Caregiver Grants & Subsidies: Hire a Maid in Singapore | Best Home

How to Utilize Grants by the Singapore Government to Hire a Maid

As the aging population in Singapore continues to grow, many families are seeking reliable and trustworthy solutions for elder care. Hiring a maid can be a viable option, providing essential support and companionship to elderly loved ones. The Singapore government offers various grants and subsidies to help families manage the costs associated with hiring a maid for elder care. In this article, we will explore these grants and how you can utilize them to ease the financial burden.

Important note: If you do not stay at the same address as your elderly loved one, and applying for these grants, do indicate clearly the household income for your elderly loved one's household.

1. Migrant Domestic Worker (MDW) Levy Concession for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities

A Migrant Domestic Worker (MDW) refers to domestic helpers, or maids. The MDW Levy Concession aids households in hiring a maid to care for elderly individuals or those with disabilities. Eligible households benefit from a reduced maid levy of $60 per month.

Eligibility Criteria:

For Singapore Citizens (SC):

• The care recipient, maid employer, and maid must reside at the same address.

• The care recipient must require assistance with at least one Activity of Daily Living (ADL) or be at least 67 years old.

• Eligible seniors meeting age, citizenship, and residential criteria will automatically receive the MDW Levy Concession upon application for the MDW.

For Singapore Permanent Residents (PR):

• The care recipient must require assistance with at least one ADL and be the parent, child, or spouse of the SC MDW employer; or be at least 67 years old and be the parent, parent-in-law, grandparent, or grandparent-in-law of the SC MDW employer.

• The care recipient, MDW employer, and MDW must reside at the same address.

Note: This grant will be automatically applied when your maid hiring application is being processed by the Ministry of Manpower Singapore.

2. Home Caregiving Grant (HCG)

The Home Caregiving Grant provides financial support of $400 per month to families who need help caring for an elderly person at home. This grant can significantly reduce the cost of hiring a maid for elder care.

Eligibility requirements for the HCG include:

• The care recipient must be a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident.

• Aged 65 and above, or aged 16 and above with a disability.

• Must undergo a disability assessment to determine the level of care needed.

• The household monthly income per person must be $2,800 or less.

3. Pioneer Generation Disability Assistance Scheme (PioneerDAS)

The Pioneer Generation Disability Assistance Scheme offers $100 a month to Pioneers who need assistance with three or more Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). This additional financial aid can further ease the burden of hiring a maid for elder care.

Eligibility for the PioneerDAS includes:

• Must be a member of the Pioneer Generation.

• Must require assistance with at least three ADLs.

• See a General Practitioner (GP) or coordinate with your care provider to get a Functional Assessment Report (FAR). The assessment cost can differ, so please reach out to your chosen assessor for details.

Note: If you are applying for severe disability schemes like IDAPE/ElderFund, CareShield Life, or MediSave Care, the FAR is not required. Instead, arrange a disability assessment with an MOH-accredited severe disability assessor.

4. Seniors' Mobility and Enabling Fund

The Seniors' Mobility and Enabling Fund offers to offset the costs of assistive devices and home healthcare items (including consumables).

Eligibility:

Home Healthcare Items

1. Care recipient must be Singapore Citizen (SC);

2. Care recipient must be aged 60 years and above; 

3. Care recipient must undergo assessment to determine the need and type of consumables home healthcare items needed (to be done by service providers); 

4. Care recipient must be receiving services from:

   
   

   a. A home care provider;  

   
   

   b. Singapore Programme for Integrated Care for the Elderly (SPICE) programme or Integrated Home and Day Care (IHDC) Packages; or 

   
   

   c. A home palliative care provider;

5. Care recipient and his/her household has per capita household monthly income of $2,000 or less or Annual Value (AV) of residence reflected on NRIC of $21,000 and below for households with no income; and 

6. No other sources of concurrent subsidy for similar consumables home healthcare items.

Assistive Devices

1. Care recipient must be Singapore Citizen (SC); 

2. Care recipient must be aged 60 years and above; 

3. Care recipient must undergo assessment to determine the need and type of mobility device (to be done by a qualified therapist or relevant professional); and

4. Care recipient and his/her household has per capita household monthly income of $2,000 or less or Annual Value (AV) of residence reflected on NRIC of $21,000 and below for households with no income.

   
   

5. Caregiver Training Grant (CTG)

The Caregiver Training Grant aims to equip caregivers with the necessary skills to provide better care for their loved ones. Families can receive up to $400 annually to offset the cost of training courses. This grant can be used to train your maid, ensuring they are well-prepared to handle the specific needs of elderly individuals.

To apply for the CTG, the care recipient must meet the following criteria:

• Be a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident.

• Aged 65 and above or have a disability.

• Must have a household monthly income per person of $2,800 or less.
  

General Steps to Apply for These Grants

1. Determine Eligibility: Check the specific criteria for each grant to ensure the care recipient qualifies.

2. Prepare Necessary Documents: Gather all required documents, including identity cards, income statements, and medical assessments.

3. Submit Applications: Apply through the respective channels, such as the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) or the Ministry of Health (MOH) websites.

4. Hire a Maid: Once the grants are approved, hire a maid from a reputable agency to ensure high-quality care. A reputable and honest maid agency, like Best Home Employment Agency, should be able to guide or direct you to the right place when you are seeking to apply for these grants.

Note: If your elderly is eligible for the MDW levy concession for seniors and persons with disabilities, it will be applied automatically when your application for an elder care maid has been submitted to the Ministry of Manpower Singapore.

How Best Home Employment Agency Can Help You Get A Top-Notch Elder Care Maid?

At Best Home Employment Agency, we have assisted thousands of families in Singapore find their perfect elder care maid. With over 30 years of experience, we specialise in sourcing and training maids from Myanmar, Indonesia and the Philippines who are skilled in elder care. Our rigorous selection process ensures that only the best candidates are chosen, providing peace of mind to families in Singapore. Our customer care team is aware of any government grants and subsidies related to hiring a maid for elder care- we can definitely provide you with helpful advice to apply for them.

By choosing Best Home Employment Agency, you benefit from:

• Our 30 years of service excellence and expertise.

• Face-to-face interview and shortlisting of candidates at source countries.

• Highly trained maids, pre and post arrival in Singapore.

• Personalised matching to meet your household's specific needs.

• Dedicated customer care team who will assist you even after handover.
  

Get A Top Elder Care Maid With A Peace Of Mind Within Days!

Utilizing the grants provided by the Singapore government can significantly reduce the cost of hiring a maid for elder care. By understanding and applying for these grants, families can ensure their elderly loved ones receive the best care possible. Best Home Employment Agency is here to help you find the perfect maid to provide compassionate and professional elder care.

Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can assist you in providing the best care for your loved ones.