S'pore delivery rider, 51, blind in 1 eye with serious heart condition, fails to get S$500 monthly maintenance from ex-wife

A delivery rider, 51, who is permanently blind in his right eye and suffers from a serious heart condition has failed in his bid to obtain S$500 in monthly maintenance from his ex-wife.

The Family Justice Courts dismissed his application after finding that he had not proven that his medical conditions prevented him from earning a livelihood entirely, or that he was unable to maintain himself.

According to a judgement dated Oct. 23, District Judge Kow Keng Siong acknowledged the man's serious medical conditions but found that he did not qualify as an incapacitated former husband under the Women's Charter.

The man, identified as YKM in court documents, had been married to his former wife, YKN, for 28 years before their divorce was finalised on Jan. 1, 2026.

Permanently blind in right eye, suffers from heart condition

Following the divorce, the man sought S$500 in monthly maintenance from his former wife, citing his serious medical conditions.

He was certified permanently blind in his right eye in February 2025.

According to court documents, the man said his impaired vision made it difficult for him to see kerbs and obstacles in poor lighting, preventing him from working evening and night shifts.

He also suffered a heart attack in June 2025 and was hospitalised for six days.

In February 2026, medical examinations found that his heart function was severely impaired. The following month, doctors advised him to avoid strenuous activities and driving taxis.

The man expressed concerns that continuing to work as a delivery rider could put his health at risk due to his impaired vision and heart condition.

However, his former wife opposed the application, arguing that he had not shown that his medical conditions prevented him from earning a livelihood or supporting himself.

Earns around S$2,725 monthly as delivery rider

The court noted that despite his medical conditions, the man continued to work as a delivery rider, earning a net monthly income of approximately S$2,725.

This exceeded the S$2,190 he said he needed for basic living expenses, including food, transport, utilities, telephone and internet bills, and rent.

Kow acknowledged that the man's health conditions restricted the types of work he could safely undertake.

However, he said the medical evidence did not establish that the man was incapable of earning a livelihood.

"The law cannot turn an apprehension into an incapacity," the judge said.

Medical concerns

The court noted the question was not whether the man indeed has a disability or illness, but whether that prevented him from earning a livelihood. "Clear and objective medical evidence is needed", it stated.

The court also noted that the man's medical reports advised him to avoid strenuous activities and driving taxis, but did not establish that he was permanently unfit for work.

The court further noted that while the man's concerns about future hardship are understandable, they cannot be a basis for ordering the woman to pay maintenance today.

"The definition of “incapacitated former husband” in s 2 requires the Husband to show, among others, that (a) he is presently incapacitated from earning a livelihood and (b) he is presently unable to maintain himself.

These requirements are not met merely because he may, at some future date, become incapacitated and unable to support himself."

Claimed S$500 monthly for necessities and cigarettes

The man claimed monthly expenses of around S$3,819 against a total monthly income of approximately S$3,245, including S$520 in rental income, leaving a shortfall of S$574.

However, the court found that the man had failed to adequately explain or justify some of his claimed expenses.

These included S$500 a month for amenities, necessities and cigarettes, although he had already listed separate expenses for food, transport, utilities, telephone and internet bills, debt repayments and rent.

Kow also found it unreasonable to require his former wife to pay for cigarettes, which he described as a matter of personal choice.

The court also questioned a claimed S$100 monthly maintenance expense, as the man had not explained whom the payment was intended for.

Kow noted that the couple's four children were working adults and found that his former wife should not be required to fund payments to them if the money was intended for their benefit.

Ex-wife's maintenance application also dismissed

The former wife had separately sought nominal maintenance of S$1 per month, citing a pre-existing lumbar slipped-disc condition.

However, the court also dismissed her application.

She earned approximately S$7,903.55 a month, around 2.6 times her former husband's gross monthly earnings of S$2,986.33.

Kow found that the medical evidence did not sufficiently establish the severity of her slipped-disc condition or how it might affect her ability to work in the future.

The court also considered their respective financial circumstances, noting that the man earned significantly less than his former wife and suffered from serious health conditions.

Ex-wife awarded 75 per cent of matrimonial assets

The court ordered that the couple's matrimonial assets, valued at S$568,985.22, be divided 25:75 in favour of the former wife.

The woman was allocated approximately S$426,738, while the man was allocated approximately S$142,246.

In reaching the decision, Kow found that the former wife had contributed more to household expenses and taken on greater childcare responsibilities throughout their 28-year marriage, including returning to work as a flight stewardess after the man's business folded, he became a bankrupt and worked as a driver.

The judge also acknowledged the man's contributions, including being the family's sole breadwinner during the early years of their marriage and helping to care for their children.