Table of Contents
Introduction to ElderFund
ElderFund is a discretionary assistance scheme launched on 31 January 2020.
It is targeted at severely disabled lower-income Singapore Citizens aged 30 and older, who are not able to benefit from CareShield Life, ElderShield, and the Interim Disability Assistance Programme for the Elderly (IDAPE), and have low MediSave balances and inadequate personal savings to meet their long-term care needs.
Eligible Singapore Citizens can receive up to $250 cash per month for as long as they remain eligible, and meet the terms and conditions needed for receipt of payment.
How to Qualify
To be eligible for ElderFund, the care recipient must meet the following criteria:
Nationality
Must be a Singapore Citizen
Age
Aged 30 and above
Lives in Singapore
Eligibility for other Schemes
- Not a CareShield Life or ElderShield policyholder
- Not a CareShield Life or ElderShield supplement plan policyholder
- No longer an active recipient of ElderShield claims (including supplement claims)
- Not eligible for Interim Disability Assistance Programme for the Elderly (IDAPE), or no longer an active recipient of IDAPE
Guiding Financial Criteria*
- Household monthly income per person is $1,200 or less; and
- MediSave balance of less than $10,000
* Applications from Singaporeans who do not meet the guiding financial criteria but have difficulty meeting their long-term care needs will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
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 to undergo a disability assessment.
a. Click here for the list of assessors.
b. The assessor will conduct the 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 the care recipient is residing in a nursing home, the nursing home can help submit a Resident’s Assessment Form (RAF) 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.
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
Note:
If you need to update your household information or if you have previously disallowed the access of your Financial Information for eligibility checks, please visit the MediShield Life Household Check e-Service.
After the application is submitted
We are currently experiencing a high volume of applications. During this period, we may take up to eight weeks to process your online application. We 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 “ElderFund” in your bank statement.
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 the eFASS. Go to “Manage My Schemes” > “Change in Scheme Details”. Please note these additional points as well:
- a. 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.
- b. If you are changing the care recipient’s payee to a nursing home that the care recipient is residing in, please approach the nursing home for assistance.
- If you wish to opt-out from receiving ElderFund payouts, please login with your Singpass on the eFASS. Go to “Manage My Schemes” > “Change in Scheme Details”.
- If you are unable to update scheme details or opt out of scheme using the 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
Do you have questions about CareShield Life claims? We may have the answers 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.
Doctor’s certification for mental incapacity is only valid for six months, unless stated permanent.
2. 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 the 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 ElderFund nominated bank account?
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 to help you submit the Change in Application Details Form to AIC.
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 a 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 FDW Levy Concession.
For information on the different levels of disability and how to apply for ElderFund 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 ElderFund eligibility?
If you wish to apply for ElderFund 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 at www.aic.sg/assessors-list. 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 care recipient is assessed to be severely disabled.
Would someone with dementia or other cognitive impairments automatically qualify for ElderFund?
An applicant with dementia or other cognitive impairments will not automatically qualify for ElderFund, and will still need to undergo a severe disability assessment by an MOH-accredited severe disability assessor. This is because dementia or cognitive impairment could affect the applicant’s functional abilities to varying extents. The MOH-accredited severe disability assessors have undergone a rigorous training programme to learn how to assess an applicant’s level of disability, including taking into account the impact of cognitive impairment on an applicant’s functional abilities.
Is there a periodic re-assessment? How often would it be? Can this be waived?
An annual periodic re-assessment may be required to assess if a care recipient of a severe disability scheme continues to meet the criteria for receiving payouts/withdrawals. Periodic re-assessment fees are waived, regardless of the outcome of the assessment. We will write to the care recipient if a periodic re-assessment is required.
Care recipients who are assessed as permanently severely disabled will be exempted from disability re-assessments, unless new information comes in to suggest that the care recipient’s condition has improved.
If my ElderFund payout had ceased due to recovery, can I subsequently reapply if I become severely disabled again?
Yes, you can reapply and receive ElderFund payouts again if assessed to meet all eligibility criteria.
Will Singapore Permanent Residents (PRs) be eligible for ElderFund?
The priority of ElderFund is to provide support for Singapore Citizens living in Singapore. PRs will not qualify for ElderFund payouts.
Do Singaporeans residing overseas qualify for ElderFund payouts?
The priority of ElderFund is to provide support for Singapore Citizens living in Singapore. Singaporeans residing overseas will not qualify for ElderFund.
If I have IDAPE/ ESH 300/ ESH 400/ CareShield Life/ Supplements/am able to draw from MediSave for long-term care, can I still qualify for ElderFund payouts? If I do not have enough MediSave, but is able to draw from my spouse’s MediSave, can I qualify?
The target group for ElderFund recipients are Singapore Citizens who are:
- Not a CareShield Life or ElderShield policyholder
- Not a CareShield Life or ElderShield supplement plan policyholder
- No longer an active recipient of ElderShield claims (including supplement claims)
- Not eligible for Interim Disability Assistance Programme for the Elderly (IDAPE), or no longer an active recipient of IDAPE
Our focus is also on benefitting Singapore Citizens who have low MediSave balances (less than $10,000), which means that the amount that they are able to draw from MediSave will not be the full $200/month allowable under MediSave Care.
