CRITERIA FOR CAREGIVERS OF MENTALLY DISABLED PERSONS TO QUALIFY FOR CONCESSIONARY LEVY OR GRANT

Several years back, I managed to convince MSF & MOH to expand the grounds for which concessionary MDW levy may be offered to include families with adult mentally disabled persons. This led to a modified assessment of the adult mentally disabled person on his ability to perform Activities of Daily Living (“ADLs”) through a “Client Assessment Form”. In a parliamentary question (“PQ”) which was set down for answer this month, I suggested doing away with the reference to ADLs altogether because this may not be a good proxy to gauge the burden of caregivers of the mentally disabled persons. Please find below my PQ and Minister Masagos’ answer.

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Mr Murali Pillai asked the Minister for Social and Family Development whether the current system of allowing caregivers of mentally disabled persons to qualify for concessionary migrant domestic worker levy or grant based on the persons’ ability to perform Activities of Daily Living may be adjusted to allow for such concessionary levy or grant so long as the person cared for is assessed to be significantly mentally impaired.

Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: The Migrant Domestic Worker (MDW) levy concession is offered to families of persons who require assistance with at least one Activity of Daily Living (ADL)1. This includes persons who may physically be able to perform the ADLs but require assistance or supervision to do so due to cognitive impairments. For example, a person with cognitive impairment may be able to hold a fork and spoon, but require assistance to portion the food, or supervision to ensure that he / she does not choke while eating. Such a person can be assessed by a registered physiotherapist or occupational therapist at a SPED school, disability care centre, or therapy hub service provider using the Ministry of Social and Family Development’s Client Assessment Form (CAF), and the family can submit the CAF to qualify for the MDW levy concession.

Note(s) to Question No(s) 15:

1 Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) refer to: Eating, Bathing, Dressing, Transferring, Toileting, and Walking or moving around.