Caregivers of people with autism or intellectual disability will get more support, including help to defray the cost of hiring a foreign domestic worker.
From 1 April 2018, these caregivers will be able to apply for a discounted maid levy of $60, and depending on the support needed, possibly also a $120 monthly grant.
People with autism or intellectual disability will undergo an alternative evaluation to apply for the discounted levy and grant. Ministry of Social and Family Development‘s (MSF) Senior Parliamentary Secretary Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim said this assessment will, in particular, help people with intellectual disabilities or autism spectrum disorder who need help performing activities of daily living.
MSF has worked with the Ministry of Health to include MSF’s Client Assessment Form as an alternative tool to evaluate the support a person needs to perform daily living activities, said Dr Faishal.
Also, a Caregivers’ Space will be set up at the Enabling Village by this year. This will serve as a meeting place for peer support groups, a training space for caregivers of people with disabilities, and a venue for caregiver engagement sessions.
The Special Needs Trust Company, a non-profit firm that offers subsidised trust services, will step up efforts to raise awareness about its care planning and financial education services. Over the next five years, the firm will try to reach out to more than 1,700 caregivers of persons with disabilities.
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Source: The Straits Times, 8 March 2018