Getting Help in Singapore | Disability Support and SG Enable

If you or someone in your family needs disability support in Singapore, SG Enable is a practical first contact. Call 1800-8585-885 or email contactus@sgenable.sg to ask which support services, referrals and schemes are suitable. Its information and referral service accepts enquiries from persons with suspected or diagnosed disabilities and their caregivers, including people who are not already connected to a hospital or social service agency.

For equipment such as an appropriate wheelchair, hearing aid or assistive device, ask about the Assistive Technology Fund (ATF). Under its rules effective from January 2026, eligible Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents with qualifying permanent disabilities may receive a means-tested subsidy of up to 90% of approved device costs, with a S$40,000 lifetime subsidy cap. The published monthly per capita household income ceiling is S$4,800. Approval requires professional assessment, disability verification where necessary and an application through an approved professional touchpoint. Do not purchase an expensive device assuming it will be reimbursed automatically.

Quick action list:

Unsure which service can help: contact SG Enable at 1800-8585-885 or use its Enabling Guide.
Need a device: ask a therapist or social worker to assess the functional need and advise on ATF or another relevant scheme.
Need disability verification: check whether status is already recorded on SupportGoWhere before asking a healthcare professional for a new Disability Verification Form.
Need employment: explore SG Enable’s job placement and job support services.
Need help with adult day care or community activities: ask about referrals to disability day services or Enabling Services Hubs.
Need financial help for essential household expenses: separately ask an MSF Social Service Office about ComCare.
Immediate medical or safety emergency: seek emergency assistance; a disability grant application is not an emergency response service.

What Disability Help Is Available in Singapore?

“Disability help” is not one form or one monthly allowance. Different programmes address different problems: access to healthcare and specialist assessment, support for daily activities, assistive equipment, education, employment, accessible transport and household finances.

A person who has limited mobility may need an appropriately assessed wheelchair or ramp. A person with a hearing or visual disability may need specialist devices or accessible communication. A young adult with an intellectual disability may need training, structured activities or job support. A caregiver may need respite, assistance with personal care or help understanding funding.

Start by describing what the person needs to do, what is currently difficult and what support would change the situation. Then ask the appropriate professional which eligibility rules apply.

This article is a practical access guide. For broader principles, see The Gold Standard of Disability Services | Autonomy, Access and Appropriate Support.

Step 1: Contact SG Enable for Information and Referral

The official SG Enable information and referral page states that people with disabilities, their caregivers and relevant community professionals may seek assistance even if the person is not yet known to a social service or medical touchpoint.

SG Enable can discuss needs, identify appropriate resources and facilitate referrals to relevant funded schemes or services as appropriate. A referral does not guarantee admission, funding or a place at a particular programme.

What to say on the phone:

“I am seeking disability support for [myself / my child / an adult family member]. The main difficulty is [mobility / communication / employment / daily care / specialist equipment]. We are currently [receiving care at a clinic / not connected to a service]. Could you advise which assessment, agency or scheme should be our first step?”

If a person’s communication needs require particular accessibility arrangements, explain that when arranging the contact. Ask about language, format or other support that would make the application usable.

Step 2: Check Disability Verification

For selected disability schemes, a Disability Verification Form (DVF) is used to establish the relevant disability status. The standardised verification arrangement was introduced for selected government schemes on 8 September 2025, according to Enabling Guide.

If the person’s disability status is already verified for the scheme, a fresh form may be unnecessary. The guidance recommends checking the status using SupportGoWhere with Singpass or through a professional touchpoint.

If verification is required, a relevant registered healthcare professional completes the DVF. The exact professional and evidence depend on the disability category and scheme. Having a diagnosis, a letter or an old assessment is not always the same as being verified in the required system.

Why this matters

A family may spend time getting several copies of similar medical reports when one accepted verification would suffice. Equally, a form that is signed but not yet processed does not prove that a scheme has approved the applicant.

Ask three questions: Is the person’s disability status already recorded? What proof does this exact scheme accept? Who submits the verification or application?

For complex cases or missing documents, request guidance from SG Enable rather than guessing which clinician must sign.

Assistive Technology Fund: What Does It Cover?

The official ATF page explains that the fund helps eligible persons with permanent disabilities pay for assessed assistive technology required for education, therapy, rehabilitation, training, employment or greater independence.

Depending on the recommendation and scheme conditions, supported equipment can include:

Wheelchairs and certain mobility aids.
Hearing aids or other eligible sensory assistive devices.
Appropriate communication or computer access technology.
Equipment that supports education, training or employment.
Certain approved devices related to independent daily living.
Eligible replacement, upgrades or repairs.

