SUPPORTING HOUSEHOLDS WITH LONG-TERM CARE NEEDS

NOTICE PAPER NO. 1260
NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR ORAL ANSWER
FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON OR AFTER 09 SEPTEMBER 2026

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament
Dr Hamid Razak
MP for West Coast-Jurong West GRC

Question No. 2899
To ask the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health (a) what criteria does the Ministry use to assess the adequacy of the Annual Value threshold for zero-income households under long-term care means-testing, following the increase in the per capita household income threshold to $4,800; and (b) whether this assessment considers households with multiple members concurrently requiring subsidised residential care.

Answer

1               Mr Speaker, the Annual Value (AV) criterion for long-term care subsidies was raised from $13,000 to $21,000 from 1 January 2024. With the new AV threshold, zero-income households in all HDB flats are eligible for the highest tier of subsidy.

2               What the member is perhaps alluding to is that the eligibility criteria should cater greater financial support to a household living in a lower AV private property, but with significant care needs. This has to do with the current tiering and design of the subsidy framework, which the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Finance are reviewing.

3               Notwithstanding the above, where a family faces financial difficulties, there are avenues to apply for additional assistance beyond means-tested subsidies. Medical social workers holistically consider the clients’ circumstances on a case-by-case basis, including scenarios where multiple household members require care.