HomeWise › Guides › ElderFund vs IDAPE
SubsidiesUpdated 24 October 2026 · Figures from the official AIC and CPF Board pages
When a parent can no longer manage three of the six daily activities (washing, dressing, eating, toileting, moving around, getting in and out of bed), three schemes can pay a monthly sum. Only one of them will apply to your parent, and which one depends on their birth year, whether they are insured, and household income.
| CareShield Life | IDAPE | ElderFund | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who runs it | CPF Board and MOH; claims through AIC | AIC | AIC |
| What it is | Long-term care insurance | Government payout | Discretionary help, last resort |
| Who it is for | Policyholders. Born 1980 or later: covered automatically. Born 1970 to 1979 with ElderShield 400: enrolled automatically | Singapore Citizens born on or before 30 September 1932, or born 1 October 1932 to 30 September 1962 with a disability they already had on 30 September 2002 | Singapore Citizens aged 30 and above |
| Disability test | Unable to do 3 of 6 daily activities | Full help with 3 of 6 daily activities | Full help with 3 of 6 daily activities |
| Income test | None | Household income $3,600 or less per person a month | Household income $1,500 or less per person, and MediSave below $10,000 |
| Pays | Monthly, set by birth year and claim year. Example: $689 a month for a claim in 2026 | $250 a month (income up to $2,600 per person) or $150 | Up to $250 a month |
| For how long | For life | Up to 72 months | As long as the criteria are met |
| If insured | This is the insurance | Not for CareShield Life or ElderShield policyholders, or anyone who has claimed | Not for CareShield Life or ElderShield policyholders |
All three need a severe disability assessment by an MOH-accredited assessor. Payouts and limits are as published by AIC and CPF Board; the agency decides each case.
Work through these in order. Stop at the first yes.
Pioneers who need help with 3 of 6 daily activities can also get $100 a month for life under the Pioneer Generation Disability Assistance Scheme. Ask AIC on 1800 650 6060 whether it can be held together with the scheme above. Our Pioneer and Merdeka Generation guide has the details.
No. Someone eligible for IDAPE gets IDAPE, not ElderFund.
AIC's ElderFund page lists people eligible for or receiving IDAPE among those ElderFund does not cover. In practice, ElderFund covers a wider group: IDAPE is tied to birth dates, while ElderFund starts at age 30.
Whichever your parent is in. A CareShield Life or ElderShield policyholder cannot get ElderFund.
CareShield Life is insurance: it pays for life once a person cannot do 3 of 6 daily activities, with no income test. ElderFund is the safety net for people who never had that cover. Most people born 1980 or later are covered automatically, so ElderFund mostly helps older Singaporeans who were never insured.
IDAPE is for Singapore Citizens born on or before 30 September 1932, or born up to 30 September 1962 with a disability they already had in 2002. It pays $250 or $150 a month for up to 72 months. ElderFund is for any Singapore Citizen aged 30 and above, pays up to $250 a month for as long as the criteria are met, and has a lower income limit of $1,500 per person.
No. AIC's ElderFund page says ElderFund is not for anyone eligible for or receiving IDAPE. If your parent qualifies for IDAPE, IDAPE is the one to apply for.
No. ElderFund and IDAPE are only for people who are not CareShield Life or ElderShield policyholders. A policyholder with severe disability claims through CareShield Life or ElderShield instead.
For CareShield Life the fee is $100 at a clinic or $250 for a house call, and the first assessment is free. For ElderFund you pay the fee first, and it is reimbursed if the person is assessed as severely disabled.
The Subsidy Checker asks six questions and tells you which of the 10 schemes may apply. Nothing is saved.
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