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As we and our family members age, we experience reduced mobility, impaired senses, and overall decreased quality of life, and thus, we rely on the people around us to help meet our daily needs. However, this transition in life should not be as difficult as people deem it to be if only we get the appropriate assistance that we need. This article tackles different financial assistance schemes and mobility enabling funds that one can apply for to have their loved ones go through this stage of life with the best senior care possible.
The Pioneer Generation Package is a financial assistance scheme that provides $100 per month for a pioneer with disabilities for use for their healthcare costs including subsidised services from specialist outpatient clinics and dental services.
To be eligible for the pioneer generation card, one must be a certified Singapore’s pioneer, and requiring assistance with at least 3 out of the 6 Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)—washing, toileting, dressing, feeding, transferring, and mobility.
To apply, visit a General Practitioner (GP) or arrange with your care provider to obtain a Functional Assessment Report (FAR). Should your application be successful, payouts will be made to your nominated bank account within the following month, and this may include payouts from the month the application was submitted.
Merdeka Generation Package would subsidize the healthcare services of Singaporeans born on or between 1 January 1950 and 31 December 1959. Benefits include $100 Cash Payout, MediSave top ups of $200 for 5 years, outpatient care subsidies, annual CareShield Life Premiums of $1500, and additional pioneers MediShield Life Premiums.
CareShield Life applies to all those with Singapore citizenship, including those with obtained citizenship, born after 1980, whether or not they have pre-existing disabilities and medical conditions. Eligible CareShield Life participants are given $600 monthly as long as they have severe disabilities. ElderShield on the other hand applies to all those with Singapore citizenship born after 1980, excluding individuals with pre-existing disabilities; and participants are to receive $400 monthly.
IDAPE is one of the cash assistance programs that cover expenses for medical bills, caregivers training grant, and hiring of foreign domestic worker (FDW) to care for the recipient. Depending on their means tested special premium subsidies, eligible seniors can receive either S$150 or S$250 monthly life long cash assistance. Moreover, there are no restrictions on how the payouts will be used just as long as they are used for the care needs of the disabled IDAPE claimant.
Must be a Singaporean Citizen and is currently living in Singapore
Must be born before 30 September 1932 OR born between 1 October and 30 September 1962, but have had pre-existing disabilities since 30 September 2002
Must have a per capita household income is S$2,800 or less OR capita family income of S$13,000 and below, and have no monthly household income
Must have severe disabilities and are unable to perform at least 3 out of the 6 Activities of Daily Living
Interested participants must first undergo a disability health screening from an MOH-accredited severe disability assessor for an assessment fee of S$100.
Eligible participants can then proceed to apply directly on the AIC eService portal (eFASS). Once logged in, navigate to the ‘Apply to Receive Scheme(s) Payout’ section and select ‘For myself’ or ‘As a caregiver,’ depending on whoever is filing the application.
ElderFund is one of the financial assistance schemes that provide financial relief by giving seniors mobility and enabling funds to low income Singapore Citizens who have severe disabilities. They must also be aged 30 and above with a household monthly income per person of $1,200 or less and MediSave balance of less than $10,000. One must also not be eligible for CareShield Life, ElderShield, and Interim Disability Assistance Program for the Elderly (IDAPE) and must be unable to perform at least 3 out of the 6 ADLs. Participants are to receive $250 monthly as long as they remain eligible.
To qualify, contact an MOH-accredited severe disability approved assessor to undergo a disability assessment. If the financial assistance recipient is residing in a nursing home, the nursing home can help submit a Resident’s Assessment Form (RAF) in place of the severe disability assessment for nursing home subsidies.
The Assistive Technology Fund provides individuals with a subsidy of up to 90% of the cost of assistive technology devices, subject to a lifetime cap of $40,000. This fund can be used to acquire, replace, upgrade or repair assistive technology devices. These specialized devices include wheelchairs and hearing aids. Assistive Technology Fund also covers medical devices such as suction pumps and oxygen concentrators, as well as spectacles for Singapore Citizens aged 60 and above.
Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident
Must have a permanent disability in one of the following:
Physical disability
Visual impairment
Hearing impairment
Intellectual disability
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Undergone approved assessor’s assessment to determine the need and type of devices
Gross household income per person of $2000 and below per month
Approach a Therapist even from a cheap physiotherapy Singapore or a Social Worker (from Hospitals and Social Service Agencies) to assist you to submit the ATF application form.
You should also accomplish the Means-Test Declaration Form.
Seniors Mobility and Enabling Fund (SMF) extends government subsidies for customized and specialized devices or home healthcare items to help them age in place with more ease, physically and financially. This covers expenses on transport services, assistive devices (wheelchair, shower chair, hearing aids, hospital beds, spectacles, walking aid), and home healthcare items (nasogastric tubes, wound dressings, adult diapers, milk feeds, nasal tubing, catheters).
Be a Singaporean Citizen above 60 years of age
Must have an Annual Value (AV) of residence of S$13,000 and below, or a monthly household income per person of S$2,000 and below
Must take the means-test under MOH’S Intermediate and Long-Term Care (ILTC) non-residential framework and get a passing score
Must apply for the Assistive Devices or Home Healthcare Items category for the first time and have not made previous claims under the SMF for the same category
Must live within the community and not reside in an assisted-living facility, sheltered home, or a nursing home
Must co-pay for the home healthcare item or assistive device
Must be assessed on the type of device required by an approved assessor such as a registered doctor or nurse, therapist, audiologist, or optometrist.
Should you have regular visits at the hospital or if you know of any registered therapists, you may simply inform them that you would like to apply for the SMF. They can then perform the assessment and submit your application to AIC on your behalf.
You can also contact AIC directly to apply for and receive subsidies.
Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE) is a discretionary assistance scheme that aims to improve the independent living conditions of seniors residing in HDB flats by ensuring that their living environment is elderly-friendly. This includes providing grab bars, ramps, and slip-resistant floor treatment for them to live safely and independently at home.
To qualify, one must be 65 years old and above or between 60 and 64 years old, and needs assistance for at least one or more Activities of Daily Living. To apply, download and complete the forms provided on the HDB website. Once you have accomplished all the necessary forms, you may submit your application through the EASE (Direct Application) e-Service on the HDB portal or Mobile@HD mobile app.
As you and your loved ones get older, it is best to determine the perfect financial assistance scheme and make the most out of the available mobility enabling funds that would be most appropriate to cover your family member’s needs and comfort, and provide the senior care from you or from services like Retire Genie, that we all deserve.
