Increasing Accessibility and Affordability of LPAs and Addressing Misconceptions About Legacy Planning

15 Dr Wan Rizal asked the Minister for Social and Family Development what additional measures are being considered to further increase accessibility and affordability of legacy planning tools, such as the Lasting Power of Attorney and advance care plans, particularly for low-income groups and seniors who may face financial or informational barriers.

16 Dr Wan Rizal asked the Minister for Social and Family Development whether the Ministry will enhance public education campaigns to address misconceptions about legacy planning, particularly, the mistaken belief that the next-of-kin automatically has legal authority in the absence of a Lasting Power of Attorney, and to encourage younger Singaporeans to participate in legacy planning to mitigate future conflicts in caregiving situations.

Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF), in collaboration with the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC), Ministry of Health (MOH) and Public Service Division, launched a three-year Legacy Planning Campaign in July 2023 to increase the awareness and adoption of legacy planning tools, including the Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) and Advance Care Plan (ACP).

In the past year, we worked with our campaign partners to launch various public education initiatives, such as roadshows and mobile clinics, which offered pro bono LPA certification and ACP facilitation sessions to Singapore citizens aged 50 years and above. These efforts have helped to drive greater awareness and dispel common misconceptions, including the belief that making a will is sufficient for legacy planning purposes; or that the next-of-kin automatically assumes the right to manage a loved one's affairs, where the loved one has lost his or her mental capacity.

To reinforce the message that legacy planning is relevant for all Singaporeans, regardless of age, we are expanding our partnerships to reach out to even more individuals and families in the next phase of our campaign, such as by having students from Institutes of Higher Learning conduct LPA talks and develop public education materials and incorporating nudges at different life milestones. By encouraging younger Singaporeans to participate in legacy planning, we hope to normalise intergenerational conversations about legacy planning among our families and, in turn, alleviate potential conflicts between loved ones or next-of-kin in future caregiving situations.

To ensure that legacy planning tools are kept accessible and affordable for seniors, MOH and AIC currently run legacy planning workshops at Active Ageing Centres islandwide, where partner providers offer LPA certification and ACP facilitation services at preferential rates. Seniors who require personalised assistance can also tap on the ServiceSG Life Planning Service available at One Punggol and Our Tampines Hub, which aims to enhance Citizens' understanding of the available legacy planning tools and assist them to select options that best suit their needs.

To facilitate legacy planning for lower-income groups who may face financial barriers, ACP services are either provided free or at a nominal fee. MOH has also increased the number of trained ACP facilitators and providers, making ACP services more accessible across various healthcare settings and in the community.

Fees for LPA certification start from as low as $25. To ensure that these fees are similarly kept affordable, MSF regularly onboards new Certificate Issuers (CIs) to increase the available pool. With the introduction of the Office of Public Guardian Online (OPGO) portal, individuals can check the fees that are charged by CIs and choose one that best meets their needs. In addition, individuals with financial needs may approach the Potter's Place Community Services Society or Mount Alvernia Outreach Medical Clinic @ Enabling Village, which provide pro bono or means-tested LPA certificate issuing services for individuals who meet their criteria.