Hospitalisation medical bills can be worrying especially when someone in your family gets sick and requires long term care. Here are some funding schemes that may be useful for you to consider:
1. General grants and schemes for caregiving
Medisave is a national medical savings scheme which helps individuals put aside part of their income into their Medisave Accounts to meet their future personal or immediate family’s hospitalization, day surgery and certain outpatient expenses. You may also use your Medisave account to cover the costs of your health screenings.
Caregivers Training Grant (CTG)
The Caregivers Training Grant (CTG) offers training subsidies for caregivers to help them in providing care.
ComCare provides list of social assistance for low-income individuals and families.
Foreign Domestic Worker (FDW) Grant
The Foreign Domestic Worker (FDW) Grant provides financial support to families when they hire foreign domestic workers to care for their frail elderly or persons with at least moderate disability.
Foreign Domestic Worker (FDW) Levy Concession for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) Scheme
This scheme enables families who employ foreign domestic workers as full-time caregivers of their loved ones with disabilities to pay a lower monthly foreign worker levy.
Other assistance and support
You can find other programmes, subsidies and support for children with special needs at this page.
2. Grants and schemes relating to the elderly
Financial Assistance for the Elderly
You can find an extensive list of grants and schemes to assist you financially when you are looking after an elderly family member.
3. Grants and schemes relating to children and persons with special need
The Disabled Persons Scheme (DPS) is a means-tested scheme that supports Singapore Citizens with permanent physical disabilities who are unable to use public transport (i.e. bus and/or MRT) and require a vehicle to earn a living. Eligible drivers are exempted from paying the premium for the Certificate of Entitlement (COE) and the Additional Registration Fee (ARF) when they purchase a vehicle.
Assistive Technology Fund (ATF)
Persons with disabilities can get subsidies to acquire, replace, upgrade or repair necessary assistive technology equipment and accessories (e.g. wheelchairs, hearing aids, etc).
Car Park Label Scheme for Persons with Physical Disabilities
Persons with physical disabilities who drive or their family members who drive them can obtain car park labels that enable them to park at designated parking lots.
Day Activity Centre
Day Activity Centre provides care and skills training for adults with disabilities.
Development Support and Learning Support
The Development Support (DS) and Learning Support (LS) programmes provide development support and learning support for children with mild developmental needs so they can make a smoother transition to primary school.
Drop-in Disability Programme
Drop-in Disability Programme provides adults with disabilities with social and recreational activities for a few hours a day, a few days a week.
Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children
The Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children programme (EIPIC) provides learning and therapy services for preschool children with moderate to severe developmental needs.
Children participate in activities that maximise their developmental growth potential and minimise the development of secondary disabilities.
Employment Assistance for Persons with Disabilities
There are schemes and services to enable persons with disabilities to be supported for training and acquire employment. Schemes are also available to support employers Schemes are also available to support employers to hire, train and integrate persons with disabilities.
Home-Based Care Services
Home-Based Care Services provide home-help support for adults with disabilities to continue to live in the community.
Integrated Child Care Programme (ICCP)
MSF funds child care centres that run the Integrated Child Care Programme (ICCP), making it possible for children with mild to moderate developmental needs (aged 2-6) to attend, learn and play with their peers at these centres.
Medical Fee Exemption Card
This card provides free medical and hospitalisation treatment at government/restructured hospitals and polyclinics for needy residents of sheltered and disability homes.
MSF’s Pilot Project with MINDS
MSF initiated a pilot in March 2015 with the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled in Singapore (MINDS) to simplify the process to apply for deputyship for young adults with severe intellectual disability.
Public Transport Concession for Persons with Disabilities
Persons with disabilities can apply for the Public Transport Concession that offer concessionary travel on public buses and the Persons with disabilities can apply for the Public Transport Concession that offer concessionary travel on public buses and the MRT.
Residential Care Services at Adult Disability Homes
Long-term residential care for adults with disabilities with no alternative accommodation. Short-term care is also available to give respite to caregivers.
Residential Care Services at Children Disability Homes
Children Disability Homes provide long- and short-term residential care for children with special needs aged below 16.
Residential Services at Community Group Homes
Community Group Homes enable persons with disabilities to live independently in designated HDB Flats retrofitted with disability-friendly features.
Taxi Subsidy Scheme
Persons with disabilities who are unable to use public transport due to their disabilities can look to a means-tested subsidy support for their taxi fares for the purpose of attending school or work.
Trust and Savings Options for Persons with Disabilities
Parents or primary caregivers of persons with disabilities who wish to safeguard their loved ones’ welfare and financial security can approach the Special Needs Trust Company (SNTC) to draw up care plans and set up trust accounts.
VWO Transport Subsidy for Persons with Disabilities
Persons with disabilities who need to take dedicated transport provided by voluntary welfare organisations (VWO) to access school and care services can tap on means-tested subsidies.
