The Law and the Elderly in Singapore: The Law on Income and Maintenance for the Elderly

• Main Author: HSU, Locknie
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University 2003
• Subjects: Singapore; Older adults; Retirement age; Aged; Retirement; Elder law; Employment; Adults; Spouses; Wages; Parents; Asian Studies; Elder Law; Law and Society
• Online Access: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/sol_research/246; https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/context/sol_research/article/1245/viewcontent/LocknieHsu_LawandtheElderly_2003.pdf
• Institution: Singapore Management University

By 2030, Singapore's elderly will make up a staggering 19% of the population. With such a large proportion of people becoming old, it is timely to pay some attention to the broad spectrum of legal issues surrounding elder. Several sociological and statistical studies have been done on the elderly Singapore, yet relatively little has been written on the law relating to them. Much of the present legislation which directly or indirectly addresses problems of the elderly in Singapore relate to their financial arrangements. Examples of these are provisions relating to withdrawal of Central Provident Fund (CPF) monies and the age of retirement. This article explores selected issues relating to financial support of Singapore's elderly, and highlights some aread in which the law does and can further play an effective role to safeguard their interests. Other equally important issues on housing, succession, divorce, capacity, elder abuse and crimes that impact the elderly are left for discusssion elsewhere.