential. It comes in different types of programs depending on the needs of the elderly. There are facilities dedicated to long-term care, respite care, assisted living, independent living, and many more. All these are aimed to improve the quality of life of the elderly.

However, they can also be quite difficult to attain due to their consequent costs. No matter how much you want to provide your elderly loved one with the best kind of care, it's a lot more challenging when you don't have enough income to do so.

Senior care services may be a heavy investment, but they can definitely be considered a good one. Here, seniors have full access to personal care and support especially when it comes to activities of daily living. They can also receive proper medical and health management. Thanks to the existence of senior care facilities and services, family members can have peace of mind knowing that their loved one is in good hands.

If you are receiving a low income but need senior care services, don't worry. This article will serve as your guide to the available financial assistance options for both the elderly and caregivers.

A breakdown of the available financial assistance programs for senior care recipients and caregivers

There are plenty of financial assistance schemes established by the Agency of Integrated Care (AIC). These are to help seniors and their respective family members or caregivers in their senior living care expenses. The amount of money you have to invest in senior living care facilities, programs, and services is no joke, especially if you are living on a low income and have other people to support.

Singapore wants the best for its elderly citizens. Therefore, here are the options for financial assistance that seniors and caregivers can get:

Caregiving Assistance

1. Home Caregiving Grant (HCG)

The Home Caregiving Grant (HCG) is a provision of $200 worth of cash payout to your elderly loved ones. This can be used to lessen caregiving costs such as eldercare and caregiver support services.

Who are eligible: Seniors who at least have a permanent moderate disability are considered recipients of this grant. This includes those who need assistance with three or more activities of daily living (ADLs).

To qualify, the care recipient must be:

• a citizen in Singapore
• a permanent resident (with a parent, child, or spouse who is a Singapore citizen)
• living in Singapore
• has a household monthly income of $2,800 or less (per person)
• has an annual value of property for a household of $13,o00 or less (without income)
• NOT residing in a long-term care institution

How to apply:

1. Assessment - You must arrange a visit with your General Practitioner or care provider to obtain a Functional Assessment Report (FAR). The assessment cost may vary.
2. Submission - You can submit an online application for this grant by watching this video tutorial. The processing of this may take up to one month.

Assistance with activities of daily living is offered in assisted living homes. You may check Red Crowns' website to know about the assisted living cost.

2. Caregivers Training Grant (CTG)

The CTG is a $200 annual training grant for caregivers who want to lessen the costs of approved courses such as behavior management, day-to-day care, and functional skills development. This subsidy is provided to the care recipient every financial year. The grant is dedicated to the care recipient and not the number of caregivers per recipient.

Who are eligible:

• This is granted to a citizen or permanent resident of Singapore, aged 65 and up. The senior must have a disability that was assessed by a doctor through a
• The caregiver must be the person in charge of caring for the recipient. He/She must have completed a training course or received a certificate of attendance (if there is any).

How to apply:

• Choose a training course from the calendar.
• Contact the training provider at least 2 weeks before the start of the course. Their details will also be found on the calendar.
• Fill out and submit the downloadable CTG application form . The trainer can also submit this for you.
• Upon registration, a minimum co-payment of $10 is needed to be made

If you are looking for a reliable full-time caregiver for elderly in Singapore, you may turn to Red Crowns.

3. Foreign Domestic Levy Concession

This is support provided to foreign domestic workers (FDW) in Singapore who are in need of care services. You can get $60 every month if you qualify for the grant.

Who are eligible: If you're a foreign domestic worker (FDW) employer, you can qualify for this if you live with any of the following (who must be a Singapore citizen):

• child below 16 years old
• elderly who is at least 67 years old
• persons with disabilities (PWDs)

How to apply:

You don't need to apply for the Foreign Domestic Levy Concession. This automatically starts when you or your spouse turns 67 years old, or if your child is registered as a Singapore citizen at birth, or on the date your child was granted Singapore citizenship.

You need to apply if the qualified person is one of those listed below:

• For family members or relatives, you can apply online here.
• For other persons needing caregiver assistance from FDW, you can apply online here.
• For persons with disabilities (PWDs), you can apply with the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) here.

Mobility Assistance

1. Pioneer Generation Disability Assistance Scheme (PioneerDAS)

This is a part of the Pioneer Generation Package which was established to honor Singapore's pioneers. Here, pioneers with disabilities can receive $100 every month which they can use to cover expenses.

Who are eligible:

• Pioneers of Singapore who live in Singapore:
• Singapore citizens or permanent residents born on or before 31 December 1949
• Singaporeans who are aged 65 and above in 2014
• Became a Singapore citizen on or before 31 December 1986

How to apply:

1. Assessment - You must arrange a visit with your General Practitioner or care provider to obtain a Functional Assessment Report (FAR). The assessment cost may vary.
2. Submission - You can submit an online application for this grant by watching this video tutorial. The processing of this may take up to one month.

2. Merdeka Generation Package

This was instituted by the government to promote active aging and healthy living among seniors. This aims to provide support and assistance to Singaporeans who grew up in the 1950s and 1960s.

