Fees & Grants for Live-In Caregivers
Several government schemes can reduce the cost of hiring a live-in caregiver. Here’s what’s available and who qualifies.
What It Costs
Typical Costs
Salary
Eldercare Helper
$600–$800 / month
Caregiver (specialised skills)
$700-$950 / month
Private Nurse (Diploma / BSc)
$1,000–$1,500 / month
Levy
Normal (1st Helper)
$300 / month
Normal (Subsequent helpers)
$450 / month
Concessionary
$60 / month
You may qualify for the concessionary rate if the caregiver is looking after a family member who is a Singapore Citizen (or PR with an SC spouse/parent/child) aged 67 or above, a family member certified by a Singapore-registered doctor as needing help with at least one Activity of Daily Living due to a disability, or a Singapore-Citizen child/grandchild aged 16 or below. Capped at 1 helper per eligible person, max 2 helpers per household. It’s automatically granted if you or your spouse are 67+, or your child is under 16. For details, plse refer to this MOM page.
One Time Costs:
- Agency Fee
- Medical & personal accident insurance: ~$650 for 26 months
- MOM Work Permit Application and Issue: $70
- Pre-employment Medical: $40
For the Agency Fee, there is a 50% refund of the agency fee within 6 months subjected to terms and conditions
Grants & Subsidies
Government Grants & Subsidies for Live-In Caregivers
Grants & Schemes at a Glance
Home Caregiving Grant (HCG)
Up to $600/month, administered by the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC). Requires a care needs assessment in the Activities of Daily Living. For more details refer to this AIC Page.
Caregivers Training Grant (CTG)
$400 in the first year of use, plus a $200 top-up every 1 April (unused balance carried forward, capped at $400 total). Care recipient must be SC/PR, aged 65+ or has a disability. Refer to this AIC Page for more details.
Other Long-Term Care Schemes
Pioneer Generation Disability Assistance Scheme, ElderShield, and CareShield Life may also apply depending on your situation — click the respective links for more details.
The varions grants eligibility depends on your loved one’s and family specific situation.
Levy and HCG/CTG figures are taken from mom.gov.sg and aic.sg as of this page’s publication. Rates and eligibility criteria can change — always confirm on the official government pages before making financial decisions.
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