Caregivers for seniors and persons with disabilities can benefit from increased Home Caregiving Grants of up to $600 per month.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who is also Minister for Finance, detailed this approach to foster a more inclusive society during his Budget 2025 speech (18 Feb).
Nurturing a caring and inclusive society: for seniors, families and fellow Singaporeans with disabilities
Source: Lawrence Wong, Facebook
At the same time, the Home Caregiving Grant will be increased to $600 monthly (up from $400). This will benefit at least 80,000 seniors. The maximum per capita household qualifying income for the Grant will also be raised to $4,800, so that more households will be able to benefit.
Lower-income seniors aged between 55 to 70 years old will also receive up to $1,000 a year in MediSave top-ups; the Government will match their voluntary Medisave top-ups dollar-for-dollar under a five year Matched MediSave Scheme.
The PAP Government is determined to nurture a caring and inclusive society. These measures in Budget 2025 demonstrate that firm commitment.
One way the PAP Government can help, is to reduce the financial burden and mental worries that parents of children with disabilities have with regards to their children’s futures, especially when these parents are no longer around to look after their children.
Parents of children with disabilities will have more support at the critical post-18 juncture; which is when the children graduate from the structured environment of a Special Education school.
“We will invest more in building the support structures for persons with disabilities to transit more smoothly from school to work. We will also do more for those with higher care needs, who need a more structured environment beyond school to stay active,” said PM Wong.
“It will be a multi-year endeavour, and the Minister for Social and Family Development and Minister for Education will elaborate more at the Committee of Supply.”
Eligible Singaporeans with disabilities, regardless of age, will also be included in an expanded Matched Retirement Savings Scheme, added Minister Wong.
Moreover, the Government will provide a dollar-for-dollar matching grant for top-ups by lower- and middle-income caregivers to trust accounts set up with the Special Needs Trust Company , up to $10,000.
