- Living with a Singapore Citizen parent aged 67 or older cuts the helper levy from $300 to $60 a month
- That saves $5,760 over a 2-year contract
- The Home Caregiving Grant pays up to $600 a month (raised from $400 in April 2026) if your parent needs help with 3 of 6 daily activities
- The Caregivers Training Grant gives $200 a year, capped at $400, for AIC-approved courses your helper can attend
- Your helper can only work at the address on her Work Permit, so she must live where your parent lives
There's a quiet shift many families go through. One day Dad forgets what he had for breakfast. Mum starts holding the wall on the way to the toilet.
Everyone in the house works. Somebody has to be there in the day.
A helper is often the answer. Here's what to sort out first: the money, the paperwork, the skills, and the safety checks.
Can I Get the $60 Maid Levy for My Elderly Parent?
Yes, if your household meets MOM's criteria. There are two routes for seniors.
- One concession per eligible person, capped at 2 helpers per household
- A second concessionary helper needs a second eligible person at home
- The concession stops if your parent moves out, so update MOM when living arrangements change
Whose Name Should the Work Permit Be Under?
The helper must live and work at the employer's registered address. That's the rule that decides it.
Swipe left or right to see the full table on mobile.
| Your Setup | Who Can Be Employer | Watch Out For |
|---|---|---|
| Parent lives with you | You, at your address | Parent's NRIC address must match for the concession |
| Parent lives alone | Your parent, or a family member living there | She can't shuttle between your flat and theirs |
| You live next block | Whoever lives with the parent | "Just help at my place too" is illegal deployment |
What Is the Home Caregiving Grant and How Much Is It?
It used to be called the Migrant Domestic Worker Grant. It's a monthly cash payout from AIC that can go towards a helper's salary or other care costs.
Swipe left or right to see the full table on mobile.
| Household Income Per Person | Monthly Payout (from April 2026) |
|---|---|
| $1,500 or less | $600 |
| $1,501 to $3,600 | $400 |
| $3,601 to $4,800 | $200 |
- Care recipient is a Singapore Citizen
- Permanently needs some help with at least 3 of 6 activities of daily living: washing, dressing, feeding, toileting, walking, moving in and out of bed
- Needs a disability assessment by an AIC-accredited assessor
- Check the exact household and Annual Value rules on aic.sg before applying
Can My Helper Go for Eldercare Training?
Yes. MOM itself says helpers in eldercare roles benefit from specialised training. The Caregivers Training Grant makes it cheaper.
The grant belongs to the care recipient, so family members and the helper share the same pot. Courses worth looking at in the AIC-SSG catalogue:
- Safe transfers from bed to wheelchair
- Fall prevention and basic first aid
- Feeding for swallowing problems, and tube feeding if needed
- Dementia care: handling repeated questions, wandering and mood swings
What Skills Should a Maid for Elderly Care Have?
Start with your parent, then match the helper. Write down what help is needed on a typical day.
Swipe left or right to see the full table on mobile.
| Parent's Need | Look For | Ask at Interview |
|---|---|---|
| Mostly independent | Cooking, housework, companionship | "What would you talk about with Grandma?" |
| Weak on feet | Strength, transfer and showering experience | "Show me how you'd help someone stand up." |
| Dementia | Patience, calm under repeated questions | "He shouts at you for no reason. What do you do?" |
| Bedbound | Diaper care, turning, pressure sore care | "How often should someone in bed be turned?" |
- Ask for proven eldercare work, with the previous employer's contact if possible
- A shared language or dialect with your parent matters more than people expect
- Let your parent join the interview. They're the one living with her
- And ya, maybe one without a TikTok account
What If My Parent Refuses to Have a Helper?
This comes up again and again on r/askSingapore, especially with early dementia. Things families say helped:
- Frame her as help for the house, or for you, so your parent doesn't feel "looked after"
- Bring in a doctor or social worker. Parents often accept it from them more easily than from their kids
- Sort out a Lasting Power of Attorney while your parent can still make one
How Do I Know My Helper Is Treating My Parent Well?
There have been heartbreaking news stories of seniors with bruises, cared for by helpers the family trusted. Someone with dementia often can't tell you.
How Do I Stop My Helper Burning Out?
Eldercare is hard, especially with nights broken by a parent who wanders or needs the toilet. A tired, unhappy helper gives worse care.
- Give her the legal minimum of 1 rest day a month that can't be paid off, and more if you can
- Cover her rest days yourself, or book a day care centre or home respite service
- Let her sleep. If nights are rough, plan for her to rest in the day
- Make sure the whole family, kids included, treats her with respect
Should I Hire a Maid or a Professional Caregiver?
A live-in helper suits most families: she cooks, cleans and keeps your parent company. For complex medical needs like wound care or injections, a home nurse may need to visit on top of her help.
At the heart of it is a quiet promise to our parents: to look after them the way they once looked after us.
Looking for a helper for Mum or Dad?
Browse helpers with eldercare experience from licensed agencies across Singapore.
Browse SearchmaidP.S. The levy concession isn't automatic for everyone. If your parent turned 67 and the levy didn't drop, check that their NRIC address matches yours.
