Assisting your loved ones

  1. How can I help a beneficiary who is illiterate, not digitally able or with medical condition and do not have Singpass to check their eligibility for Government benefits?
    To safeguard citizens’ interests and confidentiality, a beneficiary can check their own benefits on govbenefits website using their Singpass, but not their loved ones. Citizens who are illiterate or unable to use the website may approach any ServiceSG centres or community centres for assistance. However, if the beneficiary has a medical condition and is unable to do so, you can help them to check their eligibility for Government benefits if you are:
    • Aged 21 and above; and
    • A next-of-kin or appointed donee under the Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA), or court-appointed Deputy of the beneficiary.
    If you are a next-of-kin or caregiver of the beneficiary, please reach out to us with the scanned copies of the following document(s):
    1. Documentary evidence stating the beneficiary's medical condition (e.g. doctor's memorandum, medical report, or court order). The date of the document(s) should not be more than 1 year ago, unless it specifically states that the patient’s condition is permanent or the condition is known to be permanent (e.g. bedridden, immobile, physically incapacitated, mentally incapacitated, autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, etc.);
    2. Your NRIC; and
    3. The beneficiary’s NRIC.
    If you are a parent/guardian who is helping your child, please reach out to us with the scanned copies of the following document(s):
    1. Birth certificate of your child; or legal document to verify the guardianship between the legal guardian and child;
    2. Documentary evidence stating your child’s medical condition (e.g. doctor's memorandum, medical report, or court order). The date of the document(s) should not be more than 1 year ago, unless it specifically states that the patient’s condition is permanent or the condition is known to be permanent (e.g. bedridden, immobile, physically incapacitated, mentally incapacitated, autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, etc.)
    3. Your NRIC; and
    4. Your child’s NRIC.
    If you are the appointed donee under the Lasting Power of Attorney of the beneficiary, please reach out to us with the scanned copies of the following document(s):
    1. Lasting Power of Attorney of the beneficiary;
    2. Documentary evidence stating the beneficiary's medical condition (e.g. doctor's memorandum, medical report, or court order). The date of the document(s) should not be more than 1 year ago, unless it specifically states that the patient’s condition is permanent or the condition is known to be permanent (e.g. bedridden, immobile, physically incapacitated, mentally incapacitated, autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, etc.);
    3. Your NRIC; and
    4. Beneficiary’s NRIC.
    If you are the court-appointed deputy, please reach out to us with the scanned copies of the following document(s):
    1. Court Order authorising you to perform financial transactions on behalf of the beneficiary;
    2. Your NRIC;
    3. Beneficiary’s NRIC.

  2. How can I help a beneficiary with medical condition to provide/update their bank account details registered with the Government (or sign up for GST Voucher) to receive their Government benefits?
    The primary mode of payment for Government benefits is via PayNow-NRIC. For citizens who have not linked their NRICs to PayNow, they will be paid via GIRO to their bank account. Citizens can update their bank account or sign up for the GST Voucher by providing their bank account details to the Government here.

    Citizens will receive the benefits via GovCash if the Government has no records of their bank account details.

    If a beneficiary is unable to perform these transactions due to a medical condition, you can help him/her to provide/update his/her bank account details registered with the Government, if you are:
    • Aged 21 and above; and
    • A next-of-kin or appointed donee under the Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA), or court-appointed Deputy of the beneficiary.
    Option 1: To update to a bank account held in trust for the beneficiary
    Please reach out to us with the scanned copies of the following document(s):

    1. Bank book/statement reflecting that the account is held in trust for the beneficiary;
    2. Your NRIC; and
    3. Beneficiary’s NRIC.
    Option 2: To update to a personal or joint bank account in the beneficiary’s name
    If you are a next-of-kin or caregiver of the beneficiary, please reach out to us with the scanned copies of the following document(s):
    1. Documentary evidence stating the beneficiary's medical condition (e.g. doctor's memorandum, medical report, or court order). The date of the document(s) should not be more than 1 year ago, unless it specifically states that the patient’s condition is permanent or the condition is known to be permanent (e.g. bedridden, immobile, physically incapacitated, mentally incapacitated, autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, etc.);
    2. Your NRIC; and
    3. The beneficiary’s NRIC.
    If you are a parent/guardian who is helping your child, please reach out to us with the scanned copies of the following document(s):

    1. Birth certificate of your child or legal document to verify the guardianship between the legal guardian and child;
    2. Documentary evidence stating your child’s medical condition (e.g. doctor's memorandum, medical report, or court order). The date of the document(s) should not be more than 1 year ago, unless it specifically states that the patient’s condition is permanent or the condition is known to be permanent (e.g. bedridden, immobile, physically incapacitated, mentally incapacitated, autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, etc.);
    3. Your NRIC; and
    4. Your child’s NRIC.
    If you are the appointed donee under the Lasting Power of Attorney of the beneficiary, please reach out to us with the scanned copies of the following document(s):

    1. Lasting Power of Attorney of the beneficiary;
    2. Documentary evidence stating the beneficiary's medical condition (e.g. doctor's memorandum, medical report, or court order). The date of the document(s) should not be more than 1 year ago, unless it specifically states that the patient’s condition is permanent or the condition is known to be permanent (e.g. bedridden, immobile, physically incapacitated, mentally incapacitated, autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, etc.);
    3. Your NRIC; and
    4. Beneficiary’s NRIC.
    If you are the court-appointed deputy, please reach out to us with the scanned copies of the following document(s):
    1. Court Order authorising you to perform financial transactions on behalf of the beneficiary;
    2. Your NRIC; and
    3. Beneficiary’s NRIC.
    Please note the bank account registered with the Government must include the beneficiary’s name. We seek your understanding that this is to allow the Government to safeguard the interest of the beneficiary. If you are unable to fulfil any of the above options, please write in to us for further advice.

