Financial Schemes

Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE)

The Housing and Development Board introduced EASE in 2012 to subsidise home modifications so that older residents can live at ease in their homes.

This is what can be installed in a flat through the EASE programme:

• Slip-resistant treatment to floor tiles in up to two bathrooms or toilets
• Grab bars in the flat (eight or 10 grab bars for the first toilet, and six grab bars for the second toilet)
• Up to five ramps in the flat, and/or at the main entrance – if it is doable

Find out more.

ElderShield

ElderShield is a basic long-term care insurance scheme designed to help Singaporeans meet expenses for severe disability, especially during old age.

The ElderShield scheme has been enhanced into the new CareShield Life scheme introduced from mid-2020.

• Until 2019, Singaporean Citizens and Permanent Residents with MediSave Accounts were automatically enrolled in the ElderShield scheme at 40 years of age, unless they opted out.
• From 2020 onwards, there were no new automatic enrolments into ElderShield at 40 years of age. Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents born in 1980 and after are instead automatically covered by CareShield Life on 1 October 2020 or when they turn 30.

Depending on the plan the person has, ElderShield will pay a monthly cash benefit of $300 per month for up to 60 months, or $400 per month for up to 72 months if the person has a severe disability. The Ministry of Health has appointed three private insurers to administer ElderShield: Aviva, Great Eastern and NTUC Income.

Find out more from AIC and CareShield Life.

CareShield Life

CareShield Life is a long-term care insurance scheme for Singaporean Citizens and Permanent Residents launched on 1 October 2020 which provides basic financial protection should an individual become severely disabled, especially during old age, and need care for a prolonged duration.

CareShield Life policyholders who are/become severely disabled are eligible to make claims, and can receive payouts for as long as they remain severely disabled, and meet the terms and conditions needed to receive payouts. Payouts start at $600 cash per month in 2020, which increases annually until age 67 or when a successful claim is made, whichever is earlier.

Find out more from AIC and CareShield Life.

Interim Disability Assistance Programme for the Elderly (IDAPE)

The IDAPE is an assistance scheme that was set up in 2002 for a small group of seniors who were not eligible for ElderShield at the time, because they were too old or had pre-existing disabilities.

If these seniors develop severe disabilities, they can receive $150 or $250 monthly cash payout (depending on their financial circumstances) for up to 72 months. There is no restriction on how the payments should be used, as long as they are used for the care of the disabled IDAPE claimant.

For example, the payments can offset:

• Medical bills
• Nursing costs
• Hiring a foreign domestic worker (FDW) as a helper to care for the disabled IDAPE claimant

The senior may nominate himself/herself, a caregiver who is 21 years old and above, or a nursing home that the senior is residing in to receive the IDAPE payout.

Find out more.

ElderFund

ElderFund is a discretionary assistance scheme launched on 31 January 2020.

It is targeted at severely disabled lower-income Singapore Citizens aged 30 and older, who are not able to benefit from CareShield Life, ElderShield, and the Interim Disability Assistance Programme for the Elderly (IDAPE), and have low MediSave balances and inadequate personal savings to meet their long-term care needs.

Eligible Singapore Citizens can receive up to $250 cash per month for as long as they remain eligible, and meet the terms and conditions needed for receipt of payment.

Find out more.

MediSave Care

MediSave Care is a long-term care scheme that was launched on 1 October 2020. It allows Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents aged 30 and above who are severely disabled to make monthly cash withdrawals up to a total of $200 per month from their own and/or their spouses MediSave Accounts for their long-term care needs.

Find out more from AIC and CareShield Life.

Caregiving Training Grant (CTG)

The CTG is a $200 annual subsidy that lets caregivers attend approved courses to better care for their loved ones. The $200 subsidy is provided for each care recipient every financial year (from April to March the following year). If multiple caregivers of the same care recipient wish to attend training, the $200 would need to be shared among the family members.

Find out more.

Foreign Domestic Worker (FDW) Levy Concession for Persons with Disabilities

The FDW Levy Concession for Persons with Disabilities lets families pay the Foreign Domestic Worker levy at a concessionary rate of $60 a month, instead of $300. Each household is eligible for up to two FDW levy concessions, caring for two loved ones at any one time.

