Levy Concessions, Grants, and Financial Help for Elderly/Disability Care Checklist from The Best Maid Agency

Caring for an elderly parent or a loved one with a disability involves both emotional commitment and practical financial planning. In Singapore, many households engage foreign domestic workers to support daily living needs, which means factoring in costs such as the monthly levy, salary, insurance, and medical coverage. As a maid agency in Singapore that regularly assists families navigating these arrangements, we often see uncertainty around what levy concessions, government grants, and financial assistance schemes are actually available.

If you are engaging a helper agency in Singapore to support elderly or disability care, understanding the relevant support measures can help you plan more accurately and avoid unnecessary expenses. This checklist sets out the key levy concessions, subsidy schemes, eligibility requirements, and documentation steps to consider before proceeding with the hiring process.

Key Takeaways

• Singapore offers specific levy concessions for families caring for seniors or persons with disabilities, reducing the monthly levy significantly.
• Several government grants and subsidies are available to offset the cost of home care, assistive devices, and long-term care needs.
• Eligibility for levy concessions depends on the care recipient’s eligibility (e.g., age/citizenship and same address, or ADL needs for PWD).
• Applying early and ensuring proper documentation can prevent delays and unnecessary levy payments at the higher rate.
• Working with one of the best maid agencies in Singapore helps families align hiring decisions with available financial support schemes.

Understanding the Foreign Domestic Worker Levy in Singapore

Before exploring concessions, it is important to understand how the levy system works.

The foreign domestic worker levy is a monthly fee imposed by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on employers who hire a domestic helper. The standard levy rate applies unless the employer qualifies for specific concessions.

For families caring for elderly persons or individuals with disabilities, levy concessions can significantly reduce costs. Instead of paying the standard rate, eligible households pay a lower monthly levy.

Why Levy Concessions Matter for Caregiving Families

The cost of long-term care can accumulate quickly. Between helper salaries, food, accommodation, insurance, and medical expenses, families often face a substantial monthly commitment.

Levy concessions are designed to:

• Encourage home-based care rather than institutionalisation
• Reduce financial strain on middle-income and lower-income households
• Support ageing in place for seniors
• Enable persons with disabilities to receive care within familiar environments

When we assist clients as a helper agency in Singapore, we always review whether their household qualifies for a concession before finalising the employment process.

Levy Concessions for Elderly Care

Singapore provides a specific levy concession for families who employ a foreign domestic worker to care for a senior.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the elderly levy concession, the household must meet the following general conditions:

• The person being cared for is a Singapore Citizen
• The care recipient is aged 67 and above
• The elderly person lives at the same residential address as the employer

If approved, the employer pays the concessionary levy rate instead of the standard levy.

Checklist Before Applying

Before submitting your levy concession application, ensure the following:

Eligibility and Identity

• Confirm that the elderly person is a Singapore Citizen.
• Verify that the senior is aged 67 and above at the point of application.
• Ensure the senior’s NRIC registered address matches the employer’s residential address.

Household and Employment Alignment

• Confirm that the elderly person resides at the same address where the foreign domestic worker will be employed.
• Ensure the employer named in the work permit application is the same person applying for the levy concession.
• Check that the work permit status is active or has received In Principle Approval.

Documentation Readiness

• Prepare clear copies of the senior’s NRIC (front and back).
• Ensure the employer’s details are updated with the MOM.
• Verify that there are no discrepancies in address records across government databases.

Administrative Considerations

• In many cases, MOM grants the concession automatically once eligibility and required steps are met. If it isn’t granted, use MOM’s eService to check why / submit the relevant form.
• Confirm the effective date of the concession once approved.

Why the Extra Steps Matter

Many applications are delayed not because the senior is ineligible, but because of:

• Address mismatches
• Work permit status not finalised
• Employer name inconsistencies
• Failure to monitor billing after approval

Early preparation is important, but post-approval verification is equally critical to avoid continuing to pay the higher levy rate.

Levy Concessions for Persons with Disabilities

Families caring for a younger person with disabilities may also qualify for a levy concession.

Unlike the elderly scheme, this concession requires a functional assessment.

Functional Assessment Requirement

The person with a disability must be certified by a qualified doctor as needing assistance with at least one activity of daily living, such as:

• Washing
• Dressing
• Feeding
• Toileting
• Transferring
• Mobility

The certification confirms that the individual requires support comparable to long-term care.

What Families Often Overlook

Many families assume disability automatically qualifies for concession. However, official certification is mandatory. Without the proper medical documentation, the levy concession will not be granted.

With the best maid agencies in Singapore, it is often advised for families to complete the functional assessment before proceeding with the helper’s work permit application.

Home Care and Long-Term Care Subsidies

Levy concessions are only one part of the financial support landscape. Singapore also offers subsidies that help with ongoing care costs.

Means-Tested Subsidies

Government subsidies for home-based and community-based services are typically means-tested. Household income per capita determines the subsidy tier.

Services that may qualify include:

• Home nursing
• Home therapy
• Daycare services
• Center-based nursing
• Home medical care

These subsidies can significantly reduce out-of-pocket expenses.

Community Health Assist Scheme

Lower-income and middle-income Singaporeans may qualify for subsidies at participating general practitioner and dental clinics under the Community Health Assist Scheme.

This can support ongoing medical needs for seniors and persons with disabilities.

Assistive Device Funding and Support

Assistive devices improve quality of life and may reduce reliance on manual caregiving.

Examples include:

• Wheelchairs
• Hospital beds
• Pressure relief mattresses
• Mobility aids
• Communication devices

Several schemes provide financial assistance for such equipment, subject to eligibility and assessment.

