Schemes
Seniors’ Mobility and Enabling Fund (SMF): what it covers, who qualifies, and what it does not
The short version
- The SMF subsidises mobility and assistive devices (up to 90% of the cost or a cap), home healthcare items such as diapers and milk feeds, and transport to MOH-funded eldercare and dialysis centres.
- From January 2026, the income limit rose to S$4,800 per person in the household and permanent residents became eligible.
- Seniors aged 60 and over apply through the therapist, doctor or nurse who assesses that they need the device.
- We found no alarms, emergency buttons or home monitoring sensors on the SMF device lists. For fall monitoring, look at HPC+ instead.
What the SMF is
The Seniors’ Mobility and Enabling Fund is a means-tested subsidy run by the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC). It helps seniors pay for the equipment and supplies that let them keep moving and living at home, and for transport to some care services.
What it covers
| Part of SMF | Examples | Subsidy |
|---|---|---|
| Mobility and assistive devices | Mobility aids (walking sticks, wheelchairs, pushchairs, motorised scooters), home care items (commodes, hospital beds, pressure-relief cushions and mattresses), hearing aids, and specialised or customised devices such as prostheses | Up to 90% of the cost, or the device cap, whichever is lower |
| Home healthcare items | Items needed because of a medical condition, such as adult diapers, milk supplements, thickeners, catheters, nasal tubing and wound dressings | Up to 80%, enhanced and expanded in January 2026 |
| Transport | Trips to MOH-funded eldercare centres and dialysis centres | Means-tested |
The approved healthcare professional who assesses your parent charges an assessment fee of S$10 to S$180, depending on the subsidy tier. Get the SMF application approved before buying: purchases made in advance are not reimbursed. Device list and rules as published by AIC, checked on 3 November 2026.
Who qualifies
- Aged 60 and over.
- A Singapore Citizen or permanent resident (PRs became eligible in January 2026).
- Household income per person of S$4,800 or less (raised from S$2,600 in January 2026), or for households with no income, a home annual value of S$21,000 or less.
- Assessed as needing the device by a qualified assessor, such as a physiotherapist, occupational therapist, doctor or nurse.
How to apply
- See a qualified assessor (for example at a hospital, polyclinic, day rehabilitation centre or a home therapy visit) who confirms the device your parent needs.
- The assessor or the equipment provider submits the application to AIC.
- If it is approved, you pay only the balance after subsidy to the provider.
What the SMF does not cover: alarms and monitoring
You may read that the SMF subsidises personal alarms or home sensors. We could not find any alarm, emergency button, pendant or monitoring sensor on AIC’s SMF device lists, and at least one Singapore retailer says its fall detection watches are not covered. If you are looking for subsidised monitoring, the routes that do exist are:
- Enhanced Home Personal Care (HPC+), which includes an optional 24/7 fall and movement monitoring and response service for eligible seniors with care needs.
- The government’s wireless alert alarm system for seniors aged 60 and over in HDB public rental flats.
- Subsidised rates for some households on Singapore Red Cross HoME+.
Birdhouse is not subsidised by the SMF. It is a monthly subscription (S$25–30/month with the hardware included). Families sometimes use part of the Home Caregiving Grant, which is cash, towards monitoring. See the guide to elderly monitoring systems for all the options.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Seniors’ Mobility and Enabling Fund cover?
Mobility and assistive devices such as walking sticks, wheelchairs, motorised scooters, commodes, hospital beds, pressure-relief cushions and hearing aids (up to 90% of the cost or the cap), home healthcare items, and transport to MOH-funded eldercare and dialysis centres.
Who is eligible for SMF in 2026?
Seniors aged 60 and over who are Singapore Citizens, or permanent residents from January 2026, with household income per person of S$4,800 or less, and who are assessed by a qualified professional as needing the device.
How do I get a subsidised wheelchair?
Have your parent assessed by a therapist, doctor or nurse, who confirms the type of wheelchair needed. The assessor or provider then applies to AIC for the SMF subsidy.
Does SMF cover emergency alarms or fall detection?
We found no alarms, emergency buttons or monitoring sensors on the SMF device lists. HPC+ includes an optional subsidised 24/7 fall monitoring service for eligible seniors with care needs.
Sources and further reading
- AIC: SMF, mobility and assistive devices
- AIC: SMF, home healthcare items
- SupportGoWhere: Seniors’ Mobility and Enabling Fund
- MOH: Government accepts CareShield Life Council’s recommendations (27 August 2025)
- HomeWise: fall detection devices (states not covered by SMF)
This guide describes Birdhouse as it works on 3 November 2026. Birdhouse is not an emergency response service and never calls emergency services for you. In a life-threatening emergency, call 995. Questions or corrections: info@birdhouse.sg.