Central Provident Fund (Lifelong Income Scheme) Regulations 2009

Central Provident Fund Act 1953

(Section 27Q)

Central Provident Fund
(Lifelong Income Scheme)
Regulations 2009

2025 REVISED EDITION

(17 December 2025)

[1 September 2009]

Citation

1.  These Regulations are the Central Provident Fund (Lifelong Income Scheme) Regulations 2009.

Definitions

2.  In these Regulations —

“annuity plan”, “premium”, “relevant age”, “relevant member” and “Scheme” have the meanings given by section 27J of the Act;

“applicable age”, in relation to an annuity plan issued to a relevant member, means —

(a) where the relevant member is not an applicable member — the higher of the following:

(i) the prescribed age applicable to the relevant member under section 15(7) of the Act when the annuity plan is issued;

(ii) the relevant member’s age on the last day of the month in which the annuity plan is issued; or

(b) where the relevant member is an applicable member —

(i) in any case where the Board is notified (in such manner as the Board may require), before the relevant member attains 60 years of age, that the member is an applicable member and that an annuity plan has been issued to him or her — 60 years of age;

(ii) in any case where the Board is notified (in such manner as the Board may require) — 

(A) if the specified age of the relevant member is above 60 years of age — after the relevant member attains 60 years of age and before the relevant member attains his or her specified age; or

(B) in any other case — after the relevant member attains 60 years of age,

that the relevant member is an applicable member and an annuity plan has been issued to him or her, the higher of the following:

(C) the relevant member’s age on the last day of the month immediately following the month in which the Board is so notified;

(D) the relevant member’s age on the last day of the month in which the annuity plan is issued; or

(iii) in any other case, the higher of the following:

(A) the specified age of the relevant member;

(B) the relevant member’s age on the last day of the month in which the annuity plan is issued;

“applicable member” means a member who is a person mentioned in paragraph 3(2)(b), (h), (i), (j) or (k) of the Retirement and Re‑employment (Exemption) Notification 2011;

“assessment date” and “excluded member” have the meanings given by section 27K(9) of the Act;

“Board’s website” means the Board’s website at https://www.cpf.gov.sg;

“closing time”, in relation to a working day, means —

(a) if the working day is the eve of New Year’s Day, Chinese New Year or Christmas Day — 12 noon; or

(b) in any other case — 5 p.m.;

“Lease Buyback Scheme” means a scheme administered by the Housing and Development Board, under which a lessee of an HDB flat who has been approved by the Housing and Development Board to take part in the scheme enters into an agreement with the Housing and Development Board to reduce the term of the lease, in consideration of a sum of money —

(a) which is to be paid in accordance with the terms and conditions of the scheme; and

(b) the whole or part of which may be used for the payment of a premium for an annuity plan under the Scheme;

“order of court” and “spouse” have the meanings given by section 27A of the Act;

“permitted person” means —

(a) for any application under section 27P(1)(b) of the Act — the spouse of a relevant member;

(b) for any order of court — a relevant member or the spouse of a relevant member; or

(c) any other person whom the Board permits to serve the application or order of court, as the case may be;

“relevant document” means —

(a) any application under section 27P(1)(b) of the Act; or

(b) any order of court;

“specified age” means —

(a) in the case of a member who attained 55 years of age before 1 January 1999 — 60 years of age;

(b) in the case of a member who attained 55 years of age on or after 1 January 1999 but before 1 January 2005 — 62 years of age;

(c) in the case of a member who attained 55 years of age on or after 1 January 2005 but before 1 January 2007 — 63 years of age;

(d) in the case of a member who attained 55 years of age on or after 1 January 2007 but before 1 January 2009 — 64 years of age; or

(e) in the case of a member who attains 55 years of age on or after 1 January 2009 — 65 years of age;

“working day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday.

Notional date of birth

3.  For the purposes of these Regulations, where the date of birth of a relevant member cannot be ascertained or is doubtful, his or her date of birth is deemed to be 1 January of the year in which he or she was born.