Find out more.

Home Caregiving Grant

The HCG is a $200 monthly cash payout to support loved ones with at least permanent moderate disability, i.e. always require some assistance to perform three or more Activities of Daily Living (ADLs).

This grant can be used to defray the costs of caregiving expenses, such as the costs of eldercare and caregiver support services in the community, or hiring of a Foreign Domestic Worker (FDW).

Find out more.

Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS)

The CHAS enables all Singapore Citizens, including Pioneer Generation (PG) and Merdeka Generation (MG) cardholders, to receive subsidies for medical and/or dental care* at participating General Practitioner (GP) and dental clinics.

Visit CHAS for more information.

*Only for CHAS Blue/Orange, MG and PG cardholders

Medical Fee Exemption Card (MFEC)

The Medical Fee Exemption Card (MFEC) can cover expenses for standard medical and hospitalisation treatment at government or restructured hospitals, polyclinics, and approved intermediate and long-term care services for needy residents of MOH-funded nursing homes, or MSF-fundSed sheltered and disability homes.

Eligible applicants must have personal savings of $6000 or less, and a monthly per capita family income of $700 or less. They must be Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents of Singapore, and either residents of MOH-funded nursing homes or MSF-funded sheltered and disability homes.

Find out more.

MediFund

The Medical Endowment Fund (MediFund) is an endowment fund set up by the Government. It is used to assist needy Singapore citizens who experience difficulties paying for remaining bills after receiving Government subsidies and other means of payment, which include MediShield Life, MediSave, and cash.

MediFund Silver, a scheme that is part of MediFund, provides assistance to persons aged 65 and older.

MediFund can be used to pay for restructured hospitals, national specialty centres, and intermediate and long-term care services.

Eligible applicants must be a Singapore citizen, a subsidised patient, have received or require treatment from a Medifund-approved institution, and be having difficulties with paying for their healthcare bills after Government subsidies and other means, including MediShield Life, MediSave, and cash.

Find out more from the Agency for Integrated Care and Ministry of Health.

MediShield Life

MediShield Life is medical insurance that provides life-time coverage for all Singaporeans. Unlike the previous scheme, MediShield, you cannot opt out of MediShield Life.

The premiums for MediShield Life can be paid using Medisave funds or cash. The Government has also provided subsidies for lower- and middle-income Singaporeans, as well as for Pioneer Generation members. There are also subsidies for the first four years of MediShield Life, as people move from MediShield to MediShield Life.

Find out more from the Agency for Integrated Care and Ministry of Health.

Silver Support (SS) Scheme

The SS Scheme provides a quarterly cash supplement to seniors who had low incomes during their working years and now have less in their retirement.

There is no need to apply for the Silver Support (SS) Scheme. The CPF board automatically reviews eligibility for SS annually. Persons who qualify will receive a notification letter from CPF in December of the preceding year.

Find out more.

ComCare Schemes

The ComCare group of government financial schemes provide social assistance to low-income individuals and families, and is available at Social Service Offices (SSOs).

1. ComCare Interim Assistance

ComCare Interim Assistance may be provided to individuals and/or households that require urgent and immediate help of a duration of less than 3 months.

Find out more.

2. ComCare Short-to-Medium-Term Assistance

ComCare Short-To-Medium Assistance may be provided to individuals and/or households for persons or households that need temporary financial help due to an inability to find work for a period of time.

Find out more.

3. ComCare Long-Term Assistance (Public Assistance)

ComCare Long-Term Assistance may be provided to persons who are unable to work and need financial support.

Find out more.

Recipients of ComCare Public Assistance receive full subsidies for the treatment of conditions covered under CHAS. Find out more.

Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) Scheme

Introduced in 2007, the WIS Scheme is a broad-based measure for Singaporeans who meet certain requirements that tops up the salaries of our lower-income workers and helps them save for retirement. It supplements their income and retirement savings through cash payments and CPF contributions.

Find out more.