Helper Levy Concession: Who Qualifies?

If you've just hired a migrant domestic worker to help with the kids, the helper levy concession is one of the most straightforward ways to reduce your monthly outgoings — and many parents don't realise they already qualify. Instead of paying the standard $300 a month levy to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), eligible households pay just $60. That's $240 saved every month, and for most families with young children, the paperwork is either automatic or takes ten minutes. We've been there too — juggling the helper's salary, agency fees, and the levy on top, wondering where the family budget went. So let's break down exactly who qualifies, how much you save, and how to make sure you're not overpaying.

> TL;DR — Key Takeaways > - The helper levy concession reduces your migrant domestic worker (MDW) levy from $300/month to $60/month — a saving of $2,880 a year. > - You qualify if your household includes a Singapore citizen child under 16, an elderly person aged 67+, or a person with disabilities. > - The child or elderly person must live at the same registered address as your helper and be a Singapore citizen (not PR). > - For the Young Child and Aged Person schemes, MOM often applies the concession automatically. > - You can only claim the concession for one helper per qualifying person in the household.

What Is the Helper Levy Concession?

The helper levy concession is a reduced monthly foreign domestic worker levy of $60 instead of $300, offered by MOM to households that genuinely need caregiving support. The levy is a pricing mechanism — not a tax you get back — that the government uses to manage the number of migrant domestic workers in Singapore. If your family has young children, elderly members, or a person with disabilities, the concession recognises that your helper is doing essential care work.

Here's the definitive number to remember: the standard MDW levy is $300 per month for your first helper, but the concessionary rate is $60 per month. That single change means your annual levy drops from $3,600 to $720 — money that goes straight back into groceries, enrichment, or your child's savings plan.

The levy is separate from your helper's salary, her Foreign Worker Medical Insurance premiums, the Settling-In Programme, and the security bond. Many first-time employers lump these together and get a nasty surprise. If you're mapping out the full cost of hiring, our guide on helper-based childcare, training and supervision walks through the real monthly breakdown so nothing catches you off guard.

Who Qualifies for the Helper Levy Concession?

You qualify for the helper levy concession if your household includes at least one of three groups: a young Singapore citizen child, an elderly Singapore citizen, or a person with disabilities. The qualifying person must live at the same address as your helper. MOM runs three separate schemes, and you only need to meet one of them.

The Young Child Scheme (most common for parents)

This is the one most ParentLah readers will use. You're eligible if you, your spouse, or your helper's employer has a Singapore citizen child aged below 16 years old living at the same registered address as the helper.

Key points parents often miss:
• The child must be a Singapore citizen. PR children do not count.
• A grandchild who is a Singapore citizen and lives with you also qualifies you — helpful for multi-generational households.
• The concession applies until the child turns 16. On the child's 16th birthday, MOM automatically reverts your levy to the standard rate unless another qualifying person keeps you eligible.

So if you have a five-year-old Singaporean at home, you should be paying $60 a month, full stop. If you're being charged $300, something's wrong — read on for how to fix it.

The Aged Person Scheme

You qualify if you, your spouse, or a parent/grandparent living with you is a Singapore citizen aged 67 or above, residing at the same address as your helper. This is common for sandwiched-generation families where the helper cares for both young kids and ageing grandparents.

The Persons with Disabilities Scheme

If a family member of any age is a Singapore citizen certified to need help with daily activities (like bathing, dressing, or feeding), you can apply under this scheme. Unlike the other two, this one is not automatic — you'll need a medical assessment from a Singapore-registered doctor confirming the need for assistance.

One important limit: you can only claim one levy concession per qualifying person. If you have one child and hire two helpers, only one helper gets the $60 rate; the second is charged the standard levy (which for a second MDW is $450/month without concession).

How Much Does the Helper Levy Concession Actually Save?

The helper levy concession saves a Singapore family $240 every month, or $2,880 per year, compared to the standard levy. Over a two-year work permit cycle, that's roughly $5,760 — real money that adds up fast when you're also budgeting for preschool, enrichment, and everything else.

Here's the side-by-side:

Those annual savings are a meaningful sum that could go towards enrichment classes, your child's education savings, or a buffer against rising school-related expenses down the line. It's one of the quieter but more generous forms of family support in Singapore — no application drama, no income ceiling, no clawback.

And while you're trimming the family budget, it's worth stacking small wins elsewhere too. Sites like WhyNotDeals round up family and lifestyle discounts in Singapore, so the levy savings don't get quietly eaten up by everyday spending.

How to Check and Apply for the Levy Concession

For most parents, the good news is that you don't need to do anything — MOM cross-checks your household records and applies the concession automatically. For the Young Child Scheme and Aged Person Scheme, if the qualifying person's identity and address match your helper's registered address in MOM's system, the $60 rate kicks in from the start.

Here's how to make sure you're getting it:

1. Check your levy bill. Log in to the MOM website or your GIRO statement. If you're paying $300 and you have a Singapore citizen child under 16 at the same address, you're being overcharged. 2. Confirm the address matches. The most common reason the concession isn't applied automatically is an address mismatch — for example, your child is registered at your parents' place but your helper is registered at your home. Update the records so they align. 3. Submit an application if needed. If the concession still isn't showing, apply online via MOM's e-services with supporting documents (child's birth certificate, NRIC, or the medical assessment for the disabilities scheme). 4. Set up GIRO. MOM requires the levy to be paid via GIRO. Missing payments can lead to your helper's work permit being revoked, so automate it.

A quick tip from parents who've been through it: rectifying an address mismatch early matters — the sooner you correct your records with MOM, the sooner you start paying the right rate. So check now rather than "later lah" — those $240s add up.

Common Situations That Trip Parents Up

"My child is a PR, not a citizen." Unfortunately, the Young Child Scheme requires Singapore citizenship. If your child is due to become a citizen, follow up with MOM once it's confirmed.

"We moved house." Any change of address means you must update both your and your helper's registered addresses. If they fall out of sync, the concession can lapse without warning.

"My youngest just turned 16." The concession ends automatically at 16 unless another family member (an elderly parent aged 67+, for instance) keeps you eligible. Plan for the levy to jump back to $300 so it doesn't dent your monthly cash flow.

"I have two helpers." Only one concession applies per qualifying person. The second helper is charged at the standard or higher rate.

Hiring a helper is one of the bigger money decisions Singapore parents make, and it sits alongside a whole ecosystem of support schemes. If you're a newer parent still mapping out what you're entitled to, our complete list of government grants for new parents in Singapore (2026) and the Baby Bonus calculator guide are worth bookmarking. At ParentLah, we're big believers that knowing your subsidies is half the battle — the schemes exist, but nobody chases you to claim them.

The Bottom Line

The helper levy concession is one of the rare government schemes that's both generous and low-effort: $60 instead of $300 a month if your household has a Singapore citizen child under 16, an elderly citizen aged 67+, or a person with disabilities. For families with young kids, it's usually automatic — but "usually" isn't "always," so pull up your levy bill this week and confirm you're paying the right amount. A five-minute check could be worth $2,880 a year to your family. That's the kind of admin we're happy to nag you about.

Sources

1. MOM — Levy Concession for a Migrant Domestic Worker — official eligibility criteria and schemes. 2. MOM — Foreign Domestic Worker Levy Rates — current standard and concessionary levy amounts. 3. MOM — Paying the Migrant Domestic Worker Levy (GIRO) — payment methods and obligations. 4. Ministry of Manpower — Employing a Migrant Domestic Worker — full employer responsibilities and costs. 5. MOM — Persons with Disabilities Levy Concession — application requirements and medical assessment details.