Deemed date of birth for members born in leap year

3A.  Despite section 2(1A)(b) of the Act, for the purposes of these Regulations, the anniversary of the date of birth of a person who is born on 29 February, in any year that is not a leap year, is deemed to be 28 February of that year.

Class of members prescribed for purposes of section 6(4B)( a )(ii) of Act

4.  For the purposes of section 6(4B)(a)(ii) of the Act, the class of members prescribed consists of every relevant member who is issued with an annuity plan mentioned in item 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 of the Schedule.

Amount prescribed for section 27K(2)( b )(iii) of Act

5.  The amount prescribed for the purposes of section 27K(2)(b)(iii) of the Act is —

(a) in the case of a member who attains 55 years of age on or after 1 January 2013 but before 1 May 2016 —

(i) on an assessment date which is the date the member attains that age — $40,000; or

(ii) on an assessment date applicable to the member prescribed in regulation 5A — $60,000; and

(b) in the case of a member who attains that age on or after 1 May 2016, on an assessment date applicable to the member prescribed in regulation 5A — $60,000.

Assessment date for section 27K(2)( b ) of Act

5A.—(1)  For the purposes of section 27K(2)(b) of the Act, the assessment date applicable to a member who has attained 55 years of age on or after 1 January 2013 is —

(a) the date on which the Board transfers to the member’s retirement account, under regulation 5A(1) or (2) of the Central Provident Fund (New Retirement Sum Scheme) Regulations 2004, the amount prescribed in paragraph (3) of that regulation; or

(b) where the Board does not effect the transfer mentioned in paragraph (a) because the amount to be transferred (determined in accordance with regulation 5A(3) of the Central Provident Fund (New Retirement Sum Scheme) Regulations 2004) is nil — the date on which the Board makes that determination.

(2)  Paragraph (3) applies to a member —

(a) who has attained 55 years of age on or after 1 January 2013;

(b) whose annuity plan was terminated under section 27K(5D) of the Act; and

(c) who subsequently becomes a citizen or permanent resident of Singapore.

(3)  For the purposes of section 27K(2)(b) of the Act, the assessment date applicable to a member mentioned in paragraph (2) is —

(a) the date on which the Board is satisfied that the member meets all the requirements in paragraph (2); or

(b) if on the date mentioned in sub‑paragraph (a), the member does not meet the requirement in section 27K(2)(b)(iii) of the Act and the Board has permitted the member to make payment for himself or herself under regulation 2 of the Central Provident Fund (Prescribed Circumstances under Section 13C) Regulations 2022, the latest of the following dates:

(i) the date on which the moneys are paid into the member’s retirement account;

(ii) the date on which the moneys are transferred into the member’s retirement account from the member’s ordinary account or special account;

(iii) where the member is permitted to make payment by way of instalments, the date on which the last instalment is paid into the member’s retirement account or transferred into the member’s retirement account from the member’s ordinary account or special account.

Age prescribed for section 27K(5)( a ) of Act

5B.  The age prescribed for the purposes of any application under section 27K(5)(a) of the Act made on or after 1 May 2016 is —

(a) for an applicable member — 60 years of age; and

(b) in any other case — the specified age.

Excluded members

5BA.—(1)  The following classes of excluded members are prescribed for the purposes of section 27K(3) of the Act:

(a) any member who —

(i) is entitled to withdraw the amount standing to the member’s credit in the Fund under section 15AA(1), (2)(a) or (b) or (3)(a) or (b) of the Act or a former provision (as the case may be), and the Board has (before, on or after 1 May 2016) approved the member’s application to make such a withdrawal; and

(ii) does not have an annuity plan;

(b) any member who —

(i) has attained 80 years of age; and

(ii) does not have an annuity plan.

(2)  In this regulation, “former provision” means section 15(2)(d), (e), (f) or (g), (7A)(a), (b), (c), (d) or (e) or (8)(a), (b), (c), (d) or (e) of the Act as in force before 1 March 2022.

Time prescribed for purposes of section 27L(1A) of Act

5C.  For the purposes of section 27L(1A) of the Act, the time prescribed is the date the member attains 80 years of age.

