Faq - Schemes and Concessions

Ministry of Manpower

You can get the lower levy for up to 2 foreign domestic workers (FDWs) per household (employer and spouse). This is subject to the conditions being met for each FDW.

Source information taken from https://www.mom.gov.sg/faq/work-permit-for-fdw/can-i-get-a-lower-levy-for-more-than-one-fdw

Ministry of Manpower

An elderly person can apply for a foreign domestic worker (FDW) under a special scheme: the Joint Income Scheme or the Sponsorship Scheme.

Source information taken from https://www.mom.gov.sg/faq/work-permit-for-fdw/how-would-an-unmarried-elderly-person-apply-for-an-fdw

Ministry of Manpower

Aside from employing a foreign domestic worker, you could a engage a domestic cleaning service to take care of household chores or tap on your extended family to look after the child or the elderly person. You can also consider childcare or after-school care and elderly day-care facilities.

Source information taken from https://www.mom.gov.sg/faq/work-permit-for-fdw/what-other-choices-do-families-have-for-taking-care-of-children-or-elderly-persons-at-home

Ministry of Manpower

The employer's income is one of the main ways we judge an application for a Work Permit for foreign domestic worker. Married couples can combine their incomes in the application. Alternatively, you can apply under the Joint Income or Sponsorship Scheme.

Joint Income Scheme

Under the Joint Income Scheme, you can combine your income with that of a working family member who is living with you, other than your spouse. Only 1 extra incomecan be included.

To qualify for the Joint Income Scheme, you must:

1. Be a Singapore citizen or permanent resident.
2. Be 21 years old and above.
3. Not be an undischarged bankrupt.
4. Combine your income with an immediate family member (who is not your spouse) living at the same address - this could be a sibling, relative, parent or child.
5. Be the one receiving a higher salary.
6. Have the mental capacity to fully understand and discharge your responsibility as an employer. 
   
   Note: You should not be diagnosed with any medical condition that would impair your ability to exercise supervision and control over the well-being of the FDW. Examples of such medical conditions include Alzheimer, dementia and schizophrenia which can cause symptoms such as severe memory lapses, confusion, emotional instability, progressive loss of mental ability, paranoia, etc.

Sponsorship Scheme

If you are a senior citizen, the Sponsorship Scheme lets you apply for a Work Permit based on the income of up to 2 sponsors.

To qualify for the Sponsorship Scheme, you must:

1. Be a Singapore citizen or permanent resident.
2. Be 60 years old and above.
3. Not be earning an income.
4. Not be staying with any working adults.
5. Have the mental capacity to fully understand and discharge your responsibility as an employer. 
   
   Note: You should not be diagnosed with any medical condition that would impair your ability to exercise supervision and control over the well-being of the FDW. Examples of such medical conditions include Alzheimer, dementia and schizophrenia which can cause symptoms such as severe memory lapses, confusion, emotional instability, progressive loss of mental ability, paranoia, etc.

Your sponsor may be:

1. Your children or children’s spouse.
2. Your grandchildren or grandchildren’s spouse.
3. Your siblings.

Your application will be assessed based on the total income of your sponsors.

Understand your responsibilities

As a sponsor or joint applicant, your role is similar to that of the FDW’s employer:

1. You are responsible for the upkeep and well-being of the helper.
2. You must ensure that the monthly foreign worker levy is paid on time.

How to apply

You can either:

1. Apply online through eService (fastest method)
2. Apply manually by submitting the relevant form:
   • i) Work Permit Application Form under the Joint Income Scheme
   • ii) Work Permit Application Form under the Sponsorship Scheme

Source information taken from https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/work-permit-for-foreign-domestic-worker/apply-under-a-special-scheme

Ministry of Manpower

Yes. Under the sponsorship scheme, the employer is the elderly person. As such, the elderly person would be able to enjoy the levy concession if they are eligible for levy concession.

Source taken from https://www.mom.gov.sg/faq/work-permit-for-fdw/can-i-get-levy-concession-for-an-fdw-under-the-sponsorship-scheme

Ministry of Manpower

Your foreign domestic worker (FDW) levy concession will stop at the end of the month once any of these situations arise:

1. When the child turns 16 years old.
2. When the elderly person passes away.
3. When the elderly person’s address in the NRIC is changed and differs from your address.

Source information taken from https://www.mom.gov.sg/faq/work-permit-for-fdw/in-what-situations-could-my-fdw-levy-concession-end

Ministry of Manpower

While the household income or monthly salary is a qualifying criteria, we are unable to reveal the exact amount.

This salary requirement is set based on the realistic overall cost of hiring a foreign domestic worker (FDW), including worker's salary, levy, insurance, food and other expenses.

The household income will be assessed based on the type of application:

1. For married couples, you can combine income with your spouse.
2. Under the Joint Income Scheme, you can combine your income with one of your immediate family members (other than your spouse) living at the same address.
3. If you are aged 60 years old or above, not earning an income and not staying with any working adults, you can apply under the Sponsorship Scheme.

Source information from https://www.mom.gov.sg/faq/work-permit-for-fdw/what-is-the-minimum-income-needed-to-employ-an-fdw