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Written Answer by Mr Tan Chuan-Jin, Acting Minister for Manpower, to Parliamentary Question on Nomination of Next-of-Kin by CPF Members

Notice Paper No. 447 of 2013 For The Sitting On 11 Nov 2013
Question No. 692 For Written Answer

MP: Gerald Giam Yean Song

To ask the Acting Minister for Manpower (a) in each of the last 10 years, how many CPF members die without nominating their next-of-kin (NOK) resulting in the deceased's CPF monies being forwarded to the Public Trustee; (b) what percentage of adult CPF members have not made a nomination; and (c) what is being done to encourage all CPF members to make a nomination so that their NOK will receive their CPF monies soon after the former pass away.

Answer:

  1. When a CPF member passes away without making a nomination, his CPF monies will be distributed to his immediate family by the Public Trustee according to intestacy laws. Distribution by the Public Trustee safeguards the welfare of his immediate family members. For example, if the deceased is single, his CPF savings will be distributed by the Public Trustee equally between his parents. If he is married, his spouse will receive half of his CPF savings, and his children will share the remaining half. For Muslims, their CPF savings will be distributed by the Public Trustee according to the Administration of Muslim Law Act in a slightly different manner, but the beneficiaries remain the deceased member’s immediate family members. On average, about 20% of members who passed away each year did not make a nomination and they had their monies distributed by the Public Trustee in this way.
  2. However, the CPFB’s nomination scheme provides CPF members with an option to nominate other recipients of their CPF monies upon their demise, and how much each nominee should receive. As of 31 October 2013, about 50% of all CPF members aged 16 and above have made a nomination.
  3. After an application has been made by the member’s beneficiaries, the Public Trustee will generally distribute the monies within four weeks from the date of receipt of the full set of required documents from the member’s beneficiaries. Similarly, nominees who have been nominated under the CPF nomination scheme will also generally receive their monies within four weeks from the date CPFB receives an application from the nominee.
  4. CPFB provides comprehensive information on the distribution of their CPF savings by the Public Trustee, as well as CPFB’s nomination scheme, via a webcast on CPFB’s website. Members can also call CPFB’s hotline or approach staff at CPFB’s service centres directly to find out more. If members are uncertain about whether they have already made a nomination, they can check their annual statement of account.