Annuity plans and designation of relevant age

6.—(1)  The types of annuity plans available under the Scheme, and the class or classes of relevant members eligible for each type of annuity plan, are as set out in the Schedule.

(2)  A relevant member may apply, in accordance with paragraph (3), for any annuity plan for which the relevant member is eligible.

(3)  An application under paragraph (2) must be —

(a) made in such form and supported by such evidence as the Board may require; and

(b) made by a relevant member within such period beginning on the date the Scheme applies to him or her as the Board may specify by written notice to him or her.

(4)  The Board may extend the period mentioned in paragraph (3)(b) if a relevant member satisfies such terms and conditions as the Board may impose.

(5)  If a relevant member mentioned in section 27K(2) of the Act does not apply, in accordance with paragraph (3), for any annuity plan for which the relevant member is eligible, the annuity plan issued to the relevant member is the LIFE Standard Plan mentioned in item 6 of the Schedule.

(6)  Unless otherwise permitted under this regulation or by the Board, a relevant member is not entitled to change any annuity plan that has been issued to him or her under this regulation.

(7)  A relevant member’s relevant age is —

(a) subject to sub‑paragraph (b), the age specified in the second column of the Schedule for the annuity plan issued to the relevant member; or

(b) an alternative age designated by the relevant member with the permission of the Board under paragraph (8).

(8)  The Board may, on the application of a relevant member in such form as the Board may require —

(a) with the approval of the Minister, permit the relevant member whose relevant age under paragraph (7)(a) is above 60 years of age, to designate as the alternative age 60 years of age; or

(b) permit the relevant member to designate as the alternative age any age which is not lower than the relevant member’s relevant age under paragraph (7)(a).

(9)  If, at the time the Board permits a relevant member to designate the relevant age under paragraph (7)(b) —

(a) the Board has commenced payments of monthly income to the relevant member under the relevant member’s annuity plan; and

(b) the relevant member has not attained that designated relevant age,

the Board must cease the monthly income payments until the month in which the relevant member attains the designated relevant age under paragraph (7)(b).

(10)  Paragraph (11) applies where, after a relevant member has been issued his or her first annuity plan, the Board —

(a) approves the relevant member’s application to pay additional premiums; or

(b) deducts additional premiums from the relevant member’s retirement account,

to increase the relevant member’s monthly income under the Scheme.

(11)  The Board must apply the additional premiums mentioned in paragraph (10) either —

(a) to increase the monthly income under the relevant member’s last issued annuity plan of any type set out in the Schedule, if the applicable eligibility criteria in paragraph (12) (if any) are satisfied; or

(b) to issue the relevant member an additional annuity plan (for which the relevant member is eligible under the fourth column of the Schedule) of —

(i) the same type as the annuity plan; or

(ii) if the Board approves the relevant member’s request for any other type of annuity plan — that other type of annuity plan.

(12)  The applicable eligibility criteria mentioned in paragraph (11) are as follows:

(a) where the relevant member’s last issued annuity plan is of the type listed in item 1, 2 or 3 of the Schedule — the relevant member applied for his or her first annuity plan before 1 January 2013;

(b) where the relevant member’s last issued annuity plan is an Immediate Annuity Plan — the relevant member applied for his or her first annuity plan before 1 February 2013.

(13)  The Board may impose terms and conditions on the relevant member in relation to the increase of the monthly income or issue of an additional annuity plan mentioned in paragraph (11).

(14)  The Board —

(a) must permit a relevant member to terminate the annuity plan and every additional annuity plan (if any) issued to him or her if the relevant member satisfies the conditions in paragraph (15)(a) and (b); and

(b) in any other case, may permit a relevant member to terminate the annuity plan or any additional annuity plan issued to him or her, if —

(i) the relevant member applies in writing to the Board to do so; and

(ii) the relevant member satisfies such terms and conditions as the Board may impose.

