How to Make a CPF Nomination: Cash, Enhanced and Special Needs Options
How to make a CPF nomination: pick cash, the Enhanced Nomination Scheme or the Special Needs Savings Scheme, then apply with Singpass and two witnesses.
CPF & Retirement
CPF accounts, retirement sums, CPF LIFE payouts, top-ups and retirement planning in plain English.
CPF Optimisation: Every Legitimate Strategy, by Age
CPF optimisation strategies for 2026 and 2027, sorted by age: top-ups with up to $8,000 of tax relief, transfers, refunds, deferral, and what each costs.
6 min read
How to Read Your CPF Statement and Check Your Balances
Your CPF statement comes in three forms: live balances, a 15-month transaction history and a Yearly Statement of Account. How to read each and what to check.
5 min read
How to Start CPF LIFE Payouts: Steps, Timeline and What Happens at 70
How to start CPF LIFE payouts: apply online from three months before 65, choose a start age and plan, and allow up to two weeks. If you do nothing, 70.
6 min read
The Retirement Timeline: How Long Will Your Retirement Savings Last?
How long will retirement savings last on top of CPF LIFE? Map payouts, savings and rising costs year by year. In our illustration, $250,000 lasts until 78.
5 min read
CPF for the Self-Employed: MediSave, Voluntary Contributions, Tax Relief
CPF for self-employed persons in 2026: only MediSave is compulsory, once net trade income tops $6,000. See the rates, voluntary top-ups and tax relief.
6 min read
CPF Special Account Closure: What Happens at 55 and What You Can Do
After the CPF Special Account closure, SA savings up to the Full Retirement Sum ($220,400 in 2026) move to your RA at 55. The rest goes to your OA at 2.5%.
5 min read
Withdraw CPF When Leaving Singapore: Rules for Citizens, PRs and Malaysians
You can withdraw CPF when leaving Singapore only after giving up citizenship or PR status. The account is closed, CPF LIFE ends and it takes about 12 weeks.
6 min read
Working After 65: CPF Contributions, Re-Employment and Your Payouts
Working after 65: CPF contributions are 16.5% of wages in 2026, the re-employment age is 69, and a salary does not reduce your CPF LIFE payouts. The rules.
5 min read
1M65 Explained Honestly: The Maths, the Assumptions and the Limits
1M65 means $1 million in combined CPF balances by 65, built on compounding at the 4% floor. See the maths, the assumptions and what changed at 55.
5 min read
MRSS and Topping Up Your Parents' or Spouse's CPF: Who Qualifies
The Matched Retirement Savings Scheme matches cash top-ups up to $2,000 a year. Who qualifies in 2026, how family top-ups work, and when tax relief applies.
6 min read
Should You Withdraw CPF at 55? Questions to Ask Before You Move Any Money
Should you withdraw CPF at 55? It is optional, and $5,000 can come out whatever your balance. What to check before you withdraw, top up or invest.
6 min read
CPF for Singapore Permanent Residents: Graduated Rates in Years 1 and 2
CPF contribution for PRs starts low: 9% of wages in year 1 and 24% in year 2 if aged 55 and below, then the full 37% from year 3. Tables and worked examples.
6 min read
T-Bills With CPF OA, Fixed Deposits and CPFIS: The Break-Even Maths
Buying T-bills with CPF OA savings pays only if the yield beats about 2.9% for a six-month bill, after seven lost months of 2.5% OA interest and fees.
6 min read
Dependants' Protection Scheme and Home Protection Scheme: What They Cover
The Dependants' Protection Scheme pays up to $70,000 from $18 a year. The Home Protection Scheme clears your HDB loan. Cover, premiums and opting out.
6 min read
How Much CPF Do I Need to Retire? Work Backwards From Your Spending
How much CPF do I need to retire? Start from monthly spending. On CPF's 2026 estimates, $1,780 a month from 65 needs about $220,400 in your RA at 55.
5 min read
The MediSave Top-Up: Basic Healthcare Sum, Interest and Tax Relief
A MediSave top-up is capped at the Basic Healthcare Sum, $79,000 in 2026. It earns the 4% floor, shares the $8,000 tax relief and can only pay for healthcare.
5 min read
CPF Top-Ups Before 55: Cash Top-Ups vs OA-to-SA Transfers
A CPF OA to SA transfer lifts interest from 2.5% to the 4% floor but earns no tax relief. Cash top-ups get up to $8,000 of relief. Neither can be reversed.
5 min read
Voluntary Housing Refund: When Repaying CPF Used for Your Home Makes Sense
A CPF voluntary housing refund puts cash back into your OA at 2.5% before you sell, with no tax relief and no reversal. When it helps and when it does not.
5 min read
CPF Wage Ceilings and Limits: Ordinary Wage, Additional Wage, Annual Limit
The CPF wage ceiling in 2026 is $8,000 a month for Ordinary Wages, within a $102,000 yearly cap. How the bonus ceiling and the $37,740 Annual Limit work.
5 min read
Lease Buyback Scheme and Silver Housing Bonus: Flat Into Retirement Income
The Lease Buyback Scheme lets owners aged 65 and above sell part of their flat's lease to HDB and stay put. How it and the Silver Housing Bonus raise payouts.
6 min read
CPF Allocation Rates by Age: How Each Dollar Is Split in 2026 and 2027
CPF allocation rates by age for 2026 and 2027: at 35 and below, about 62% of each dollar goes to the OA, 16% to the SA and 22% to MediSave. Full table inside.
