Increasing Financial Support for Seniors Living Alone for Healthcare, Social Services and Housing

Parliamentary Question by Mr Lee Hong Chuang:

To ask the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance whether the Government is considering to provide increased financial support or subsidies targeted at seniors living alone to help them access better healthcare, social services, or housing tailored to their needs.

Parliamentary Reply by Second Minister for Finance, Ms Indranee Rajah:

The Government has recently enhanced several subsidy schemes for healthcare, social support, and housing. These schemes support seniors living alone, especially the lower-income or those with little or no family support.

For healthcare, seniors benefit from substantial subsidies at public hospitals and polyclinics, and for long-term care services. At Budget 2025, the Government announced enhancements to long-term care subsidies and grants, including additional subsidies for older cohorts born in 1969 or earlier.

For social support, seniors who had lower incomes during their working years and who now have less in retirement receive quarterly cash payments through the Silver Support Scheme. From 2025, eligible seniors can receive up to $1,080 each quarter, up from $900 previously. Other measures such as the permanent GST Voucher scheme, which includes cash payments, MediSave top-ups, U-Save and rebates for Service and Conservancy Charges, provide additional help.    

On housing, a range of options from shorter-lease 2-room Flexi flats to Community Care Apartments are available. Seniors who right-size to smaller flats may also benefit from the Silver Housing Bonus, which will provide a cash bonus of up to $40,000 from December 2025. Within their homes, the Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE) programme subsidises home fittings to help seniors live safely.

Beyond subsidies and financial support, we are also strengthening community and estate-level support for seniors. The Silver Generation Office conducts outreach to all Singaporeans aged 60 and above to identify seniors with needs, and connects them to appropriate care and support services, while Active Ageing Centres provide programmes and social support to help seniors stay connected. We are also piloting Age Well Neighbourhoods, which bring senior-friendly infrastructure and services into existing estates so that seniors can age well in familiar communities.  

We will continue to review and strengthen our schemes to ensure that all seniors, especially those living alone, can age with dignity and peace of mind.