Breakdown of Applications to Seniors' Mobility and Enabling Fund Within Seniors Aged 60 and Above
Ministry of HealthSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Ms See Jinli Jean’s inquiry regarding the success rates and breakdowns of Seniors' Mobility and Enabling Fund (SMF) applications for seniors aged 60 and above. Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung stated that of the 16,400 unique seniors who applied for device subsidies annually since 2019, more than 99% were successful. This high success rate occurs because applicants receive prior eligibility advice, while programs like Project Silver Screen assist with functional screenings and device prescriptions. For those who are unsuccessful, Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung noted they may seek further assistance via healthcare providers or the Agency for Integrated Care Link. Finally, he mentioned that the Ministry does not track SMF applicants by economic activity.
Transcript
30 Ms See Jinli Jean asked the Minister for Health for each year from 2019 (a) what is the breakdown in terms of number and proportion of those aged 60 and above who (i) have applied to tap on the Seniors' Mobility and Enabling Fund (SMF) (ii) have been successful in their applications and (iii) have been unsuccessful and offered alternative solutions beyond the $200 voucher for assistive devices, respectively.
Mr Ong Ye Kung: My response will also cover the matter raised in the question by Ms See Jinli Jean1 who filed a Parliamentary Question, which is scheduled for a subsequent Sitting.
The Seniors' Mobility and Enabling Fund (SMF) supports seniors to age-in-place by providing eligible Singaporeans aged 60 years and above with means-tested subsidies to offset the cost of home healthcare items and assistive devices.
On average, of the 16,400 unique seniors who applied for SMF device subsidies annually since 2019, more than 99% were successful. This is because applicants are usually advised on their eligibility before they make an application. Applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria or whose applications were rejected may approach their healthcare providers or visit any Agency for Integrated Care Link should they require further assistance.
Project Silver Screen (PSS) is a community functional screening programme that assesses seniors' needs and provides prescription for spectacles and hearing aids. And 99% and 7% of SMF beneficiaries who received spectacles and hearing aids respectively participated in PSS. The remaining beneficiaries directly obtained their subsidised devices from our healthcare institutions.
We do not currently track SMF applicants by economic activity.