How to Apply for Subsidised Home Nursing

Where it starts: a referral

Subsidised home nursing is arranged through the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC), and it usually begins with a referral. The two common routes: talk to your doctor at the hospital or polyclinic, who can refer for home care, or approach AIC directly — through an AIC Link branch, the hotline on 1800-650-6060, or enquiries@aic.sg. If your relative is in hospital, asking the ward team is the smoothest path, because they can start it before discharge.

The assessment and means-test

Two things get assessed: what care is needed (a functional assessment of how much help the person needs), and how much subsidy you qualify for (a means-test on household income per person, or the home's Annual Value if there's no income). AIC then matches you to a home-care provider at your subsidised rate. Our guide to how means-testing works explains the money side in plain English.

Roughly how long it takes

Timelines vary, but expect the process to run over days to a few weeks rather than same-day — the Home Caregiving Grant, for instance, is processed in around four weeks. That gap is the main trade-off of subsidised care: it's cheaper if you qualify, but it isn't instant.

What to have ready

• Singpass, for the online applications and means-test
• Household income details for everyone living together
• The doctor's referral or discharge information, if you have it
• The patient's NRIC and basic particulars

What to do while you wait

If clinical care is needed now — a wound that must be dressed, a catheter due to change — you don't have to wait for the paperwork. Many families use private home nursing, which has clear published prices and can start immediately, to bridge the gap until the subsidised care is in place. Details are as published in August 2026; confirm the current process with AIC, as steps and timelines can change.