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Singapore Raises Home Caregiving Grant to $600 a Month in 2026: What Families Need to Know

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Published: August 20, 2026  |  Last verified: August 20, 2026

A caregiver and elderly person in a living room, symbolizing family caregiving support
The enhanced Home Caregiving Grant provides up to SGD 600 monthly to support families caring for loved ones at home. (Illustrative image)

Singapore has enhanced its Home Caregiving Grant (HCG), with eligible households now able to receive up to SGD 600 per month to help offset the cost of caring for family members with moderate to severe disability in the community.

Quick Summary

  • Singapore’s Home Caregiving Grant was enhanced from April 2026.
  • Eligible households can receive up to SGD 600 per month (up from SGD 400 previously).
  • The monthly per-capita household income eligibility threshold was raised from SGD 3,600 to SGD 4,800.
  • The enhanced scheme provides different payout levels depending on household income and property ownership.
  • Eligible households may receive SGD 600, SGD 400 or SGD 200 per month depending on the applicable tier.
  • Since the grant was introduced in 2019, there have been over 94,000 applicants.
  • 74% of applicants were aged 70 and above at the point of application.

Key Facts

ProgrammeHome Caregiving Grant (HCG)
Enhanced fromApril 2026
Maximum monthly payoutSGD 600
Previous maximumSGD 400 per month
Previous PCHI thresholdSGD 3,600 per month
New PCHI thresholdSGD 4,800 per month
PurposeTo help defray caregiving costs for eligible persons receiving care in the community

Key Statistics

  • SGD 600: maximum monthly HCG payout for eligible households in the lowest income tier.
  • SGD 400: monthly payout for the middle income tier.
  • SGD 200: monthly payout for households in the newly expanded income tier.
  • SGD 4,800: new maximum monthly per-capita household income threshold for HCG eligibility.
  • 94,000+: cumulative number of HCG applicants since 2019.
  • 74%: proportion of applicants aged 70 and above.

The payout is means-tested. Receiving the maximum SGD 600 is therefore not automatic for every caregiver.

Timeline

  • 2019: Singapore launched the Home Caregiving Grant to provide financial assistance to families caring for persons with disabilities in the community.
  • 2023: The grant was enhanced to provide up to SGD 400 per month.
  • 2025: The Government announced a further enhancement of the HCG as part of broader long-term care affordability measures.
  • April 2026: The enhanced HCG increased the maximum payout to SGD 600 per month and expanded the income eligibility threshold to SGD 4,800.
  • 2026: The enhanced scheme forms part of Singapore’s broader effort to make long-term care and community-based care more affordable.

Who Is Affected?

The enhanced HCG is relevant to families caring for eligible persons who require assistance with daily living and receive care in the community.

Eligibility is assessed based on factors including the care recipient’s disability status, household income and property ownership.

The grant is therefore not a universal payment to every person who identifies as a family caregiver.

Who may benefit?

  • Families caring for eligible persons with moderate or greater disability.
  • Households whose per-capita monthly household income falls within the qualifying ranges.
  • Eligible Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents (with a parent, child or spouse who is a Singapore Citizen).
  • Care recipients who permanently require some assistance with at least three of the six Activities of Daily Living (ADLs): Feeding, Dressing, Toileting, Washing, Walking or moving around, Transferring from bed to chair and vice versa.

There is no age limit for the Home Caregiving Grant.

How Much Can Families Receive?

The enhanced HCG uses income-based tiers rather than paying every household the same amount:

Monthly Per-Capita Household IncomeMonthly HCG Payout
SGD 0 – 1,500 (or AV ≤ SGD 21,000 for households without income)SGD 600
SGD 1,501 – 3,600SGD 400
SGD 3,601 – 4,800SGD 200
SGD 4,801 and aboveSGD 0

Note: Applicants with a monthly household income per person of up to SGD 4,800 who own multiple properties will receive the lowest payout of SGD 200 per month, if they fulfil other criteria.

Why the SGD 600 Grant Matters

Family caregiving can involve recurring expenses, including personal care, transportation, medical-related needs, assistive equipment and other daily support.

For households providing long-term care at home, even several hundred dollars a month can make a meaningful difference to the family’s overall care budget.

The 2026 enhancement is significant because it:

  • Increases the maximum monthly support from SGD 400 to SGD 600.
  • Extends eligibility to households with a per-capita monthly household income between SGD 3,600 and SGD 4,800.

With the enhanced support, the Ministry of Health estimates the out-of-pocket expenses to be about SGD 110 per month for a person with severe disability from a low-income household who uses a typical set of care services in the home and community setting and is covered by CareShield Life.

How to Apply for the Home Caregiving Grant

Applications are administered through the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC).

Step 1: Functional Assessment

The care recipient must undergo a functional assessment to determine their level of care needs. This can be arranged through a doctor at a hospital or polyclinic, or by contacting AIC at 1800-650-6060.

Eligible applicants can apply online through AIC’s e-Services for Financing Schemes (eFASS) using Singpass.

Alternative Application Methods

  • Email apply@aic.sg to obtain a copy of the application form.
  • Visit any AIC Link for a hardcopy application form.

What happens after applying?

AIC assesses the application against the applicable eligibility criteria. Processing can take up to four weeks, and approved payouts are generally made to the nominated bank account in the following month.

What This Means for Families

For lower-income households

Eligible households in the lowest income tier can receive up to SGD 600 per month, providing increased recurring financial assistance compared with the previous maximum of SGD 400.