(15)  Where a relevant member —

(a) applies before 1 January 2019 to replace the relevant member’s annuity plan and every additional annuity plan (if any) with a LIFE Escalating Plan mentioned in item 7 of the Schedule; and

(b) satisfies such terms and conditions as the Board may impose,

the Board must, on or after 1 January 2018, upon the termination of all those annuity plans under paragraph (14)(a), issue a LIFE Escalating Plan to the relevant member.

Cash grant by Government

7.  Where under section 14 of the Act —

(a) any cash grant has been made by the Government to a relevant member for the payment of a premium; and

(b) the Board has credited that cash grant into such account in the Fund of the relevant member as the Minister may direct,

the Board is entitled to deduct the whole or any part of the premium payable by the relevant member from the amount of that cash grant and any interest on that amount standing to the credit of the relevant member in that account.

Monthly income

8.—(1)  Subject to section 27K(7) of the Act and regulation 11, the payment of a monthly income to a relevant member under section 27K(6) of the Act is to —

(a) commence in —

(i) if the member becomes a relevant member before the month in which the member attains the relevant age mentioned in regulation 6(7) — the month in which the member attains the relevant age mentioned in regulation 6(7); or

(ii) if the member becomes a relevant member in or after the month in which the member attains the relevant age mentioned in regulation 6(7) — the month in which the member becomes a relevant member or in the following month; and

(b) cease upon the relevant member’s death, or upon the Board being notified (in such manner as the Board may require) of his or her death, as the Board may determine.

(2)  The Board must, as soon as practicable, notify a relevant member of the amount of monthly income determined under section 27K(6) of the Act to be payable to him or her.

(3)  Subject to paragraph (4), the Board must pay the monthly income due to a relevant member under section 27K(6) of the Act —

(a) into the relevant member’s account with a bank, in any case where he or she has applied, and the Board has approved his or her application, for the monthly income to be paid by crediting that bank account;

(b) by issuing a cheque or any other physical payment instrument to the relevant member, in any case where he or she has applied, and the Board has approved his or her application, for the monthly income to be paid in that manner;

(c) into the relevant member’s retirement account, in any case where —

(i) by a memorandum executed in accordance with section 25(1) of the Act, he or she has nominated any person to receive a portion of the amount payable on his or her death out of the Fund in accordance with section 25(1)(a)(iii) of the Act;

(ii) to the best of the Board’s knowledge, that nomination has not been revoked; and

(iii) he or she has applied for the monthly income to be paid in that manner; or

(d) into the relevant member’s ordinary account, in any other case.

(4)  Despite paragraph (3)(a) and (b), the Board must pay the monthly income due under section 27K(6) of the Act to the relevant member mentioned in paragraph (3) into the relevant member’s ordinary account, if —

(a) in a case referred to in paragraph (3)(a), the payment into the relevant member’s bank account is unsuccessful; or

(b) in a case referred to in paragraph (3)(b), the cheque or other physical payment instrument relating to the payment has been returned to the Board or has expired.

(5)  Where paragraph (4)(a) or (b) applies, the monthly income must be paid into the ordinary account of the relevant member mentioned in paragraph (3) as soon as practicable after the Board is notified of the unsuccessful payment into the relevant member’s bank account, or after the cheque or other physical payment instrument has been returned to the Board or has expired (whichever is the earlier), as the case may be.

Period prescribed for Scheme to cease and annuity plan to be terminated under section 27K(5D) of Act

8A.  The period prescribed for the Scheme to cease and the annuity plan to be terminated under section 27K(5D) of the Act is —

(a) where the Board is satisfied before 1 April 2024 that the member is not a citizen or permanent resident of Singapore — on or after 1 April 2024 but before 30 April 2024; or

(b) where the Board is satisfied on or after 1 April 2024 that the member is not a citizen or permanent resident of Singapore — within a period of 30 days starting on the date that the Board is so satisfied.

Withdrawal of amount paid under section 27L(5)( a ) of Act

9.  Any amount paid into a relevant member’s account in the Fund under section 27L(5)(a) of the Act may be withdrawn in accordance with the provisions of the Act relating to the transfer or withdrawal of moneys standing to the credit of the relevant member in the Fund.

