18-05-2025
Forum: Support schemes set up for families of persons with disabilities
We are encouraged by the recent commentary on caregivers (Caregivers need more support: We owe it to them, May 15), and the response by Forum writer Lim Jui Seck (Happy to help those with special needs dependants with estate planning, May 16).
As Mr Lim pointed out, customised estate planning is critical but often overlooked in providing long-term security for these families.
For families with persons with disabilities, planning for the future can be challenging, as it involves ensuring their loved ones are financially supported and well cared for, even after the primary caregiver is no longer around.
We would like to share the following support structures for these families.
Special Needs Trust Company (SNTC), a wholly owned subsidiary of SG Enable, provides trust services specifically designed for these families, ensuring that funds set aside for their long-term care are professionally managed and disbursed according to the family's wishes.
Special Needs Savings Scheme, administered by SNTC, allows parents to nominate their CPF savings to be paid out in regular, managed payouts to support their loved ones after their passing.
Gift Of A Lifetime (Goal) helps parents purchase a $100,000 term plan, ensuring the proceeds are directed into their child's SNTC trust account upon their death. Goal supports lower-income families by sponsoring the initial $5,000 deposit to set up an SNTC trust account, and providing matching top-up donations of up to $5,000, helping families build a robust financial safety net.
As announced in Budget 2025, lower- and middle-income families will also benefit from a dollar-for-dollar matching grant of up to $10,000 for top-ups to the SNTC trust accounts, providing even greater support for long-term financial planning.
From January 2026, the Government will also expand the coverage of the Matched Retirement Savings Scheme to include persons with disabilities of all ages. Eligible persons with disabilities can receive a dollar-for-dollar matching grant of up to $2,000 a year, with a lifetime limit of $20,000, from the Government on cash top-ups received in their CPF Special Account.
SG Enable is also setting up the Future Care Planning Resource Centre at the Enabling Village. This centre, to be launched at the end of the year, aims to support caregivers by connecting them with trusted experts in legal, financial and care planning.
As the needs of persons with disabilities and their families continue to evolve, these support structures are essential for providing greater peace of mind, assurance and long-term security. By raising awareness of these resources and encouraging early planning, we can empower families to navigate the journey of future care planning with greater confidence.
Lee May Gee
Chief Executive Officer
SG Enable
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