Extending payout under IDAPE to 6 years

05 Jul 2007

The Ministry of Health (MOH) is extending the payout period for IDAPE claimants from 5 to 6 years. This is projected to cost the Government an additional amount of $10 million. Some 3,700 Singaporeans with severe disabilities will immediately benefit from the extension of payout period.

When ElderShield was launched in September 2002, those who (a) were 70 years and above, or (b) had pre-existing disabilities were not insurable as their premiums would have been very high and unaffordable. As a one-off exercise, MOH introduced an Interim Disability Assistance Programme for the Elderly (IDAPE) to provide partial ElderShield-like benefits to these individuals.  

IDAPE is fully funded by the Government: those who are eligible for IDAPE benefits are not required to pay premiums. IDAPE is means-tested as it is targeted at helping the low-income elderly who are severely disabled.

Since scheme inception, about 7,500 elderly Singaporeans with severe disabilities have benefited from IDAPE payouts. 

The claims criteria for IDAPE are the same as ElderShield. IDAPE claimants are those who are unable to perform at least 3 out of the 6 Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). They receive $100 to $150 per month depending on their monthly per capita household income .

NTUC Income administers IDAPE on behalf of MOH. More information on IDAPE can be found on NTUC Income’s webpage at http://www.income.com.sg/insurance/idape.

 MINISTRY OF HEALTH

5 JULY 2007