Have you ever wondered what happens to your CPF savings after your passing?

As a Singaporean, your CPF represents years of hard-earned savings. Ensuring these funds are distributed according to your wishes is vital for securing your loved ones’ financial future.

But here’s the big question:

• Will your family receive the CPF savings you’ve set aside for them?
• How can you ensure the right people inherit your CPF money?

The answer lies in making a CPF nomination. Let’s dive in to understand what this means and how you can set one up.

This service is completely free, not only for you but also for your nominees when the time comes for them to receive your CPF savings.

It is part of the CPF Nomination Scheme.

There are also other types of CPF nominations, such as the Enhanced Nomination Scheme (ENS) and the Special Needs Saving Scheme (SNSS), which we will cover in more detail later in this article.

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What does a CPF nomination exclude?

In essence, a CPF nomination does not cover certain assets, including:

• Properties purchased using your CPF funds
• Payouts from the Dependent’s Protection Scheme (DPS)
• Investments made through the CPF Investment Scheme (CPFIS)

What Is a CPF Nomination?

A CPF nomination allows you, the nominator, to designate specific individuals (nominees) who will inherit your CPF savings after your death.

Here’s what is included in a CPF nomination:

1. Remaining balances in your Ordinary Account (OA), Special Account (SA), MediSave Account (MA), and Retirement Account (RA).
2. Unused CPF LIFE premiums, if applicable.
3. Discounted Singtel shares owned through your CPF.

Without a CPF nomination, the distribution of your CPF savings might not align with your personal wishes.

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Why You Need a CPF Nomination

Making a CPF nomination is a straightforward yet essential part of estate planning. Here’s why it matters:

1. Ensure Your Loved Ones Receive Your CPF Savings

Without a CPF nomination, your savings will be distributed under Singapore’s Intestate Succession Act or Muslim inheritance laws (Faraid), depending on your situation. This may not always align with your intentions.

2. Avoid Delays in Distribution

A nomination ensures that your CPF savings are transferred to your nominees quickly and directly, avoiding potential delays caused by legal processes.

3. Gain Peace of Mind

Knowing that your hard-earned money will go to the people who matter most provides invaluable peace of mind.

How to Make a CPF Nomination

Setting up a CPF nomination is simple. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Prepare Your Documents
   • Bring your NRIC and contact details of your nominees.
2. Choose Your Nomination Type
   • Proportionate Nomination: You specify percentages for each nominee.
   • Specific Nomination: You specify exact amounts for each nominee.
3. Make the Nomination
   • Visit a CPF Service Centre in person with two witnesses.
   • Alternatively, submit your nomination online through the CPF website with Singpass authentication.
4. Review and Update
   • Life events like marriage, divorce, or the birth of a child may warrant updating your nomination to reflect new priorities.

Who is Eligible to Make a CPF Nomination?

Once you turn 16 years old and meet certain conditions, you can make a CPF nomination.

One key requirement is that you must be of sound mind, meaning you can make rational decisions and are not affected by any permanent mental conditions that distort your judgment.

Of course, you must also have an active CPF account to proceed with a nomination.

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Who Can You Nominate to Receive Your CPF Savings?

Wondering if anyone can be your nominee? The answer is yes!

You have the freedom to choose anyone, whether they’re a family member like your spouse or parents, or someone else entirely, even if they don’t have a CPF account.

That said, the way your CPF savings are distributed depends on the nominee’s individual circumstances. Here’s a breakdown:

Nominee’s Situation	How the CPF Funds Will Be Managed
Under 18 years old	The funds will be held by the Public Trustee’s Office (PTO) until the nominee turns 18.
Mentally incapacitated	The funds will be handled by a court-appointed deputy.
Declared bankrupt	The funds will be transferred to the Official Assignee (OA) as per legal requirements.
At least 18, mentally sound, not bankrupt	The nominee will be notified within 15 working days and can withdraw the funds via cash or GIRO.

How Many Nominees Can I Appoint?

The good news is there’s no limit to the number of nominees you can appoint!

However, if you’re making your nomination online, you can only list up to 8 nominees. Should you wish to appoint more than 8, you’ll need to visit a CPF Service Centre in person to complete the process and submit additional paperwork for each extra nominee.