For middle-income households

Households in the SGD 1,501 – 3,600 per-capita income range may qualify for SGD 400 per month under the enhanced structure.

For households newly covered by the expanded threshold

Households with monthly per-capita household income between SGD 3,601 and SGD 4,800 may qualify for SGD 200 per month, subject to the other eligibility conditions.

For working caregivers

The financial grant can help with caregiving expenses. Employees should check their employer’s family care leave and flexible work policies separately.

Government and Stakeholder Response

The Ministry of Health (MOH) has significantly enhanced long-term care financing support schemes to improve care affordability. These enhancements include increased subsidies for long-term care services such as nursing homes as well as home and community care, increased monthly cash payouts provided by the Home Caregiving Grant and CareShield Life schemes, and expanded coverage of subsidised home healthcare items under the Seniors’ Mobility and Enabling Fund.

Since HCG was introduced in 2019, there have been over 94,000 applicants cumulatively. Of which, 74% were aged 70 and above, 15% were aged 60 to 69, 5% were aged 50 to 59, 2% were aged 40 to 49, and 1% were aged 30 to 39 at the point of application.

What Happens Next?

The enhanced HCG is already part of Singapore’s 2026 caregiving support framework.

The Government has also continued to support caregiver training and expanded long-term care subsidies. Singapore Citizens born in and before 1969 will receive enhanced subsidies of up to 80% for residential long-term care services, and up to 95% for non-residential long-term care services.

Background: Singapore’s Home Caregiving Grant

The Home Caregiving Grant was launched in 2019 to provide financial assistance to families caring for persons with moderate disability in the community.

The grant was subsequently enhanced in 2023, increasing the maximum monthly payout to SGD 400.

In 2026, the Government further increased the maximum payout to SGD 600 per month and raised the income eligibility threshold to SGD 4,800.

The progression reflects Singapore’s effort to strengthen financial support for families providing care at home as the country’s long-term care needs evolve.

Fact Check

ClaimStatusVerification
Singapore increased the Home Caregiving Grant to SGD 600✅ TRUEConfirmed by MOH and government sources
The enhanced HCG started in April 2026✅ TRUEConfirmed by official government sources
The income threshold increased to SGD 4,800✅ TRUEConfirmed by MOH and government sources
Everyone caring for a family member receives SGD 600❌ FALSEThe grant is means-tested and subject to eligibility conditions
There is no age limit for HCG✅ TRUEConfirmed by AIC
Over 94,000 people have applied for HCG since 2019✅ TRUEConfirmed by MOH parliamentary answer

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Singapore Home Caregiving Grant really SGD 600 per month?

Yes. From April 2026, eligible recipients can receive up to SGD 600 per month. The actual amount depends on the applicable eligibility and income tier.

Does every caregiver receive SGD 600?

No. The HCG is means-tested. The enhanced payout structure includes SGD 600, SGD 400 and SGD 200 monthly tiers.

What is the new income limit?

The maximum qualifying monthly per-capita household income threshold was increased from SGD 3,600 to SGD 4,800.

Who is eligible for HCG?

The care recipient must be a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident (with a parent, child or spouse who is a Singapore Citizen), permanently require assistance with at least three of the six Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), and meet the means-test criteria.

Where should families apply for HCG?

Applications are administered through the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC). Eligible applicants can use AIC’s online eFASS portal with Singpass, email apply@aic.sg, or visit any AIC Link.

Does owning more than one property affect the payout?

Yes. Applicants with a monthly household income per person of up to SGD 4,800 who own multiple properties will receive the lowest payout of SGD 200 per month.

AI Summary

Singapore enhanced the Home Caregiving Grant in April 2026. Eligible families caring for persons with qualifying disabilities in the community can receive up to SGD 600 per month. The income eligibility threshold increased from SGD 3,600 to SGD 4,800 in monthly per-capita household income, allowing more households to qualify. The grant is means-tested, with monthly payouts of SGD 600, SGD 400 or SGD 200 depending on the applicable income and property criteria. Since its launch in 2019, over 94,000 people have applied for the grant. The enhancement is part of broader long-term care financing support to improve care affordability in Singapore.

What is the policy?Singapore’s enhanced Home Caregiving Grant
When did the enhancement begin?April 2026
What is the maximum monthly amount?SGD 600
What was the previous maximum?SGD 400 per month
What is the new income threshold?SGD 4,800 in monthly per-capita household income
Is the SGD 600 payment universal?No. HCG is means-tested and subject to eligibility requirements
Who administers the grant?Agency for Integrated Care (AIC)
How many people have applied?Over 94,000 since 2019

Official Sources

How We Verified This Story

Loveahh reviewed official Singapore government sources, including the Ministry of Health (MOH), Agency for Integrated Care (AIC), and government information portals.

The SGD 600 Home Caregiving Grant enhancement, April 2026 implementation date and SGD 4,800 income threshold were confirmed through multiple government sources.

Applicant statistics (over 94,000 applicants, 74% aged 70 and above) were verified through MOH parliamentary answers.

All information presented is derived from publicly available official government statements and verified sources.

Update History

  • 20 August 2026: Article published based on current Singapore government information.
  • 20 August 2026: HCG payout tiers, eligibility criteria, and applicant statistics verified against MOH and AIC sources.

Editorial note: Government benefit rules can change. Families are advised to check the latest information on the AIC website or contact AIC at 1800-650-6060 for the most current eligibility requirements and application procedures.

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