Home Caregiving Grant in Singapore: Eligibility, Application, and Tips
Complete guide to Singapore's Home Caregiving Grant (HCG), covering eligibility criteria, application process, payout amounts, and how to maximise your benefits.
Elderwise Editorial TeamDec 22, 20257 min readUpdated On Feb 20, 2026
The Home Caregiving Grant (HCG) is one of Singapore's most important financial support mechanisms for families who care for elderly loved ones at home. Introduced to encourage and support home-based care, the grant provides a monthly cash payout that helps offset the costs of caregiving without requiring families to account for specific expenses.
Despite its value, many eligible families are unaware of the grant or uncertain about how to apply. This guide provides a clear, step-by-step overview of everything you need to know about the Home Caregiving Grant.
The Home Caregiving Grant is a cash payout provided by the Ministry of Health (MOH) through the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) to support Singaporeans who require care due to functional limitations and are being cared for at home by family members or employed caregivers.
The grant is designed to be flexible. Unlike scheme-specific subsidies that can only be used for particular services, the HCG payout can be used for any purpose related to care. Families may use it to pay for home care services, purchase assistive devices, cover medical costs, hire a helper, or support any other caregiving need.
The HCG provides a monthly cash payout of up to $400 for eligible care recipients. The exact amount depends on the per capita household income of the care recipient, with lower-income families receiving the maximum payout.
For households with per capita income of $1,200 or below, the full $400 monthly payout applies. For households with per capita income between $1,200 and $2,800, the payout is $250 per month. Households with per capita income above $2,800 are not eligible for the grant.
The person receiving care must be a Singapore Citizen, must require assistance with at least three Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), and must be living in the community rather than in a residential care facility. The six ADLs assessed are washing or bathing, dressing, feeding, toileting, transferring between bed and chair, and walking or moving around.
The requirement of needing help with at least three ADLs indicates moderate to severe functional limitation. This is assessed through a standardised functional assessment conducted by trained healthcare professionals.
There is no specific requirement regarding who provides the care. The caregiver can be a family member, a foreign domestic worker, or a combination of informal and professional caregivers. What matters is that the care recipient is living at home and receiving adequate care in the community.
The grant is means-tested based on the care recipient's per capita household income. Household income includes the total gross income of all household members divided by the number of people in the household. CPF contributions and rental income from government schemes are excluded from the calculation.
The care recipient must undergo a functional assessment to determine their level of care needs. This assessment is typically conducted by a healthcare professional such as a doctor, nurse, or therapist. It can be arranged through several channels.
If your loved one is currently receiving ILTC services such as home care or day care, the service provider can conduct the assessment. If your loved one is being discharged from a hospital or community hospital, the discharge planning team can arrange the assessment. You can also contact AIC directly at 1800-650-6060 to request an assessment.
Once the functional assessment confirms eligibility, an income assessment is conducted to determine the payout tier. You will need to provide documentation of household income for all household members. This may include payslips, CPF statements, income tax assessments, or a declaration of no income for unemployed or retired household members.
After both assessments are completed, AIC will notify you of the outcome. If approved, the grant is paid monthly into the care recipient's designated bank account. There is typically a processing period of four to six weeks from the time all required documents are submitted.
AIC conducts periodic reviews to confirm ongoing eligibility. This may involve a reassessment of functional status and income. Families will be notified in advance when a review is due and will be guided through the process.
Families are expected to notify AIC of significant changes in the care recipient's situation, such as admission to a nursing home, a change in household composition, or a significant change in income. Failure to report changes may result in overpayment that needs to be returned.
The HCG can be received concurrently with other government subsidies and assistance schemes. Families can combine the HCG with ILTC service subsidies for home care, the Foreign Domestic Worker Grant, MediSave withdrawals for home nursing care, and the Seniors' Mobility and Enabling Fund for assistive devices.
This layered approach to financial support can substantially reduce out-of-pocket caregiving costs.
Consider using the grant to invest in professional support that addresses your most challenging caregiving tasks. For example, if personal care such as bathing and toileting is the most physically demanding aspect of your role, using the grant toward home personal care services can relieve your greatest source of strain.
Alternatively, the grant can contribute toward respite care services that give you regular breaks, which is one of the most effective investments in long-term caregiving sustainability.
Only one HCG application can be active per care recipient at any time. However, the grant amount is determined by the care recipient's needs and household income, regardless of how many family members are involved in providing care.
If the care recipient's condition changes significantly, a reassessment can be requested. If their functional status improves to the point where they need help with fewer than three ADLs, they may no longer be eligible. If their condition worsens, the grant continues unchanged, but families should explore additional support services.
If you believe your loved one may be eligible for the Home Caregiving Grant, the simplest first step is to contact AIC at 1800-650-6060. A care coordinator can guide you through the assessment process, help you gather the necessary documentation, and connect you with other relevant support services.
At Elderwise, we help families understand and access the full range of financial support available for eldercare. Our platform simplifies the process of identifying eligible grants and subsidies, so that families can focus their energy where it matters most, on providing loving, attentive care.