However, Singaporeans who are unable to meet their long-term care costs, even after receiving payouts under ElderShield/CareShield Life, MediSave Care (from himself or his spouse) or IDAPE, may be considered for ElderFund on a case-by-case basis.
If you face challenges meeting your long-term care needs, you should approach a medical social worker at your long-term care provider or the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) for more advice and assistance.
Can I appeal for ElderFund? How can I appeal?
We recognise that there will be individuals who do not meet the ElderFund eligibility criteria, but are in need of financial support for long-term care. You may reach out to the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) through the AIC website (www.aic.sg), AIC hotline (1800-650-6060) or speak to a Care Consultant at AIC Links located at the public hospitals and Maxwell.
Will I be automatically included for ElderFund if I am receiving disability payouts from other severe disability schemes?
ElderFund has stringent financial criteria, as it is intended to act as a safety net, for needy Singaporeans who require financial assistance to pay for their out-of-pocket costs for long-term care. It is also designed to be discretionary, to provide flexibility in accommodating various financial circumstances. As such, if you wish to receive ElderFund payouts, you will need to submit an application for ElderFund, to facilitate a holistic assessment of your eligibility for ElderFund.
Will I automatically qualify for ElderFund if I am receiving payouts from moderate disability assistance schemes such as Pioneer Generation Disability Assistance Scheme (PioneerDAS) or Home Caregiving Grant (HCG)?
The ElderFund eligibility criteria is stricter than that of PioneerDAS and HCG. For PioneerDAS and HCG, which are moderate disability schemes, individuals only need to require some assistance with three or more Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). For ElderFund, which is a severe disability scheme, individuals need to be unable to perform three or more ADLs (i.e. require significant assistance) in order to be eligible. As the ElderFund eligibility criteria is stricter, patients who are eligible for ElderFund can automatically receive PioneerDAS or HCG payouts without going for a separate assessment (subject to meeting the other non-disability eligibility criteria for these schemes), but not the converse.
How was the payout amount of $250/month decided?
ElderFund will supplement existing Government subsidies/assistance schemes, community support, and family support, to better enable lower-income Singaporeans to afford their basic long-term care needs.
As a comparison, the payout of up to $250 per month is similar to the current level of payouts under the Interim Disability Assistance Programme for the Elderly (IDAPE).
Singaporeans who are still unable to meet their long-term care needs after tapping on the various means-tested Government subsidies and assistance schemes, can apply for financial assistance through Government-funded safety nets such as MediFund and ComCare.
Will the ElderFund payouts rise over time, like CareShield Life payouts?
The regular increase in payouts for CareShield Life are supported by regular premium increases. Once a policyholder under CareShield Life makes a claim, the payout stays fixed.
ElderFund will be a discretionary government assistance scheme, funded through taxes. Eligible Singapore Citizens can receive up to $250 per month in cash. There will be no cap on payout duration as long as they remain eligible. The Government will review the payout amount over time to ensure that payouts remain relevant for beneficiaries. With any increase, additional monies will need to be set aside to fund the scheme.
How is ElderFund different from IDAPE and PioneerDAS? These schemes all offer cash payouts for disabled Singaporeans.
The Interim Disability Assistance Programme for the Elderly (IDAPE) and Pioneer Disability Assistance Scheme (PioneerDAS) are disability assistance schemes restricted to smaller groups of older Singaporeans. ElderFund provides wider coverage, and is targeted at assisting lower-income Singapore Citizens above the age of 30 who are unable to benefit from CareShield Life, ElderShield and IDAPE, and have insufficient MediSave balances to support their basic long-term care needs.
IDAPE was introduced in 2002 to benefit seniors who were not eligible for ElderShield at the time because they were aged 70 and above (born on/ or before 30 September 1932) or had pre-existing disabilities. It provides $250 per month or $150 per month, depending on applicant’s per capita household income, for a maximum of 6 years.
PioneerDAS is part of the Pioneer Generation package, and provides $100 per month for all moderately disabled Pioneers. There is no cap on the duration of payouts as long as they meet the eligibility criteria.
How is ElderFund different from MediFund or ComCare? If I am a severely disabled person in need, who should I go to for help?
ElderFund is a discretionary assistance scheme, targeted at lower-income Singapore Citizens who are severely disabled, while MediFund is mainly to help patients who are unable to cope with medical bills (including those who are disabled or severely disabled), and ComCare is mainly to provide social assistance to low-income individuals or families.
Government-funded safety nets such as MediFund and ComCare will provide assistance to Singaporeans who are unable to pay for their care even after Government subsidies and other means of support.
If you have challenges meeting your long-term care needs, you should approach a medical social worker at your long-term care provider, or the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) for more advice and assistance. Alternatively, if you are already being assisted by a social worker from the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) with your daily living expenses, you may also seek help from your current social worker for your long-term care costs.
MOH and MSF will work closely together to ensure that Singaporeans who need financial assistance do not need to undergo unnecessary hurdles in seeking assistance for their healthcare, long-term care and daily living expenses.