The fund does not automatically cover all products sold as assistive technology. It excludes consumables. A professional assessor must identify the need and appropriate device.

What is the maximum ATF subsidy?

ATF provides up to 90% of approved device costs, subject to S$40,000 across the person’s lifetime. The exact subsidy percentage depends on household income and other criteria. “Up to 90%” is a maximum, not the rate every person receives.

The January 2026 change raised the monthly per capita household income eligibility ceiling from S$2,600 to S$4,800, expanding the group that may qualify. AIC and SG Enable programmes are not all governed by this same figure.

If a device costs S$2,000 and an eligible applicant is assessed at a hypothetical 75% subsidy, that would mean S$1,500 in approved subsidy and S$500 remaining before any other applicable costs. The example is arithmetic, not a prediction of an individual’s approved rate.

Who is eligible for ATF?

The official criteria include:

Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident.
A qualifying permanent disability within the scheme’s recognised categories.
Appropriate disability verification where required.
An assessment by a qualified assessor to establish the need and device type.
Monthly per capita household income of S$4,800 or less, or the specified property annual-value criterion for households without income.
Other scheme and device-specific conditions.

Recognised disability categories include relevant physical, visual, hearing and intellectual disabilities and autism under the published definitions. Conditions must be assessed rather than inferred solely from a person’s description or age.

What if the person is aged 60 or above?

The ATF rules distinguish seniors who previously used ATF before age 60 from seniors applying for the first time.

A senior who has not tapped ATF before turning 60 is generally directed to the Seniors’ Mobility and Enabling Fund (SMF), subject to its own eligibility rules. A person who did tap ATF before 60 may continue to be supported through ATF over their lifetime, subject to eligibility.

Do not assume the ATF income limit or lifetime cap is identical to the rules of SMF.

How to Apply for Assistive Technology Support

A person does not usually file an ATF purchase claim directly after buying an item. An application administrator and qualified assessor from a professional touchpoint must be involved. Touchpoints include participating public hospitals and social service agencies.

The published process is:

Identify a suitable therapist or social worker. If already receiving care at a hospital or social service agency, start there.
Check disability verification. Use SupportGoWhere or ask the touchpoint whether DVF documentation is required.
Receive a professional device assessment. The assessor confirms what type of technology is needed and appropriate.
Prepare the supporting documents. The touchpoint’s administrator guides the process.
Have the application submitted through the approved route. The administrator submits on the applicant’s behalf.
Wait for an outcome before making assumptions about funding. AIC and SG Enable procedures may differ according to scheme.
Clarify approved device, supplier, amount and remaining out-of-pocket cost before purchasing.

SG Enable states that completed ATF applications can take up to 15 working days to process after all required documents are received. Incomplete applications or verification steps may affect the timeline.

If you are not connected to a hospital or social service agency, the official guidance suggests seeking a polyclinic referral to a public hospital for a suitable assessment. You may also contact SG Enable for information.

Getting an Assistive Technology Assessment

The Enabling Guide assistive technology page explains that occupational therapists, physiotherapists and other appropriately qualified professionals can help identify suitable devices.

Some people may be referred to Tech Able, a centre associated with SG Enable and SPD where assistive technology can be assessed or explored. Depending on the service, the assessment may help the person compare how devices fit their physical ability, environment and everyday activities.

A wheelchair that looks suitable online may still be unsafe or impractical in a particular home. A hearing device may require testing, fitting and follow-up. A communication aid may need training and compatibility with other supports.

Assessment is not merely a formality for receiving a discount. It helps avoid an unsuitable purchase and ensures that the chosen technology addresses the person’s real needs.

Transport Help: PWD Concession Card and Accessible Journeys

Eligible persons with disabilities may qualify for a Persons with Disabilities Concession Card, subject to the published eligibility and verification procedures.

The official concession card guide describes how disability verification and SimplyGo application steps work. Where status is not verified, the applicant may first need a completed DVF and confirmation of verification.

Ask whether the person qualifies for fare concessions, what travel modes are covered, and whether another transport support scheme is appropriate. The card is not proof that every trip, taxi or private-hire ride is automatically free.

If the difficulty is physical access rather than fare cost, explain whether the person can reach a bus stop or MRT platform, transfer safely or use accessible booking and pickup arrangements.

Employment Assistance for Persons With Disabilities

Some people need job matching, training and workplace support more than they need equipment. SG Enable’s Job Placement and Job Support programme provides a separate route for eligible persons with disabilities seeking appropriate work.

The application process can include disability verification if not already completed. An applicant may submit through SupportGoWhere or the official referral route with supporting documents, depending on the programme.