6 min read
CPF Investment Scheme Explained: What You Can Buy, the Limits, the Fees
The CPF Investment Scheme lets you invest OA savings above $20,000 and SA savings above $40,000. What you can buy, the limits, the fees and the risks.
5 min read
Deferring CPF LIFE to 70: How Much More You Get, and the Break-Even Age
Defer your CPF LIFE payout from 65 to 70 and it can rise by up to 35%: from about $1,780 to $2,380 a month in CPF Board's example. Break-even is near 85.
6 min read
CPF Education Loan Scheme: Using Your OA for Tertiary Fees, and Repaying It
The CPF Education Loan Scheme lets you use up to 40% of OA savings for local diploma or degree fees. The student repays in cash, with interest, in 12 years.
5 min read
How Much CPF Can You Withdraw at 55 and 65? Rules and Examples
How much CPF you can withdraw at 55: up to $5,000, or everything above your Full Retirement Sum. At 65, up to 20% of your Retirement Account, with examples.
5 min read
Silver Support Scheme 2026: Who Qualifies and How Much You Get
The Silver Support Scheme pays eligible seniors aged 65 and above $215 to $1,080 a quarter in 2026. Who qualifies, the payout table and other senior payouts.
5 min read
CPF LIFE Bequest: What Happens to Your CPF LIFE Money When You Die
The CPF LIFE bequest is your premium minus the payouts you have received. How the premium balance is worked out and how it reaches your beneficiaries.
5 min read
MediShield Life Premiums and CareShield Life: Paying From MediSave
A MediShield Life premium is $200 to $2,826 a year before subsidies and can be paid fully from MediSave. Subsidies, and what happens if MediSave runs short.
5 min read
What Happens to Your CPF at 55: Retirement Account, SA Closure, Withdrawals
What happens to your CPF at 55: a Retirement Account is created, up to $220,400 moves in for the 2026 cohort, your Special Account closes and cash frees up.
5 min read
CPF Property Pledge: Withdrawing Above the Basic Retirement Sum
A CPF property pledge lets owners aged 55 and above withdraw Retirement Account savings down to the Basic Retirement Sum. How it works and what it costs.
5 min read
CPF Retirement Sums 2026 and 2027: BRS, FRS and ERS Explained
The CPF retirement sums for 2026 are $110,200 (BRS), $220,400 (FRS) and $440,800 (ERS). See the 2027 figures, how they are set and which cohort each covers.
5 min read
Topping Up Your or Your Spouse's Retirement Account Between 55 and 64
A CPF Retirement Account top-up from 55 can go up to $440,800 in 2026. How the tax relief caps, MRSS grants and 31 December cut-off work for you or a spouse.
5 min read
What Can MediSave Be Used For? Hospital Bills, Outpatient Care, Premiums
What can MediSave be used for? Hospital stays, surgery, listed outpatient care and insurance premiums, each with a withdrawal limit. The 2026 limits.
5 min read
CPF Accounts Explained: Ordinary, Special, MediSave and Retirement
CPF accounts explained in plain terms: the Ordinary Account for housing, Special and Retirement Accounts for old age, MediSave for healthcare, and the rates.
5 min read
Retirement Sum Scheme vs CPF LIFE: When RSS Payouts Stop and How to Switch
Retirement Sum Scheme vs CPF LIFE: RSS payouts stop when your savings run out, by about age 90 at most. Who is on RSS and how to join CPF LIFE before 80.
5 min read
CPF Interest Rates Explained: OA, SA, MediSave and RA
CPF interest rates in late 2026: 2.5% on the Ordinary Account, 4% on the Special, MediSave and Retirement Accounts. How rates are set and when it is paid.
5 min read
CPF Contribution Rates 2026 and 2027: The Full Table by Age
CPF contribution rates for 2026 and 2027 by age: 37% in total up to age 55, the employer and employee split for each band, and what changes on 1 January 2027.
5 min read
CPF LIFE Payout: How Much a Month for the BRS, FRS and ERS in 2026
CPF LIFE payout estimates for 2026: about $950 a month on the BRS, $1,780 on the FRS and $3,440 on the ERS from 65. CPF Board's figures and their assumptions.
5 min read
HDB Loan vs Bank Loan: What Each Means for Your CPF and the $20,000 Rule
HDB loan vs bank loan: an HDB loan at 2.6% makes you use your CPF OA first, but each buyer can keep $20,000. A bank loan lets you keep it all.
5 min read
What Is CPF LIFE? How Singapore's National Annuity Works
What is CPF LIFE? A national annuity that turns your Retirement Account into monthly payouts for life from 65. How premiums, pooled interest and payouts work.
5 min read
How Much CPF Can I Use for Housing? Valuation Limit and Lease Rules
How much CPF can I use for housing? It depends on the Valuation Limit, the 120% Withdrawal Limit and whether the lease lasts until you are 95.
5 min read
2.5% vs Inflation: What Happens to $200,000 in CPF OA Over 15 Years
The CPF OA interest rate of 2.5% vs inflation: $200,000 grows to about $289,660 in 15 years. See what that buys if prices rise 2% or 3% a year.
5 min read
CPF LIFE Standard, Basic or Escalating: Choosing Your Plan at 65
CPF LIFE Standard vs Basic vs Escalating: Standard pays about $1,780 a month from 65 on the 2026 Full Retirement Sum. See how the three plans differ.
5 min read