Currently, there are 5 CPF Service Centres in Singapore, located at:

• Bishan
• Maxwell
• Tampines
• Woodlands
• Jurong

Do remember to book an appointment at least one working day in advance, as walk-ins are not accepted.

What Happens If a Nominee Passes Away Before You?

If a nominee passes away before you, their designated share of your CPF savings will be distributed among your remaining nominees in the same proportions you originally specified.

In cases where no nominees survive, your CPF savings will be sent to the Public Trustee Office (PTO) for distribution to eligible family members under the Intestate Succession Act. This process will incur a one-time administrative fee, starting from $15.

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When Should You Review Your CPF Nominations?

It’s a good idea to revisit your nominations during significant life events, such as:

• Getting married
• Having children
• Going through a divorce
• The passing of a nominee

Life changes can often lead to shifts in priorities or relationships, so it’s wise to update your nominations to ensure they reflect your current wishes.

Important Notes:

• Marriage revokes your previous CPF nominations: Once you are legally married, all existing nominations will be invalidated. Be sure to create a new CPF nomination after marriage to include your spouse or any new family members.
• Divorce does not revoke CPF nominations: Unlike marriage, a divorce will not automatically cancel any existing nominations.

By staying on top of your CPF nominations, you can ensure your savings are distributed according to your wishes, regardless of life’s changes.

How to Check Your Existing CPF Nomination

Wondering if you’ve already made a CPF nomination or want to review its details? Here’s how you can do it:

1. Online via the CPF Portal
   • Log in to cpf.gov.sg and navigate to “My Messages”.
   • If you’ve previously made a CPF nomination, a notification message will be displayed.
   • To view the specifics, click on “Nomination Details”, followed by “View My Nomination Details.”
2. In-Person at a CPF Service Centre
   • Bring your NRIC or passport to any CPF Service Centre.
   • Staff can assist you in retrieving information about your existing nomination.

Making Changes to Your CPF Nomination

If you decide to update your CPF nomination, keep in mind that it will be treated as a new nomination. This means the updated details will replace your earlier nomination entirely.

Stay proactive and ensure your nomination reflects your current intentions to avoid unnecessary complications in the future.

What Happens If You Don’t Make a CPF Nomination?

You might be wondering—what happens to your CPF savings if you don’t make a nomination? Does it automatically go to your loved ones, or is it retained by the CPF Board?

Without a CPF nomination, your savings will be managed and distributed by the Public Trustee’s Office (PTO). Here’s what you need to know:

1. Distribution to Legally Entitled Beneficiaries
   The PTO will identify and distribute your savings to your legal beneficiaries. These are typically your immediate family members or closest living relatives by blood or legal relationship.However, this process can take up to 6 months, delaying access to funds for your loved ones.
2. No Control Over Distribution
   Without a nomination, you won’t have a say in how much each family member receives. The PTO follows legal guidelines to determine the distribution, which may not align with your wishes.
3. Administrative Fees
   Beneficiaries will need to pay a one-time distribution fee, starting from $15, to the PTO.
4. For Muslims and Non-Muslims
   • Non-Muslims: Your savings will be distributed under the Intestate Succession Act, which might not reflect your personal preferences.
   • Muslims: Your savings will be distributed according to Faraid, the Islamic law of inheritance.

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Why Should You Make a CPF Nomination?

Making a nomination allows you to:

• Decide exactly who receives your CPF savings and in what proportions.
• Avoid unnecessary delays and administrative fees for your loved ones.
• Ensure your discounted Singtel shares, if any, are not left as part of your estate, which would make them ineligible for distribution.

By taking the time to make a CPF nomination, you provide clarity and financial security for your loved ones, avoiding complications in their time of need.

CPF Nomination for Muslims in Singapore

The CPF nomination process for Muslims in Singapore operates differently to ensure compliance with Shariah law.

How Are CPF Savings Distributed for Muslims?

