Introduction to ElderShield
ElderShield is a basic long-term care insurance scheme targeted at severe disability, especially during old age. When it was introduced in 2002 as ElderShield 300, it provided payouts of $300/month for up to 5 years upon severe disability. It was subsequently reviewed in 2007 to ElderShield 400, which provides better benefits of $400/month for up to 6 years.
Payouts
ElderShield policyholders who become severely disabled are eligible to make claims, and can receive payouts for up to 60 or 72 months, as long as they continue to meet the terms and conditions needed to receive payouts. Payout amounts and duration are dependent on the care recipient’s scheme, as shown in the table below.
| ElderShield 300 | ElderShield 400 | |
|---|---|---|
| If the care recipient joined ElderShield between 30 September 2002 and 29 September 2007 | If the care recipient joined ElderShield between 30 September 2007 and 31 December 2019 | |
| Payout Amount | $300/month | $400/month |
| Payout Duration | Up to 60 months | Up to 72 months |
How to Qualify
To be eligible for ElderShield claims, the care recipient must meet the following criteria:
Coverage
- Must be an ElderShield Policyholder.
- To find out if the care recipient is insured under ElderShield:
- Go to www.cpf.gov.sg
- Login to “my CPF Online Services” using your NRIC and Singpass.
- Select “My Messages” and check under “Healthcare”.
Requires Assistance with Activities of Daily Living
Requires full assistance with at least three of the six Activities of Daily Living. These six activities are:
How to Apply
Contact an MOH-accredited severe disability assessor for a severe disability assessment.
a. Click here for the list of assessors.
b. The assessor will conduct the severe disability assessment and collect an assessment fee from you. If the care recipient is assessed to be severely disabled, the full assessment fee will be reimbursed to you.
The amount to be collected for the purpose of disability assessment is as indicated below:
- You visit an assessor’s Clinic: $100
- An assessor visits your house: $250
c. If a mental capacity assessment is required when applying on behalf of a patient who lacks mental capacity:
A mental capacity certification (to be certified by doctors) is required when applying on behalf of a patient who lacks mental capacity.
- If the care recipient is undergoing a disability assessment, you should explicitly request for a mental capacity assessment, if required, to be also conducted by the doctor for the care recipient at the same time.
- When making the appointment, you should check in with the doctor if he/she can also perform the mental capacity assessment to obtain the certification, if required, for the purpose of applying for AIC schemes.
d. If the care recipient is residing in a nursing home, the nursing home can help submit a Resident’s Assessment Form in place of the severe disability assessment. Please approach the nursing home for assistance.
Login to AIC’s eService portal (eFASS) with your Singpass.
We strongly encourage you to apply online as there is a shorter waiting time for application approval. If you are unable to submit your application using eFASS, please email us at apply@aic.sg or walk in to any of our AIC links to request for a hardcopy application form.
If the care recipient is an ElderShield policyholder but no longer a Singapore Citizen/Permanent resident, please inform us of your status and request for a hardcopy application form by writing to apply@aic.sg, as you will not be able to apply using AIC’s eService portal (eFASS).
Care recipients in Nursing Homes can arrange for payments to be made to the Nursing Home to offset their bills. Please contact the Nursing Home for assistance with the application.
If you are applying on behalf of someone who lacks mental capacity, please read the Additional Guidance.
Please ensure that you have read the Terms and Conditions before submitting your application.
Video Guide on eFASS Application Portal
After the Application is Submitted
We may take up to four weeks to process your application and will inform you of the outcome in writing by mail. If your application is successful, payouts will be made to your nominated bank account in the following month, which may include payouts from the month the application was submitted. The payouts will be reflected as “ElderShield” in your bank statement.
The care recipient will continue to receive monthly payouts in the nominated bank account by the end of every month, for as long as the care recipient remains eligible.
Please contact AIC at 1800-650-6060 if you require any assistance.
For Existing Scheme Recipients
- If you would like to change the care recipient’s scheme details, please login with your Singpass on eFASS. Go to “Manage My Schemes” > “Change in Scheme Details”. Please note these additional points as well:
- If you are changing the care recipient’s scheme details on behalf of a care recipient who lacks mental capacity, you will need to submit a Mental Incapacity Certification if you have not done so before. The form can be downloaded here and needs to be filled in by a doctor.
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If the care recipient is undergoing a disability assessment, you should explicitly request for a mental capacity assessment, if required, to be also conducted by the doctor for the care recipient at the same time.
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When making the appointment, you should check in with the doctor if he/she can also perform the mental capacity assessment, if required, for the purpose of applying for AIC schemes.
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- If you are changing the care recipient’s payee to the nursing home that the care recipient is residing in, please approach the nursing home for assistance.
- If you wish to opt-out from receiving ElderShield payouts, please login with your Singpass on eFASS. Go to “Manage My Schemes” > “Change in Scheme Details”.
