CPF nomination, explained
Most Singaporeans spend decades building their CPF savings. Very few spend the 15 minutes it takes to decide who receives them. This guide explains what a CPF nomination is, what happens without one, and how to make yours today.
The one thing to understand first
Your CPF savings do not pass under your will. Even a perfectly written will has no power over your CPF. The only way to direct your CPF money is through a CPF nomination, made with the CPF Board.
If you have a will but no CPF nomination, your CPF is not covered. These are two separate documents, and you need both.
What happens if you have no nomination
Your CPF savings are transferred to the Public Trustee's Office. The Public Trustee then distributes the money under Singapore's intestacy law, which follows a fixed formula. For Muslims, distribution follows the applicable rules for Muslim estates instead.
Three things follow from this. First, the law decides who gets the money, not you. Second, your family waits longer, because the Public Trustee process takes time. Third, the Public Trustee charges a fee for the distribution, so your family receives slightly less.
What a nomination lets you do
A CPF nomination lets you name exactly who receives your CPF savings and in what proportion. You can nominate one person or several, family or not, and split the money in any percentages you choose. The money is paid to them directly, usually much faster than the Public Trustee route.
How to make one in 15 minutes
- Log in to the CPF website or app with your Singpass.
- Go to the nomination service and enter your nominees and their share of your savings.
- Provide the details of two witnesses. They must be at least 21 and cannot be your nominees. They confirm online with their own Singpass.
- Done. It costs nothing, and you can change it any time by making a fresh nomination.
When to update it
Marriage revokes your existing CPF nomination automatically, so newlyweds must make a fresh one. You should also review your nomination after a divorce, a birth, a death in the family, or any major change in your relationships. A nomination that no longer reflects your life can cause as much hurt as no nomination at all.
Common mistakes we see
- Assuming the will covers CPF. It does not.
- Nominating one person "to distribute to everyone". The named person receives the money legally and has no obligation to share it.
- Forgetting insurance policies bought through CPF, which may need their own attention.
- Never telling anyone the nomination exists.
Is your CPF the only gap, or one of several?
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