HomeWise › Guides › Eldercare Subsidies Singapore 2026
SubsidiesUpdated 24 October 2026 · Figures read from the official pages, see the change log
Singapore has many eldercare schemes, run by different agencies with different rules. This guide puts them in one place, says what each one pays, and links to a full guide for each. Every figure here comes from the same rules our Subsidy Checker uses.
Start here if you do not know where to begin
Walker, wheelchair, commode or shower chair → SMF, up to 90% off
Grab bars, ramp or anti-slip in an HDB flat → HDB EASE, Government pays up to 95%. Private home → EASE (Private)
Caring at home for someone who needs help with 3 of 6 daily activities → Home Caregiving Grant, $200 to $600 a month
You employ a helper → maid levy concession, $60 a month instead of $300
Severe disability → CareShield Life if insured; if not, ElderFund or IDAPE
Born in 1959 or earlier → Pioneer or Merdeka Generation, automatic
| Scheme | What it gives | Key eligibility | Who runs it |
|---|---|---|---|
| SMF | Up to 90% off assistive devices, capped per device category | SC or PR, 60+, income-tested | AIC, 1800 650 6060 |
| HDB EASE | Up to 95% off home modifications; fully covered in HDB rental blocks | HDB flat, a member 65+ (or 60 to 64 with need) | HDB |
| Home Caregiving Grant | $200 to $600 a month, by income | Needs help with 3 of 6 daily activities, cared for at home | AIC, 1800 650 6060 |
| Maid levy concession | A $60 monthly levy for a helper instead of the standard $300 | A senior 67+ in the household, or a person with disability | MOM (disability route via AIC) |
| CareShield Life | Monthly cash payouts for life when a person cannot do 3 of 6 daily activities; amount depends on birth year and claim year | Policyholders who cannot do 3 of 6 daily activities | CPF Board, claims via AIC |
| ElderFund | Up to $250 a month for severely disabled, lower-income Singaporeans not covered by CareShield Life or ElderShield | SC 30+, income $1,500 or less per person | AIC, 1800 650 6060 |
| IDAPE | $150 or $250 a month for up to 72 months for severely disabled older Singaporeans outside ElderShield | SC born by 1932, or 1932 to 1962 with an earlier disability | AIC, 1800 650 6060 |
| Silver Support | Quarterly cash of $215 to $1,080 for lower-income seniors aged 65 and above in 1- to 5-room HDB flats | SC 65+, low lifetime wages | CPF Board (no application) |
| Pioneer and Merdeka Generation | Lifelong healthcare subsidies for seniors born in 1959 or earlier; Pioneers also get yearly MediSave top-ups | SC, by birth year and citizenship date | Automatic |
| Caregivers Training Grant | $400 in the first year, then a $200 top-up each financial year, capped at $400 | For the main caregiver of someone 65+ or with disability | AIC |
| EASE (Private) | Vouchers for fittings in private homes | Private home, a Singapore Citizen household member | By invitation letter |
IDAPE and ElderFund cannot both be paid. Someone eligible for IDAPE gets IDAPE, not ElderFund.
ElderFund is only for people who are not CareShield Life or ElderShield policyholders. A policyholder claims through CareShield Life or ElderShield instead.
IDAPE is only for people who are not CareShield Life or ElderShield policyholders and have never claimed from them.
Most other schemes can be held together. SMF and EASE, for example, cover different items, and a family can use both.
SMF and EASE are separate, and a family often needs both
Grab bars are EASE from end to end: HDB supplies the bar and installs it. SMF is for the equipment your parent uses: a walker, a wheelchair, a commode, a shower chair. Never the same item under both.
Different schemes need different assessments
SMF needs a therapist or other assessor to recommend the device. EASE needs no assessment at 65 and above, and a Functional Assessment Report at 60 to 64. The Home Caregiving Grant and the disability route of the maid levy concession also use a Functional Assessment Report. ElderFund, IDAPE and CareShield Life need a severe disability assessment by an MOH-accredited assessor.
Some schemes need no application at all
Pioneer and Merdeka Generation benefits are applied automatically. CPF Board writes to seniors who qualify for Silver Support. The maid levy concession for a senior aged 67 and above is automatic once the address and household details match.
Never buy assistive devices before SMF approval
AIC SMF does not reimburse purchases made before approval. The order is: assessment, approval, then purchase.
Answer a few short questions in the HomeWise Subsidy Checker. It runs the same rules as this page, tells you which schemes your parent may qualify for, and what is still unknown. Nothing is saved. Then call the agency that runs the scheme: AIC on 1800 650 6060 for SMF, the Home Caregiving Grant, ElderFund and IDAPE; HDB for EASE; MOM for the levy concession.
Open the Subsidy Checker →Six questions. It tells you which schemes may apply and what to do next. Nothing is saved or sent.
Check my subsidies →