Families should explore device funding early, as proper equipment can reduce physical strain on both the caregiver and the domestic helper.

Financial Assistance Comparison Table

Below is a structured overview of key support options relevant to families hiring a domestic helper for elderly or disability care.

Scheme Type	Who It Supports	Key Requirement	Financial Benefit	Application Consideration
Elderly Levy Concession	Singapore Citizens aged 67 and above	Age and co-residence	Reduced monthly levy	Address must match employer
Disability Levy Concession	Persons with disabilities	Medical certification and ADL assessment	Reduced monthly levy	Functional assessment required
Means-Tested Home Care Subsidies	Lower-income to middle-income households	Income assessment	Subsidised service fees	Income documentation needed
Assistive Device Funding	Seniors and persons with disabilities	Clinical recommendation	Partial funding of equipment	Device approval required
Healthcare Subsidies	Eligible Singaporeans	Scheme enrolment	Reduced consultation and treatment costs	Check clinic participation

Combining Levy Concessions with Other Support Schemes

Families can often combine levy concessions with other subsidies. However, eligibility criteria vary.

Avoiding Double Counting Errors

It is important to ensure that:

• Household income declarations are accurate
• Supporting documents are consistent across applications
• Address records are up to date

Inconsistent documentation can delay approvals or trigger reassessment.

Strategic Planning for Long-Term Care

Care needs may evolve over time. A relatively independent senior today may require more assistance in the future.

Planning should consider:

• Future medical progression
• Potential need for specialised nursing
• Budget adjustments over several years

When families consult us as a helper agency in Singapore, we encourage them to think beyond immediate needs and evaluate sustainability.

Documentation Checklist Before Hiring a Domestic Helper

This practical checklist helps families prepare:

• Confirm eligibility for elderly or disability levy concession.
• Complete medical or functional assessments if required.
• Prepare identification documents of the employer and care recipient.
• Check household income details for subsidy applications.
• Review insurance requirements for the domestic helper.
• Ensure residential address consistency across all records.

Completing this checklist before signing with the best maid agency in Singapore can prevent administrative complications.

Cost Planning Beyond the Levy

Even with concessions, hiring a domestic helper involves other financial considerations.

Salary and Rest Day Compensation

Domestic helper salaries vary based on experience and nationality. Employers must also comply with rest day compensation requirements.

Medical Insurance and Security Bond

Employers must purchase mandatory medical insurance and provide a security bond. These are regulatory requirements under Singapore law.

Ongoing Living Costs

Food, utilities, and personal necessities should be factored into the monthly budget.

Understanding the total cost ensures families do not rely solely on levy concessions as their financial planning strategy.

How to Engage a Helper Agency in Singapore Responsibly

Hiring through a licensed helper agency in Singapore ensures compliance with employment regulations.

Verify Agency Licensing

Always confirm that the agency is licensed by the MOM.

Review Employment Contracts Carefully

Contracts should clearly state:

• Salary
• Rest days
• Duties
• Living arrangements

Ensure Proper Matching for Care Needs

Elderly and disability care require patience, skill, and emotional resilience. Matching a helper with caregiving experience can improve outcomes significantly.

With the best maid agency in Singapore, transparent guidance and compliance are prioritised, ensuring families understand both regulatory and financial aspects before making commitments.

Planning for Ageing in Place in Singapore

Ageing in place has become a key policy direction in Singapore. Families are encouraged to support seniors at home where possible.

Hiring a domestic helper is often part of a broader care ecosystem that includes:

• Community services
• Medical providers
• Rehabilitation professionals
• Family members

Financial help schemes are designed to support this integrated approach rather than replace it.

Financial Help for Elderly and Disability Care with One of the Best Maid Agencies in Singapore

Navigating levy concessions, grants, and financial assistance schemes can feel overwhelming. As one of the best maid agencies in Singapore, we work closely with families to review eligibility, prepare documentation, and align caregiving arrangements with available government support.We believe that engaging a helper agency in Singapore should not only be about recruitment but also about responsible planning. If you are exploring options for elderly or disability care, we invite you to speak with our team at the Best Housekeeper to understand how levy concessions and financial help can be structured to support your household sustainably.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply for a levy concession after hiring the domestic helper?

Yes. You can apply after hiring your MDW. Once MOM confirms eligibility and the required steps are completed, the concession will be reflected in upcoming levy bills. In some cases, levy adjustments may also be backdated to the effective date based on MOM’s billing process (so you may see an adjustment in subsequent bills rather than immediately).

Do Permanent Residents (PR) qualify for Elderly levy concession?

Yes — PRs can qualify in specific household scenarios. For the elderly PR (67 and above) levy concession, MOM allows eligibility when there is a Singapore Citizen link in the household, for example:

• If the eligible person is you (employer) and you’re a PR, your spouse must be a Singapore Citizen.
• If the eligible person is your spouse and they’re a PR, you must be a Singapore Citizen.
• If the eligible person is your / your spouse’s parent or grandparent who is a PR, you or your spouse must be a Singapore Citizen, and additional household conditions (same address + listed as household member on FDW eService) must be met.

What happens if the elderly parent moves to a different address?

If the senior no longer resides at the same address as the employer, eligibility for the levy concession may cease. Address consistency is a key requirement.

Are there income limits for levy concessions?

Levy concessions for elderly care are generally not means-tested, but other subsidies and grants may depend on household income tiers.

Can one household receive multiple levy concessions?

Yes — levy concession is granted for 1 helper per eligible person, and it is capped at 2 helpers per household. This means you can only get levy concession for a second helper if there are 2 eligible persons living in your household (e.g., two elderly dependants, or an elderly dependant and a person with disabilities), and each helper is tied to an eligible person under MOM’s criteria.