- If you are unable to update scheme details or opt out of scheme using eFASS, please email us at apply@aic.sg, or walk in to any of our AIC Links to request for a hardcopy application form. We seek your understanding that hardcopy applications have a longer processing time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have a question about Eldershield? We may have the answer here.
Additional guidance for care recipient without mental capacity
Additional guidance for care recipient who lacks mental capacity to provide consent
1. The care recipient’s donee/deputy# may provide consent on the care recipient’s behalf. If the care recipient does not have such a donee/deputy, the caregiver* may make the application on care recipient’s behalf.
# Donee/deputy must be appointed in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act (Cap 177) and is authorised to make decisions on behalf of the care recipient in relation to the care recipient’s property and affairs.
* For successful applications without a donee/deputy and paying to 3rd party bank accounts (not applicable to nursing home accounts), the caregiver or another family member has 12 months to obtain a court order appointing him/her as a deputy, failing which the payouts will be suspended. For more information on how to apply for a deputyship, please visit the Family Justice Courts website.
2. If a mental capacity assessment is required when applying on behalf of a patient who lacks mental capacity:
A mental capacity certification (to be certified by doctors) is required when applying on behalf of a patient who lacks mental capacity.
- If the care recipient is undergoing a disability assessment, you should explicitly request for a mental capacity assessment, if required, to be also conducted by the doctor for the care recipient at the same time.
- When making the appointment, you should check in with the doctor if he/she can also perform the mental capacity assessment to obtain the certification, if required, for the purpose of applying for AIC schemes.
Doctor’s certification for mental incapacity is only valid for six months, unless stated permanent.
3. Please submit the following additional supporting documents:
- Doctor’s certification that the care recipient lacks mental capacity OR court order of deputy appointment OR recent medical report stating that the care recipient lacks mental capacity; and
- Copy of bank book or statement IF you are nominating an account belonging to a deputy or trustee of the care recipient.
Why do I need NRIC issue date? How do I find the NRIC issue date?
AIC requires the input of the NRIC issue date for verification purposes.
How do I change my nominated bank account for ElderShield claim payouts?
You can login with your Singpass on eFASS and navigate to “Manage My Schemes” > “Change in Scheme Details”.
If you are changing the nominated bank account on behalf of a care recipient who lacks mental capacity, you will need to submit a Mental Incapacity Certification if you have not done so before. Please refer to Additional Guidance for more information.
If you are nominating a nursing home to receive the payouts, please approach the nursing home for assistance.
Do keep a copy of the application documents for your own reference.
How do I know whether I am severely disabled?
You would need to visit an MOH-accredited severe disability assessor to be assessed whether you are severely disabled. You are likely to be assessed as severely disabled if you are unable to perform at least three activities of daily living (ADLs). These ADLs are bathing, dressing, feeding oneself, using the toilet, moving around and transferring.
For example, at least three of the following scenarios apply to you:
- You may need to rely entirely on your caregiver to be fed
- You may need to rely entirely on your caregiver to be bathed
- You may need to rely entirely on your caregiver to manage your diapers or catheter
- You may need to rely entirely on your caregiver to be dressed
- You need to rely entirely on caregiver to move over a distance, e.g. cannot walk on one’s own or push oneself in a wheelchair
- You need to be fully supported when being transferred from bed to chair, or chair to bed
You will be reimbursed fully for the assessment fee if you are assessed to be severely disabled. If you are assessed to have mild/moderate disability, you may still be eligible for mild/moderate disability assistance schemes like the Home Caregiving Grant and Foreign Domestic Worker Levy Concession for Persons with Disabilities.
For information on the different levels of disability and how to apply for ElderShield claims and other forms of financial support, please refer to the information on www.aic.sg/financial-assistance.
Can I see my own doctor or therapist to be assessed for ElderShield claim eligibility?
If you wish to apply for ElderShield or any of the severe disability schemes, you need to undergo a severe disability assessment by an MOH-accredited severe disability assessor who has undergone a rigorous training programme to learn how to assess disability accurately. You may wish to check if your own doctor or healthcare professional is on the list of MOH accredited severe disability assessors. This can be found here. If they are not, you will need to make an appointment with one of the assessors on the list for an assessment.
Do I need to pay for a severe disability assessment? How much are the assessment fees?
The fees for clinic-based and non-clinic-based assessments are $100 and $250 respectively. Assessment fees will be reimbursed only if the policyholder is assessed to be severely disabled.
Would someone with dementia automatically qualify for ElderShield claims?
Applicants with dementia or other cognitive impairments will not automatically qualify for ElderShield claims, and will still need to undergo a severe disability assessment, as dementia/cognitive impairment could affect the applicant’s functional abilities to varying extents.
If my ElderShield payout had ceased due to recovery, can I subsequently reapply for claims if I become severely disabled again?
Yes, you can reapply and receive ElderShield payouts again if you are assessed to meet all eligibility criteria, and have not completed the 60 (ESH300) or 72 (ESH400) months payout duration.