Here are the different kinds of Merdeka Generation Package benefits:

• Benefit #1: $100 Top-up on Passion Silver Card - this is a card that you automatically get once you reach the age of 60. You can use this to pay for public transport, community clubs, and public swimming pools.
• Benefit #2: Merdeka generation members are also eligible to receive $200 a year for the next 5 years. These are meant to boost the savings in your Medisave account. You can use your Medisave account money for the ff.: integrated shield plan premiums, hospitalization fees, outpatient treatment (for chronic illnesses), mammograms, vaccinations, colonoscopies, and end-of-life care.
• Benefit #3: You will be receiving Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) subsidies which allow lower-income Singaporeans and seniors to get subsidized rates at clinics. This comes in the form of a card. Furthermore, the Merdeka Generation also gets an additional 25% off medical bills at public specialist outpatient clinics and polyclinics.
• Benefit #4: You'll be receiving an extra $150 discount off CareShield Life every year. This is an insurance meant for people with severe disabilities and you can only get the discount if you opt for CareShield Life. You can find more about CareShield Life here.
• Benefit #5: You can obtain 5% to 10% discount off MediShield Life. From age 60 to 75, you can get 5% discount. It will increase to 10% once you are beyond the age of 75.

Who are eligible:

• Singaporeans who are born from Jan. 1, 1950, to Dec. 31, 1959
• Became a Singapore citizen before Dec. 31, 1996
• Did not receive Pioneer Generation Package

How to apply:

• For the $100 top-up on Passion Silver Card, you don't have to apply for this. You will be receiving an email about it once you reach 60 years old. The best way to get your top-up is by going to an Add Value Machine at the MRT station. Place your card on the screen and press the Merdeka button. Then, select "redeem all".
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3. CareShield Life

This is a long-term insurance scheme aimed to provide financial support to aging Singaporeans that have become severely disabled or require personal and medical care for a prolonged duration.

Who are eligible:

• Singaporeans born in 1980 or later
• Singaporeans in 1979 or earlier

How to apply:

1. You must undergo a severe disability assessment with a MOH-accredited disability assessor who may assess you in his/her clinic or your home.
2. You must log into the AIC eService portal using your SingPass
3. Go to the "Apply to receive scheme(s) payout" section and indicate if the claim is for yourself or on behalf of the care recipient that you're looking after
4. Input the details of the bank account that will receive the payouts.

4. Interim Disability Assistance Programme for the Elderly (IDAPE)

The Interim Disability Assistance Programme is a seniors mobility and enabling fund made for a small group of seniors who were not qualified for ElderShield at the time due to being too old or having pre-existing disabilities. If these seniors develop severe disabilities, they can be recipients for $150 and $250 monthly cash for up to 72 months. They can use the payment for medical bills, nursing costs, and paying for Foreign Domestic Workers who act as caregivers.

Who are eligible: Seniors who are citizens or permanent residents of Singapore who develop severe disabilities and need assistance with activities of daily living (such as bathing, dressing, feeding, etc.)

How to apply:

1. Contact a MOH-accredited disability assessor to undergo a severe disability assessment.
2. Submit an online application by watching this video tutorial.
3. The application may take up to one month to process.

Daily Activities Assistance

1. Seniors Mobility And Enabling Fund (SMF)

The Seniors Mobility and Enabling Fund (SMF) is a disability assistance scheme established by the AIC to provide financial assistance to seniors in Singapore to help them live within the community independently. This is to also give support to caregivers who are caring for the elderly at home.

Who is eligible:

To receive subsidies for ASSISTIVE DEVICES:

• Singapore citizen aged 60 and above
• Must pass a means test under the MOH's Intermediate and Long-Term Care
• Monthly household income is not more than $2,000 (per person); annual value of residence must be not more than $13,000
• Must be the first time you're claiming this subsidy under this category

To receive subsidies for HOME HEALTHCARE ITEMS

• Same with qualifications for assistive devices
• Must be receiving healthcare services at home
• Must undergo assessments to determine the type of needed healthcare items

How to apply: If you are receiving therapy sessions from hospitals or rehabilitation centers, you may approach the fully registered therapists there for an assessment. If you're eligible, your therapist may submit an application to AIC on your behalf. You may also contact AIC directly to apply.

2. Enhancement For Active Seniors (EASE)

This is part of the Home Improvement Programme (HIP). Having improvement items installed in your home through the EASE program guarantees a more elder-friendly environment and improves the comfort and mobility of senior residents.

Who is eligible: Singaporean seniors who are 65 years old and above; those aged between 60 to 64 who require assistance with one or more activities of daily living

How to apply:

1. Assessment - You must arrange a visit with your General Practitioner or care provider to obtain a Functional Assessment Report (FAR). The assessment cost may vary.
2. Submission - You can submit an online application for this grant by watching this video tutorial. The processing of this may take up to one month.

Medical Fees Assistance

1. MediSave Care

This is an insurance dedicated to helping Singapore citizens or permanent residents aged 30 and up who are severely disabled and need long-term care. They can make receive a monthly cash payout of $200 from their own or their spouses' MediSave accounts for care needs.

