Task force proposes fee caps for all disability services, wider subsidies by 2028

An inter-agency task force has proposed fee caps for all disability services and higher means-tested subsidies, with the eligibility threshold raised to S$6,000 monthly per capita household income. The changes, expected by 2028, aim to benefit about 80 per cent of households of people with disabilit

SINGAPORE: An inter-agency task force has proposed introducing fee caps for all disability services and raising means-tested subsidies, in its first set of recommendations to make such services more affordable and accessible. The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) said on Thursday (Sep 17) that it also recommended raising the eligibility threshold for means-tested subsidies to a monthly per capita household income of around S$6,000 (US$4,710), up from S$4,800.

Lower-income households will continue to receive the highest levels of support and would pay no more than S$10 for community-based services such as day activity centres and the Enabling Skills for Life Programme, down from the current S$20 to S$60. These changes are expected to be implemented by 2028, said MSF. By 2030, around 5,000 persons with disabilities accessing community and residential disability services are expected to benefit from these enhancements, it added.

MSF said the recommendations take a “two-pronged approach”. “First, they seek to make disability services more affordable for families, including broader access to subsidies. Second, they aim to expand service capacity so that more persons with disabilities can access appropriate support,” it added. “Together, these measures will strengthen assurance for families and support long-term care planning.”

Under the recommendations, fee caps would apply to all disability services before subsidies, limiting the amount families have to pay after subsidies. Means-tested subsidy rates will also be increased by at least 10 percentage points for most families. The enhanced subsidies would apply across a range of services, including day activity centres, the Enabling Skills for Life Programme, adult disability hostels, adult disability homes, children disability homes, the Enabling Transport subsidy and taxi subsidy scheme.

The task force also proposed raising the eligibility threshold for means-tested subsidies to extend support to more middle-income families. This increase to about S$6,000 per capita monthly household income would mean about 80 per cent of households of people with disabilities would be covered. “More families who do not qualify for subsidies today will therefore be able to receive support for disability services, recognising the significant and long-term care costs that many families may face while supporting a loved one with disabilities,” MSF said.

For people with higher support needs, the task force recommended stronger funding support for selected services, including the Enabling Skills for Life Programme and adult disability homes. Families can expect monthly fees after government subsidies for selected services to fall by about 25 per cent to 80 per cent compared with current levels. For example, a family of four living in an HDB flat and caring for a person with higher support needs, with a monthly household income of S$6,000 – or S$1,500 per person – would pay S$40 a month for a day activity centre, down from S$210. For adult disability homes, the fee would fall from S$3,500 to S$700.

The task force also proposed adding another 1,300 spaces at day activity centres and sheltered workshops by 2030, beyond the 1,000 additional places announced in 2024. This brings the total number of additional spaces to 2,300 by 2030, on top of the current capacity of 3,600. In 2026, close to 440 day activity centre and sheltered workshop spaces have been set up in areas such as Queenstown, Bukit Merah and Ang Mo Kio, with another 440 spaces expected to be operational in 2027.

The Taskforce on Assurance for Families with Persons with Disabilities was announced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong in December 2025. It is looking at affordability, employment and community living. The full set of recommendations will be announced by early October.