Upon the passing of a Muslim CPF member:

1. The CPF Board will close the member’s CPF account.
2. The remaining savings will be transferred to the Public Trustee (PT).
3. The PT will then distribute the savings according to Shariah law, based on the guidance provided in the Inheritance Certificate.

What If No CPF Nomination Is Made?

If a Muslim member does not make a CPF nomination, the distribution will still follow Islamic inheritance laws. However, the Public Trustee Office (PTO) will manage the distribution based on the Inheritance Certificate for Muslims, which is issued by the Syariah Court of Singapore.

Additional Costs

It’s important to note that the beneficiaries will need to pay a one-time administrative fee to the PTO for processing the distribution.

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CPF Enhanced Nomination Scheme (ENS)

The CPF Enhanced Nomination Scheme (ENS) offers an alternative to the standard CPF Nomination Scheme. Instead of distributing your CPF savings in cash, the funds are transferred directly into your nominees’ CPF accounts.

Who Should Consider ENS?

This scheme is particularly suitable if you want to safeguard your nominees’ financial future, especially if they:

• Struggle with managing their money responsibly.
• Tend to have poor spending habits.

By transferring funds into their CPF accounts, you ensure the money is allocated toward meaningful purposes, such as medical expenses or retirement needs, rather than being spent frivolously.

CPF Special Needs Savings Scheme (SNSS)

The CPF Special Needs Savings Scheme (SNSS) is designed to provide long-term financial support to children with special needs.

How Does SNSS Work?

• After your passing, your child nominee(s) will receive monthly disbursements from your CPF savings.
• This ensures a steady stream of financial support for their ongoing care and well-being.

Key Differences: ENS and SNSS Nominations

Unlike the regular CPF Nomination Scheme, nominations under ENS and SNSS cannot be made online.

To nominate under these schemes, you’ll need to:

1. Contact the CPF Board directly.
2. Schedule an appointment at one of the 5 CPF Service Centres located at Bishan, Maxwell, Tampines, Woodlands, or Jurong.

Allocating Percentages in Your CPF Nomination

When making a CPF nomination, you must decide how your CPF savings will be distributed among your nominees.

• The allocation must be specified to two decimal places and must add up to 100%.
• Here’s an example of a possible distribution:

Relationship	Percentage of Share (%)
Spouse	50.00
Father	15.00
Mother	5.00
1st Child	15.00
2nd Child	15.00
Total	100.00

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Deciding on CPF Information Disclosure

You can also choose whether specific individuals, including your nominees, can access your CPF account details after your passing. This is an optional step and entirely at your discretion.

Witness Requirements for CPF Nominations

Witnesses play a vital role in ensuring the validity of your CPF nomination. Here’s what you need to know:

Criteria for Witnesses (Online Nominations)

You will need two witnesses who meet the following requirements:

• At least 21 years old.
• Of sound mind.
• Hold valid SingPass accounts.
• Not one of your nominees.
• Not yourself.

Once appointed, your witnesses will receive an SMS or email notification asking them to confirm your nomination. They must:

• Log in to CPF Online Services with their SingPass account to witness your nomination.
• Submit their declaration within 7 calendar days from the date you submit your nomination.

If either witness fails to confirm within the 7-day window, your nomination process will be invalidated, and you’ll need to resubmit it.

Note: Your nomination details will not be disclosed to your witnesses.

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Witnessing for In-Person Nominations

For in-person nominations, your witnesses can either be individuals who meet the criteria above or Customer Service Executives at the CPF Service Centres.

Completing the CPF Nomination Process

Whether online or in person, your CPF nomination will only be completed once both witnesses have successfully confirmed it.

Once finalized, your CPF nomination will be processed within 4 working days.

Wrapping Up

Understanding CPF nominations is an essential part of managing your finances—it’s about ensuring your hard-earned CPF savings are passed on to the people who matter most to you.

By planning ahead and making a nomination, you can have peace of mind knowing your loved ones will be taken care of after your passing. It’s never too early to make these decisions, especially during major life milestones like marriage, having children, or other significant changes.

Now that you’re familiar with how CPF nominations work, take the next step to safeguard your family’s future. If you know someone who could benefit from this information, share this article with them so they can learn more about CPF nominations and what happens to their savings after death.

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