The Home Caregiving Grant is one of the better-known forms of caregiving support in Singapore, yet many families are unsure what it actually does or whether they can receive it. In simple terms, it is a form of financial support to help families with the ongoing costs of caring for a loved one with care needs at home. This guide offers general information on how the grant works in principle, what it tends to be used for, and who is generally eligible. It is not financial or medical advice, and because amounts, eligibility, and application rules are set by the authorities and can change, you should always confirm the current details with the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC).
What the Home Caregiving Grant Is For
The idea behind the Home Caregiving Grant is straightforward. Caring for a family member who needs help with daily activities carries real costs, from hiring help to buying supplies, and the grant aims to ease part of that burden so families can keep caring for their loved one at home rather than in an institution.
Families typically put such support towards the everyday expenses of caregiving, which may include:
- Defraying the cost of a domestic helper who assists with the care recipient.
- Paying towards home care or community-based services, such as home nursing or day care.
- Buying eldercare-related items and consumables used in daily care.
- Offsetting other out-of-pocket costs that come with looking after someone at home.
The grant is generally designed to give families flexibility in how they use the support, recognising that every household’s caregiving needs look different. What it is not is a payment for medical treatment or a replacement for a full income. Think of it as help with the ongoing cost of care, not a salary or a medical subsidy. For exactly what the grant can be used for at any given time, check AIC’s current guidance.
Who Is Generally Eligible
Eligibility for the Home Caregiving Grant rests on a few broad principles rather than a single simple rule, and the specific criteria are set by the authorities and reviewed from time to time. Because of that, the points below describe the general shape of eligibility, not a guarantee, and you must confirm the current criteria with AIC.
In broad terms, support of this kind usually depends on factors such as:
- The care recipient’s level of need. Grants like this are typically for people who need help with several activities of daily living, assessed through a recognised process rather than self-declared.
- Citizenship or residency status. Eligibility often differs between Singapore citizens and permanent residents, so status matters.
- Household means. Support is commonly tiered or targeted by household income or means, so the level of help can vary between families.
- Living arrangements. The care recipient generally needs to be cared for at home rather than in a long-term residential facility.
Because each of these can change and interacts with the others, the only reliable way to know whether your family qualifies, and for how much, is to approach AIC or a hospital medical social worker. Avoid relying on figures or rules you read informally, as these date quickly.
How the Assessment Works
Support tied to care needs usually involves an assessment of how much help the care recipient needs with daily living. This is often measured by looking at activities such as bathing, dressing, feeding, moving around, using the toilet, and getting to and from a bed or chair. A person who needs help with several of these is considered to have higher care needs.
This assessment is normally carried out by an approved assessor, which may be arranged through a hospital, a polyclinic, or AIC, rather than something a family judges for itself. Keeping medical documents and any existing assessment reports handy makes the process smoother. If a loved one has recently been in hospital, a medical social worker there is often the natural first point of contact and can explain the steps.
Because the assessment determines both eligibility and, in many schemes, the level of support, it is worth doing properly rather than rushing. If a person’s condition changes over time, a reassessment may be appropriate, so it is not necessarily a one-time exercise.
How It Compares With Other Support
The Home Caregiving Grant is one piece of a wider system of eldercare support in Singapore, and it helps to see how it sits alongside other measures. The table below compares it in general terms with other common forms of support, so you can see where each fits. Specific coverage, amounts, and eligibility are set by the authorities and should be confirmed with AIC or the relevant body.
| Support | Broadly helps with | Confirm details with |
|---|---|---|
| Home Caregiving Grant | Ongoing costs of caring for a loved one at home | AIC |
| Migrant worker levy concession | Reducing the levy for an eligible helper caring for a senior | MOM and AIC |
| Seniors’ Mobility and Enabling Fund | Subsidising assistive devices and related items | AIC |
| Home and community care services | Day care, home nursing, and personal care | AIC |
| MediSave and MediShield related schemes | Medical and health-related costs | CPF Board and MOH |
These forms of support are not mutually exclusive, and a family may draw on more than one at the same time depending on their situation. AIC can help you understand which combination fits your loved one’s needs.
How to Apply and Where to Get Help
The practical steps for applying can change, but the starting point is almost always the same: speak to AIC or, if your loved one is in hospital, to a medical social worker. They can explain the current process, what assessment is needed, and what documents to prepare, and they can guide you towards other support you may not know about.
To make the process easier, it helps to gather relevant information in advance, such as the care recipient’s identity and residency documents, any medical or assessment reports, and details of the current care arrangement. Being clear about your loved one’s daily needs helps the assessor build an accurate picture.
Above all, treat this article as general information, not a definitive rulebook. The Home Caregiving Grant exists to make caring at home more sustainable, but the figures, eligibility, and application details are set by the authorities and change over time. For anything specific to your family, defer to AIC and the relevant official bodies, who can give you the current, accurate position and personalised guidance.
Explore more
Support often works best in combination, so read the migrant worker levy concession for eldercare if you employ a helper to care for a senior. Families equipping a home for safer daily living may also want our guide to assistive devices and the Seniors’ Mobility and Enabling Fund.