Singapore Maid Levy Concession Guide: Eligibility Rules, Grants, and 2026 MOM Updates

Every employer hiring a Migrant Domestic Worker (MDW) in Singapore pays a monthly levy to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). For most households, that levy sits at $300 per month for the first helper and climbs to $450 for a second helper. Over a standard two-year contract, general levy payments add up to $7,200. When your household includes a young child, an elderly parent, or a family member with disabilities, you qualify for the concessionary rate of $60 per month. That single status change saves your family $5,760 across two years.

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1. The Financial Difference: Standard vs. Concessionary Rates

Singapore introduced the levy concession to ease monthly expenses for families who require household support due to caregiving responsibilities. The levy is a flat government tax; it does not go to the helper and does not cover insurance, medical exams, or agency fees.

You can allocate those savings toward comprehensive medical insurance policies, performance bonuses, or specialised training courses for your helper.

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2. Who Qualifies for the $60 Monthly Concession?

MOM sets clear criteria for concession eligibility across three distinct household categories. The qualifying individual must live at the exact same NRIC residential address as the employer.

Category A: Young Child Scheme

Your household qualifies if you have a child who meets both conditions:

• The child is a Singapore Citizen.
• The child is below 16 years of age.

The concession takes effect automatically from the child’s birth registration date and applies through the end of the month the child turns 16. If the employer or spouse is an Employment Pass (EP) or S Pass holder, the child must hold Singapore citizenship to trigger the $60 rate.

Category B: Aged Person Scheme

Families caring for an elderly parent or grandparent qualify under specific age and citizenship rules:

• Singapore Citizen Senior: Must be at least 67 years old. The concession applies automatically based on MOM database records.
• Permanent Resident (PR) Senior: Must be at least 67 years old. Requires an online manual application via MOM’s portal with proof of shared residential address.
• Relationship Requirement: The elder must be the employer, the employer’s spouse, or a parent, parent-in-law, grandparent, or grandparent-in-law of the employer or spouse.

Category C: Person with Disabilities (PWD) Scheme

If a family member requires continuous personal assistance due to medical conditions, physical impairment, or cognitive illness:

• The person must be certified by an AIC-accredited medical assessor as needing daily assistance with at least one Activity of Daily Living (ADL).
• If the individual already receives subsidies from the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) or holds an approved PWD card from SG Enable, the assessment transfers across state agencies.

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3. Additional Government Grants You Can Stack with Levy Savings

Many employers focus solely on the levy rate and overlook grants available through the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) and the National Council of Social Service (NCSS).

Home Caregiving Grant (HCG)

The Home Caregiving Grant provides direct monthly cash payouts to families caring for a loved one with moderate disabilities who cannot perform at least three ADLs without assistance. Depending on your household per-capita monthly income, the grant provides:

• Tier 1: Up to $400 per month for households with monthly per-capita income of $1,500 or below.
• Tier 2: Up to $250 per month for households with monthly per-capita income between $1,501 and $3,300.

Combining the HCG payout with the $60 levy concession yields over $640 in monthly financial relief for households managing long-term care.

Caregivers Training Grant (CTG)

The CTG provides an annual subsidy of up to $400 for each care recipient to fund caregiver training courses approved by AIC. Employers can send their domestic helper to certified workshops covering dementia de-escalation, transfer techniques, tube feeding, and emergency resuscitation. The subsidy directly offsets course fees, requiring families to pay only a nominal copayment of $10 to $30.

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4. How to Apply for the Levy Concession

Depending on your eligibility track, the application process follows one of two routes:

Route 1: Automatic Registration via Singpass

When you apply for a new Work Permit or renew an existing pass via MOM’s FDW eServices system, MOM cross-references government registries (Immigration & Checkpoints Authority and MyInfo). If a Singapore Citizen child under 16 or an elderly citizen aged 67 or older shares your NRIC address, the system automatically bills the $60 rate on your monthly GIRO deduction.

Route 2: Manual Application for PRs and Special Medical Cases

Manual submission is necessary when the qualifying family member is a Permanent Resident, when you reside together but your NRIC address update is still pending, or when claiming under the PWD scheme:

1. Log in to the MOM FDW eService portal using your Singpass.
2. Select “Apply for Levy Concession” under domestic worker management.
3. Upload supporting identity documents: NRIC copies of both employer and care recipient, marriage certificate (if qualifying through in-laws), and doctor’s functional assessment report (for PWD claims).
4. MOM typically processes online applications within 7 to 14 working days. Approved adjustments reflect on the subsequent month’s GIRO debit statement.

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5. Crucial MOM Regulations Every Employer Must Follow

Maintaining your levy concession requires ongoing compliance with standard Ministry of Manpower employer responsibilities:

• Prompt GIRO Payments: MOM requires all levy payments to be settled through interbank GIRO. Ensure your bank account maintains sufficient funds by the 17th of each month (or 14th for manual payments). Consecutive failed deductions incur late payment penalties and risk Work Permit revocation.
• Reporting Address Changes: If the qualifying child, senior, or PWD moves to a different residential address, you must update MOM within 14 days. If the care recipient no longer resides at your home, the concession ends and the levy reverts to standard pricing.
• Mandatory Insurance Coverage: Employers must maintain personal accident insurance ($60,000 minimum) and hospitalization coverage (minimum $15,000 yearly, with recent MOM guidelines recommending $60,000 co-payment options) throughout the helper’s contract period.
• Rest Day Regulations: Domestic workers are entitled to one mandatory rest day per month that cannot be compensated away, along with weekly rest days or mutually agreed compensation in lieu.

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How EELIT Agency Simplifies Your Placement and Compliance

Selecting the right domestic helper is only the first step; handling paperwork, Work Permit applications, insurance documentation, and grant submissions requires meticulous attention to detail. At EELIT Agency, our licensed consultants manage the end-to-end process so your family enjoys complete peace of mind.

We screen helpers for genuine caregiving experience, verify previous employment histories in Singapore, and guide employers through every grant application and levy adjustment.