A Guide to CPF Nomination

What is a CPF Nomination?[1]

A CPF nomination is an action that you can take, in order to specify who will receive your CPF savings (i.e. your “nominee(s)”), and how much each nominee should receive upon your demise.[2]

If you do not make a CPF nomination, your CPF savings will be distributed by the Public Trustee’s Office (PTO) to legally entitled beneficiaries (usually family members and next-of-kin) under the Intestate Succession Act or the Inheritance Certificate (for Muslims).

The PTO will also charge a fee for the distribution of your un-nominated CPF savings.[3]

Who Can Make a CPF Nomination?[4]

All CPF members aged 16 and above can make CPF Nominations.

The nominator (i.e. you) must be mentally sound at the time he/she makes a CPF Nomination.[5]

Who Can You Nominate?[6]

You can nominate any person or organization[7] as a nominee, this includes non-CPF account holders.

Even if a person is not a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident, you still can nominate him/her.[8]

Consider the following treatment of your CPF savings for nominees who are:

There is no limit to the number of nominees[12] you can appoint.[13]

If you make a nomination online, you can indicate up to eight nominees in your nomination.[14]

If you wish to nominate more than eight nominees, then you should make your nomination at a CPF Service Centre.[15]

What does a CPF Nomination Cover?[16]

1. CPF savings [17]in your Ordinary, Special, MediSave and Retirement Accounts
2. Unused CPF LIFE premiums
3. Discounted Singtel shares

What is Not Covered by a CPF Nomination?[18]

1. Properties bought using your CPF savings
2. Payout from Dependants’ Protection Scheme (DPS)
3. Investments made under CPF Investment Scheme (CPFIS)

How Will Your CPF Savings be Paid to Your Nominees?[19]

Your nominees will be paid either via cash or GIRO.

If you have made a CPF nomination, you can check your details to find out how your CPF savings will be distributed to your nominee(s).

Matters to Decide When You Are Making a CPF Nomination[20]

Decide who you want to nominate (i.e. who your nominee(s) will be).

Decide the percentage of your CPF savings the nominee(s) should receive.

Decide whether you want to authorise a specific person(s) to obtain your CPF account information upon your demise. The CPF Board, upon request from the authorised person(s), will disclose your CPF statement(s) of account in and after the year of your death and your nomination details to your authorised person(s).

How to Carry Out a CPF Nomination?[21]

Online

In-Person at CPF Service Centres

How to Check Nomination Details[28]

Online Using my CPF Online Services

In-Person at CPF Service Centres

In a Nutshell:

In the past, CPF members who wish to nominate would first have to download, print out and complete Form 6A (1) in the presence of 2 independent witnesses, and thereafter would need to hand this duly completed form to the CPF Board at a CPF service centre, or post it out to the CPF Board.

With the changes to the CPF rules, (as of 16 June 2021), there is no necessity to complete and sign the hard copy of Form 6A (1) anymore. However, if you still prefer to sign the hard copy of the nomination form, it is still open to you to sign the nomination form, in-person at the CPF service centre. Two CPF officers may also act as your witnesses, so it is not necessary to bring along your own witnesses for this trip.

This article is jointly authored by Ng Pui Khim and Jonathan Fong.

PKNG Editorial Team

PKNG is helmed by Ng Pui Khim. An experienced divorce lawyer in Singapore, Pui Khim is practicing as a director under Gateway Law Corporation.