Written Answer to PQ on Caregiving for elderly parents and CPF Retirement Adequacy

NOTICE PAPER NO. 1187 OF 2026 FOR THE SITTING ON OR AFTER 9 SEPTEMBER 2026
QUESTION NO. 1842 FOR WRITTEN ANSWER

MP: Mr Gabriel Lam

To ask the Acting Minister for Manpower (a) whether the Ministry has assessed the impact of prolonged caregiving responsibilities for elderly or infirm family members on caregivers’ CPF retirement adequacy, particularly where caregivers reduce their working hours or leave the workforce; and (b) whether additional measures are needed to mitigate the resulting loss in retirement savings.

Answer:

We are unable to quantify the impact of prolonged caregiving responsibilities on caregivers’ CPF savings, as we do not track the duration and extent of employment adjustments attributable to caregiving, which are personal family arrangements.

We support caregivers to remain in or return to work if they wish to do so. Doing so will enable them to earn income and increase their CPF savings for retirement. There are employment facilitation and reskilling measures to support caregivers who are ready to re-enter the workforce. We also support working caregivers in managing work and caregiving commitments by setting guidelines on flexible work arrangements (FWAs), which are offered by around seven in ten firms.

Working family members of caregivers can top up the caregivers’ CPF savings if they wish to do so. Eligible caregivers can also benefit from government schemes such as the Workfare Income Supplement, Silver Support Scheme and Matched Retirement Savings Scheme, as well as the Budget 2026 CPF Top-Up.