Who is eligible: Singapore citizens or permanent residents aged 30 and above and have severe disabilities

How to apply:

1. Assessment - You must arrange a visit with your General Practitioner or care provider to obtain a Functional Assessment Report (FAR). The assessment cost may vary.
2. Submission - You can submit an online application for this grant by watching this video tutorial. The processing of this may take up to one month.

2. Medical Fee Exemption Card

This card can give you access to fee exemption on healthcare costs. It covers standard medical and hospitalization treatments under government hospitals and polyclinics for nursing home residents.

Who is eligible: A Singapore citizen or permanent resident who has a savings of $6,000 or less and a monthly per capita family income of $800 or less

How to apply: Reach out to a medical worker at the institution your loved one or family member is staying in. They will be the ones to apply for the card on their behalf.

3. Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS)

The Community Health Assist Scheme allows all Singapore citizens—Pioneers and Merdeka cardholders—to receive financial support and subsidies for medical and/or dental care from participating medical and dental clinics.

Who is eligible: All Singapore citizens may be eligible. The benefits will be tiered depending on the household monthly income per person or annual value of the residence .

How to apply: Online application is being encouraged. Singapore citizens aged 21 and above can apply for CHAS online on behalf of elderly household members.

On the other hand, you may download a hardcopy of the application form here. Once accomplished, you may mail it to P.O. Box 680, Bukit Merah Central Post Office, Singapore 911536. Application processing takes about 15 working days.

4. MediFund

This is a backup financial support scheme for Singapore citizens who are still struggling financially with their remaining medical bills after already receiving government subsidies.

Who is eligible:

• Must be a Singapore citizen
• Must be a subsidized patient
• Received or requires treatment from a MediFund-approved institution
• Struggling to pay bills even after government subsidies

How to apply: Approach a medical social worker in the institution at which you have been receiving treatment. They will be exploring other possible financing means other than MediFund.

5. MediShield

This is a basic healthcare insurance plan to help Singaporeans pay for expensive hospital bills and selected costly outpatient treatments (e.g. dialysis, chemotherapy).

Who is eligible: All Singapore citizens and permanent residents, including the elderly and those that have pre-existing conditions

How to apply: You can apply for this insurance here.

6. ElderFund

This is an assistance scheme dedicated to Singaporeans with low income aged 30 and above, who have not received support from CareShield Life, ElderShield, and IDAPE. Those eligible for this grant can receive up to $250 per month.

Who is eligible: Singaporeans who have low MediSave balances and low personal savings

How to apply:

1. Assessment - You must arrange a visit with your General Practitioner or care provider to obtain a Functional Assessment Report (FAR). The assessment cost may vary.
2. Submission - You can submit an online application for this grant by watching this video tutorial. The processing of this may take up to one month.

General Financial Assistance

1. National Mean Testing System (NMTS)

This is the process of calculating the subsidies you receive from the government for care services. This is to ensure that lower-income patients are receiving more subsidies than those from higher-income households.

Eligibility criteria: A citizen of Singapore that meets the admission criteria and is already receiving care from a MOH-funded service provider

How to apply: Ask the help of the medical social workers of the hospital, community care service provider, or care coordinator. They will help guide you through the Means Test Declaration Form.

2. ElderShield and CareShield Life Supplement

These are plans that complement your basic ElderShield or CareShield Life plans by offering you additional benefits to enhance your coverage.

3. ComCare Short-To-Medium Term Assistance (SMTA)

This is a scheme aimed to provide support and benefits to low-income families and individuals who are either looking for a job, earning a low income, and require financial assistance. This is dedicated to those who are temporarily unable to work due to illness or caregiving responsibilities.

Eligibility criteria:

• A Singapore citizen that has a monthly household income of $1,900 and below or per capita income of $650
• Have very little or no family support, income, and asset

How to apply:

Go to the nearest Social Service Office (SSO) to help assess your eligibility for assistance and what other supportive means that you might need.

You will need to bring the ff.:

• Identity card
• Identity cards of family members within the same household (if applicable)
• Birth certificates of children below 15 years old
• Marriage or divorce certificate
• Latest payslip(s)
• All updated bank account statements/passbooks
• Doctor's memo certifying fitness for work
• Any other supporting documents

4. ComCare Long-Term Assistance (LTA)

This is more of long-term care insurance to help families and individuals experiencing extreme financial difficulties.

Eligibility criteria:

• A Singapore citizen that has a monthly household income of $1,900 and below or per capita income of $650
• Have no means of a stable income
• Residents of old age whose children or family members only have low-income

How to apply:

Go to the nearest Social Service Office (SSO) to help assess your eligibility for assistance and what other supportive means that you might need.

You will need to bring the ff.:

• Identity card
• Identity cards of family members within the same household (if applicable)
• Birth certificates of children below 15 years old
• Marriage or divorce certificate
• Latest payslip(s)
• All updated bank account statements/passbooks
• Doctor's memo certifying fitness for work
• Any other supporting documents

If you are looking for quality senior living homes for your loved ones, Red Crowns Senior Living is here to provide you with many. We offer various services to provide the best personal and medical care for our elderly residents.