Useful questions include:

What roles match the person’s skills, interests and work capacity?
What training or job preparation is available?
Is workplace accessibility or assistive technology needed?
What support can be offered during placement and after starting work?
How are employers engaged and how are outcomes reviewed?

A job placement service cannot guarantee a job or a particular salary. A good match respects the person’s preferences, actual abilities and rights.

Day Activity Centres and Enabling Services Hubs

An adult with a disability may benefit from structured activities, skills development and appropriate community support. Day Activity Centres can provide relevant programmes for eligible clients under their own assessment and enrolment conditions.

Enabling Services Hubs offer information and referral, inclusive social activities and connections to service providers. They can be useful for finding an accessible, local entry point.

However, a community hub is not a substitute for clinical treatment, 24-hour personal care or emergency accommodation. Ask whether the person needs a specialist adult disability service, home care or simply information on suitable community activities.

If you are seeking help for a child, school or early intervention support may follow different age and eligibility pathways. Give the child’s age and educational situation at first contact.

Disability Support Versus Caregiver Financial Support

A disability-related scheme may subsidise equipment. A caregiver grant may help with costs linked to high daily support needs. These are not interchangeable.

For example, AIC’s Home Caregiving Grant has its own means test, residency rules and requirement for help with multiple activities of daily living. A qualifying permanent disability for ATF does not automatically establish that a family qualifies for Home Caregiving Grant.

For a more detailed route through caregiver support, respite and HCG, see Getting Help in Singapore | Elderly Care, Caregiver Support, Respite and Home Caregiving Grant.

If a household cannot afford basic food, housing or utilities, a separate ComCare assessment may be relevant. Be clear about the type of financial problem when seeking help.

What Documents Should You Prepare?

Different schemes require different evidence. A simple first-contact folder may include:

The person’s identification and contact arrangements.
Existing disability or clinical assessment records, where available.
Details of the activities they need help doing.
Information about current care providers or therapists.
Household income details for means-tested schemes, as requested.
Device quotations or specifications only when the professional asks for them.
Consent or authorisation documents if a caregiver applies on someone’s behalf.
A short list of questions and any important deadlines.

Do not repeatedly pay for duplicate professional assessments without first checking whether an existing verification or report is accepted.

Use secure official submission processes for sensitive medical and financial records. Verify all requests for Singpass and never share passwords or OTPs.

What If the First Scheme Says No?

Ask which eligibility condition or document caused the difficulty, and whether a different scheme addresses the need. There may be distinctions in age, disability category, citizenship, professional assessment, household income or type of device.

An unsuccessful ATF application does not determine eligibility for every transport or employment programme. Similarly, having a PWD concession card does not itself guarantee a technology grant.

Ask SG Enable or the referring professional what other options exist. Focus on solving the practical need rather than trying to force every case into a single programme.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the SG Enable telephone number?

The current information and referral page lists 1800-8585-885 and contactus@sgenable.sg.

Can I get help without a disability diagnosis?

SG Enable’s information and referral service can receive enquiries from people with suspected disabilities. Specific funded schemes may still require formal professional assessment and verification.

How much does the Assistive Technology Fund pay?

ATF provides a means-tested subsidy of up to 90% of approved assistive technology costs, subject to a S$40,000 lifetime cap. The amount is not guaranteed for every eligible applicant.

What is the ATF income ceiling in 2026?

The official per capita monthly household income ceiling increased to S$4,800 from January 2026, subject to other eligibility conditions.

Can Permanent Residents apply?

The ATF eligibility page includes both Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents, but subsidy rates and other conditions differ. Confirm eligibility through the approved touchpoint.

Can I buy a wheelchair first and seek ATF reimbursement?

Do not assume reimbursement. ATF relies on professional assessment and the approved application route. Clarify approval and purchase procedures before committing to an expensive device.

Do I need a new DVF for every scheme?

Not necessarily. Check whether disability status is already verified and whether the specific scheme accepts it before arranging a fresh form.

Where can I get disability job support?

Start with SG Enable’s Job Placement and Job Support programme and its official application instructions.

Your Next Useful Action

Call SG Enable on 1800-8585-885 and describe the person’s actual support needs. If equipment is the immediate problem, ask about professional assessment, disability verification and the correct assistive device funding route. For a child or adult care programme, ask what service referral is suitable.

The goal is not a catalogue of every grant. It is a clear, accessible path from a practical difficulty to an appropriate assessment, service and funding decision.

Official Sources and Further Reading

Information reviewed: 4 November 2026. This independent guide is not an official disability assessment, funding approval or referral service. Contact SG Enable or the relevant provider for an individual decision.

Getting Help in Singapore | Disability Support, SG Enable and Assistive Technology Grants