  3. How can I help a beneficiary with medical condition to withdraw their GovCash monies?
    You can help a beneficiary with medical condition (e.g. who is physically immobile or mentally incapacitated) withdraw their GovCash monies if you are:
    • Aged 21 and above; and
    • A next-of-kin or appointed donee under the Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA), or court-appointed Deputy of the beneficiary.
    To help with the withdrawal of the GovCash monies, visit any OCBC-New ATM during branch operating hours, where OCBC Digital Ambassadors will be available to render assistance:

    If you are a next-of-kin or caregiver of the beneficiary, please bring the following document(s):

    1. Documentary evidence stating the beneficiary's medical condition (e.g. doctor's memorandum, medical report, or court order). The date of the document(s) should not be more than 1 year ago, unless it specifically states that the patient’s condition is permanent or the condition is known to be permanent (e.g. bedridden, immobile, physically incapacitated, mentally incapacitated, autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, etc.);
    2. Your original NRIC;
    3. A photocopy of the beneficiary’s NRIC; and
    4. Beneficiary’s GovCash Payment Reference Number (PRN).
    If you are the appointed donee under the Lasting Power of Attorney of the beneficiary, please bring the following document(s):
    1. Lasting Power of Attorney of the beneficiary;
    2. Documentary evidence stating the beneficiary's medical condition (e.g. doctor's memorandum, medical report, or court order). The date of the document(s) should not be more than 1 year ago, unless it specifically states that the patient’s condition is permanent or the condition is known to be permanent (e.g. bedridden, immobile, physically incapacitated, mentally incapacitated, autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, etc.);
    3. Your original NRIC;
    4. A photocopy of the beneficiary’s NRIC; and
    5. Beneficiary’s GovCash Payment Reference Number (PRN).
    If you are the court-appointed deputy, please bring the following document(s):

    1. Court Order authorising you to perform financial transactions on behalf of the beneficiary;
    2. Your original NRIC;
    3. A photocopy of the beneficiary’s NRIC; and
    4. Beneficiary’s GovCash Payment Reference Number (PRN).
    You may be required to sign a Letter of Indemnity at the bank, witnessed by the bank officer.

  4. If the beneficiary passes away before the payment of Government benefits, will they still qualify?
    Government benefits are paid to Singapore citizens who are alive.

  5. If the beneficiary passes away after payment of Government benefits has been made to them via GovCash, what will happen to the monies in GovCash?
    If the beneficiary passes away before they fully utilise their GovCash, their GovCash balance will be credited to their CPF Ordinary Account. The amount credited will form part of their CPF monies and will be distributed according to their CPF Nomination, if any.

  6. How can I help a beneficiary with medical condition to appeal for Government benefits?
    Eligibility for Government benefits is automatically assessed. If you have verified that the beneficiary with medical condition did not receive the benefits, you may help him/her to make an appeal, if you are:
    • Aged 21 and above; and
    • A next-of-kin or appointed donee under the Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA), or court-appointed Deputy of the beneficiary.
    If you are a next-of-kin or caregiver of the beneficiary, please reach out to us with the scanned copies of the following document(s):

    1. Documentary evidence stating the beneficiary's medical condition (e.g. doctor's memorandum, medical report, or court order). The date of the document(s) should not be more than 1 year ago, unless it specifically states that the patient’s condition is permanent or the condition is known to be permanent (e.g. bedridden, immobile, physically incapacitated, mentally incapacitated, autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, etc.);
    2. Your NRIC; and
    3. The beneficiary’s NRIC.
    If you are a parent/guardian who is helping your child, please reach out to us with the scanned copies of the following document(s):
    1. Birth certificate of your child; or legal document to verify the guardianship between the legal guardian and child;
    2. Documentary evidence stating your child’s medical condition (e.g. doctor's memorandum, medical report, or court order). The date of the document(s) should not be more than 1 year ago, unless it specifically states that the patient’s condition is permanent or the condition is known to be permanent (e.g. bedridden, immobile, physically incapacitated, mentally incapacitated, autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, etc.);
    3. Your NRIC; and
    4. Your child’s NRIC.
    If you are the appointed donee under the Lasting Power of Attorney of the beneficiary, please reach out to us with the scanned copies of the following document(s):
    1. Lasting Power of Attorney of the beneficiary;
    2. Documentary evidence stating the beneficiary's medical condition (e.g. doctor's memorandum, medical report, or court order). The date of the document(s) should not be more than 1 year ago, unless it specifically states that the patient’s condition is permanent or the condition is known to be permanent (e.g. bedridden, immobile, physically incapacitated, mentally incapacitated, autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, etc.);
    3. Your NRIC; and
    4. Beneficiary’s NRIC.
    If you are the court-appointed deputy, please reach out to us with the scanned copies of the following document(s):
    1. Court Order authorising you to perform financial transactions on behalf of the beneficiary;
    2. Your NRIC; and
    3. Beneficiary’s NRIC.
    If you are unable to fulfil any of the above options, please write in to us for further advice.