Refund of premium

10.—(1)  Subject to paragraph (2), the refund payable on account of the death of a relevant member is the positive difference (if any) between —

(a) the amount of the premium paid by the relevant member for an annuity plan; and

(b) the aggregate amount of the monthly income paid pursuant to the annuity plan and the amount refunded to the relevant member under paragraph (6) in respect of the annuity plan, if any.

(2)  No refund is to be made under paragraph (1) if the premium was paid for a LIFE Income Plan mentioned in item 3 of the Schedule.

(3)  Where a relevant member’s annuity plan is terminated under section 27K(5D) of the Act, the Board must refund the positive difference (if any) between —

(a) the amount of the premium paid by the relevant member for an annuity plan; and

(b) the aggregate amount of the monthly income paid pursuant to the annuity plan and the amount refunded to the relevant member under paragraph (6) in respect of the annuity plan, if any.

(4)  Where the Board has permitted a relevant member to terminate an annuity plan under regulation 6(14), the Board may refund the whole or any part of the premium paid by the relevant member for the annuity plan.

(5)  The Board may permit a relevant member to reduce the premium payable for an annuity plan issued to the relevant member if the relevant member —

(a) applies to the Board in such form or manner as the Board may require; and

(b) satisfies such conditions as the Board may impose.

(6)  Where the Board has permitted an application under paragraph (5), the Board may, without terminating the annuity plan issued to a relevant member, refund the whole or part of the positive difference (if any) between —

(a) the amount of the premium paid by the relevant member for the annuity plan; and

(b) the aggregate amount of the monthly income paid pursuant to the annuity plan and any amount previously refunded under this paragraph in respect of the annuity plan.

Evidence that relevant member is alive

11.—(1)  For the purposes of section 27K(7) of the Act, the Board may, from time to time, by written notice to a relevant member, require the relevant member to satisfy the Board that he or she is alive.

(2)  Where the Board has issued a written notice under paragraph (1) to a relevant member —

(a) the relevant member must respond to the Board in such form and manner, and within such period, as the Board may specify in the written notice; and

(b) if the relevant member fails to comply with sub‑paragraph (a), the Board —

(i) may decide that he or she has failed to satisfy the Board that he or she is alive; and

(ii) subject to paragraph (3), is not required to pay any monthly income to him or her after the expiry of the period mentioned in sub‑paragraph (a).

(3)  Where, pursuant to section 27K(7) of the Act, the Board has ceased to pay a relevant member his or her monthly income, the Board is to resume payment of the monthly income to the relevant member upon his or her application to the Board in such form, and supported by such evidence, as the Board may require.

Form of relevant document, etc.

12.—(1)  Every relevant document (other than an order of court) must be in the form required by the Board.

(2)  Every relevant document must be supported by any information, evidence or document that the Board requires to give effect to the relevant document, that is submitted within the time required by the Board.

Service of relevant documents

13.—(1)  A relevant document is served on the Board only if —

(a) the requirements of regulation 12 are satisfied; and

(b) the relevant document is served by a permitted person in accordance with this regulation.

(2)  Except as otherwise provided by paragraph (3) —

(a) a relevant document must be served on the Board by sending an electronic communication of the relevant document using an electronic online system designated by the Board for the service of that relevant document (called in this regulation the designated electronic online system), in accordance with any terms and conditions that the Board may impose; and

(b) service in accordance with sub‑paragraph (a) takes effect on the working day that the relevant document is capable of being retrieved, by an officer or employee of the Board using the designated electronic online system, before the closing time.

(3)  Despite paragraph (2) —

(a) a relevant document may be served on the Board by leaving the relevant document at the address for service specified on the Board’s website if —

(i) the designated electronic online system is not in operation; or

(ii) a permitted person cannot use that system for any other reason; and

(b) service in accordance with sub‑paragraph (a) takes effect 3 working days after the day the relevant document is received, by an officer or employee of the Board at the address mentioned in that sub‑paragraph.