Home Caregiving Grant: Eligibility, Payouts, and How to Apply

Introduction

Long-term care at home can bring recurring costs for transport, healthcare items, personal care, home services, and paid caregiving support. The Home Caregiving Grant is a form of financial assistance for eligible households in Singapore, providing a monthly cash payout for people with moderate to severe disabilities who are cared for at home. The amount depends on means-testing and other eligibility conditions.

This guide explains the current payout tiers, disability requirements, and application process, including how the grant may fit into a household that employs a domestic helper.

Key Takeaways

• Eligible care recipients may receive S$600, S$400, or S$200 per month depending on household income per person and other means-test rules.
• The care recipient must permanently need some assistance with at least three of the six Activities of Daily Living and meet nationality, residence, and financial criteria.
• The grant can be used flexibly for care costs, including hiring a helper, home-care services, or healthcare items.

What Is the Home Caregiving Grant?

The grant is administered by the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) and is intended to help families manage the cost of caring for a senior or person with disabilities at home.

For families seeking disability support in Singapore, the payout is not restricted to a single approved expense. AIC notes that families may use it for needs such as hiring a helper, paying for home-care services, or purchasing healthcare items.

Who Is Eligible for the Home Caregiving Grant?

Eligibility is assessed around the care recipient.

Nationality and Residence

The care recipient must be a Singapore Citizen, or a Permanent Resident with a living parent, child, or spouse who is a Singapore Citizen. They must live in Singapore and must not be residing in a residential long-term care institution.

Household Income

The means-tested grant is available when monthly household income per person is S$4,800 or less. If the household has no income, the property’s Annual Value must be under S$21,000.

For 2026 subsidy levels, AIC uses 2025 Annual Values. Families should therefore check current household and property information when applying rather than relying on an older assessment.

Disability and Care Needs

The care recipient must permanently require some assistance with at least three of the six Activities of Daily Living: washing, dressing, feeding, toileting, transferring, and mobility.

Most applicants need a disability assessment by a GP or approved healthcare professional using a Functional Assessment Report. People with Autism Spectrum Disorder or Intellectual Disability may instead be assessed by an MSF-approved assessor using a Client Assessment Form where applicable.

How Much Does the Grant Pay?

The current payout is based on monthly household income per person.

Households with income of S$0 to S$1,500 per person may receive S$600 per month. The same top tier applies to households without income where the property’s Annual Value is S$21,000 or below. Those with income from S$1,501 to S$3,600 per person may receive S$400, while those from S$3,601 to S$4,800 may receive S$200.

If the care recipient owns multiple properties, AIC states that the lower S$200 tier applies. This caregiving financial assistance is best treated as part of a wider care budget.

What Can the Grant Be Used For?

Families can use the monthly cash payout in flexible ways to support home care. One household may spend more on continence products, mobility aids, or transport, while another may put the money towards paid care or a domestic helper.

If you are considering an elderly care maid, remember that the grant does not replace the employer’s normal responsibilities. You still need to budget for salary, levy, insurance, food, accommodation, medical examinations, and other employment-related costs.

The helper’s experience also matters. Someone who has mainly handled housekeeping may need additional preparation before assisting with transfers, personal hygiene, dementia-related behaviour, or other more complex care tasks.

How Do You Apply for the Home Caregiving Grant?

You can apply online through AIC’s e-Services for Financing Schemes or through a hard-copy route.

Step 1: Check the Eligibility Criteria

Review the care recipient’s nationality, residence, household income, property situation, and required level of assistance.

Step 2: Arrange the Disability Assessment

Where required, book an assessment with a GP or approved healthcare professional and complete the Functional Assessment Report. A separate pathway applies for eligible care recipients with Autism Spectrum Disorder or Intellectual Disability.

If the care recipient is already applying for IDAPE, ElderFund, ElderShield, CareShield Life, or MediSave Care, the severe disability assessment used for that scheme may also be sufficient for HCG.

Step 3: Prepare the Supporting Information

Gather the identification, household, assessment, and bank information required for the application. You may need additional documents when applying on behalf of someone who lacks mental capacity.

Step 4: Submit the Application

AIC recommends applying online using Singpass through eFASS because the approval waiting time is shorter. Hard-copy applications are also available.

AIC states that processing may take up to four weeks after submission. If approved, payments are made to the nominated bank account in the following month and may include payment from the month the application was submitted.

How Does the Grant Fit Into Hiring a Domestic Helper?

Some families use the payout to offset part of the wider cost of employing a helper. If you are comparing a maid for child care with an elderly-care role, keep the job scope clear, because caregiving can involve very different skills from childcare or general housekeeping.

An experienced maid may already be familiar with mobility assistance, personal care, meal preparation, or medication reminders, but you should still check her experience against the care recipient’s actual needs. A helper’s comfort with the routine, communication style, and physical demands of care can be as important as the number of years she has worked.

Whichever arrangement you choose, the helper’s experience and preparation should reflect the care recipient’s actual day-to-day needs.

Conclusion

The Home Caregiving Grant can provide meaningful monthly support for eligible families, but the amount and application outcome depend on disability, residency, and means-testing requirements. Reviewing the current AIC criteria and arranging the right assessment early can clarify the application process.

At JForce Employment Services, we help families find domestic helpers for elderly care and household support, with matching and training support tailored to the care duties involved.

If your home-care plan includes a domestic helper, our team can help you compare candidates for elderly care and household support. Please contact us to discuss the care duties involved and find a helper whose experience is better aligned with your family’s day-to-day needs.