Eligibility of Persons with Severe Mental Health Conditions for Disability Support Schemes and Concessions

Miss Rachel Ong asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) whether persons with severe mental health conditions whose functional limitations and caregiving needs are comparable to those of persons with disabilities are eligible for disability support schemes and concessions; (b) if so, how many applications have been received and rejected the past five years; and (c) if not, whether the Ministry will review the eligibility criteria.

Persons with functional limitations and caregiving needs are assessed on eligibility for Government assistance schemes based their need for assistance with their activities of daily living. This is regardless of whether the person has a disability or a mental health condition.

There is no readily available data on the mental health condition of applicants for these schemes.