All About the Seniors' Mobility and Enabling Fund (SMF) in Singapore: Subsidies, Eligibility and How to Apply

The Seniors’ Mobility and Enabling Fund (SMF), also known as the Senior Mobility Fund, is a financial assistance scheme designed to help the elderly in Singapore age in place. Offered by the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC), this scheme provides subsidies on selected assistive devices and home healthcare items to seniors aged 60 years old and above.

In this article, we’ll explore the types of devices covered under the SMF and the eligibility criteria for this scheme. We’ll also share the steps for applying for the fund and cover some frequently asked questions. Read about it below!

• What are the Seniors’ Mobility and Enabling Fund Subsidies for?
• What is the Eligibility Criteria for the Seniors’ Mobility and Enabling Fund?
• How to Apply for the Seniors’ Mobility and Enabling Fund
• What to Do if You Are Not Eligible for the Seniors’ Mobility and Enabling Fund
• FAQs About the Seniors’ Mobility and Enabling Fund

To support the elderly in Singapore through their golden years, the SMF offers subsidies on a range of assistive devices and home healthcare items.

Generally, applicants can receive up to 90% of the cost of the assistive device or mobility aid, or 90% of the maximum subsidy cap on the device, depending on which is lower. It’s important to note that purchases made before the approval of the application won’t be reimbursed.

According to the AIC, any apparatus, equipment or device that aids seniors in moving about or better performing their Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) are categorised as assistive or motorised devices.

Examples of the devices covered under the SMF include (but are not limited to):

• Basic or motorised wheelchairs
• Geriatric chairs
• Hearing aids
• Hospital beds
• Pressure relief cushions or mattresses
• Shower chairs
• Spectacles
• Walking aids

The elderly who opt to live at home instead of in a nursing facility can obtain financial support for a variety of home healthcare items. The items needed for each individual may vary depending on their medical condition and the level of care required.

However, in general, these are the items that are covered under the SMF:

• Adult diapers
• Catheters and catheter sets
• Milk feeds
• Nasal tubing
• Nasogastric tubes
• pH indicator test strips
• Thickeners
• Wound dressings
• Syringe with no needle
• Underpads, urine bags, and urine bag hanger
• Lubricating deodorant
• Brava/Stomahesive powder
• Stoma plate, strip, ring, baseplate, wafer, barrier, bag, and bag closure clamp
• Elastic tape for baseplate, wafer and barrier

To be eligible for the SMF, you or your loved one is required to meet the following criteria:

*This includes a certified audiologist, fully-registered therapist, doctor, nurse or optometrist.

To enjoy the benefits of this financial scheme, you or your loved one must be capable of contributing towards the assessment fee and the cost of the device. Furthermore, you shouldn’t be receiving or applying for any other public or private grant that would surpass the co-payment amount set by the SMF.

If you or your loved one has met the eligibility criteria for the SMF, read on to find out how to apply for this financial scheme.

• Assistive and motorised devices

If you or your loved one is currently receiving treatment from a licensed therapist or visiting a hospital for routine medical checkups, you can inform the therapist or hospital of your intent to apply for the SMF.

The healthcare provider at the participating institution will conduct the assessment and submit your application to the AIC on your behalf. After the application has been approved, the device will be ordered.

• Home healthcare items

To apply for subsidies for home healthcare products, you’re recommended to approach your home healthcare service provider for assistance.

• Hearing aids

To receive a subsidised hearing assessment at a public hospital, you can obtain a referral letter from a polyclinic or a CHAS general practitioner (GP). An audiologist will conduct the evaluation and assist you with your SMF application.

If you don’t wish to take the hearing assessment at the hospital, you may attend a Functional Screening assessment in the community. However, if further evaluation is necessary, you’ll still be referred to a public hospital.

• Other assistive and motorised devices

For other assistive and motorised devices, you or your loved one is required to submit a series of physical documents to the AIC. This includes the following:

• Application form
• Front and back copy of the applicant’s NRIC or an image of the digital NRIC from SingPass
• Financial assistance documents (if applicable)
• Medical reports (if applicable)

If you’ve just been informed that you aren’t eligible for the SMF, you may be wondering – what’s next?

For those who’ve applied for subsidies on a hearing aid, you may choose to purchase a device from the hospital at a non-subsidised rate of $3,000. Alternatively, you may opt to continue your journey with a private clinic like Hearing Partners.

At Hearing Partners, you’ll be offered a package that includes hearing aids similar to those offered to hospitals. The package will also come with some essential hearing aid accessories and free follow-up appointments. Moreover, booking appointments is easier, and you can enjoy a shorter waiting time.

¹Retrieved from the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC)