The Health Ministry is setting up a new fund to help lower-income Singaporeans who are severely disabled.

Called ElderFund, it will be available from 2020, and give those who qualify up to $250 a month for their long-term care needs.

The money could, for example, help pay for the cost of home care or daycare services as well as necessities such as adult diapers.

They will receive the money for as long as they are severely disabled, which means they need help with at least three of six basic daily activities.

These are feeding themselves, getting dressed, using the toilet, bathing, moving from room to room, and getting from the bed to a chair or vice versa.

The discretionary scheme for Singaporeans aged 30 and older is a social safety net to help the lower-income with severe disabilities.

This group includes those who may not be able to join CareShield Life because of their disabilities.

It also includes people with low Medisave balances or who do not have enough savings for their long-term care needs.

The new scheme will be administered by the Agency for Integrated Care, which coordinates eldercare efforts here. More details on how to apply for it will be available closer to 2020.

The ministry said citizens who still need help after tapping ElderFund can also turn to the existing Medifund or ComCare schemes.

It estimates that one in two healthy Singaporeans could become severely disabled in his or her lifetime. Three in 10 of those in this group are expected to remain severely disabled for at least 10 years.