In-person Process for Nomination of Non-family Member as CPF Beneficiary

Mr Don Wee asked the Minister for Manpower whether the Ministry will consider requiring CPF nominations of beneficiaries who are not a direct family member of the CPF account holder be made in person at one of the CPF Service Centres.

The purpose of the Central Provident Fund (CPF) nomination scheme is to allow members to decide who they want to leave their CPF savings to and in what proportion. Members have their unique personal circumstances and should have the choice to nominate any person, regardless of age, nationality or family relation.

We have safeguards in place today under the CPF nomination scheme. First, when making their CPF nomination, members are required to appoint two witnesses. The role of witnesses is to attest that the members themselves had the intention to make their nomination. Witnesses cannot be any of the member’s nominees, to prevent a conflict of interest.

Next, when members nominate someone who is not a family member, the CPF Board will conduct additional checks to confirm the member’s intentions to make such a nomination. Such checks apply, whether the nomination is done in person, online or posted in via the hardcopy nomination form.

Finally, for online nominations specifically, members are required to log in via their Singpass. Singpass requires users to authenticate themselves to verify their identity. This ensures that the members themselves are the ones making their nomination. Witnesses for online nominations are also required to log in with their Singpass to attest to a member’s nomination.

Members can make a new nomination at any time if their bequeath intentions change. We provide members the option to make their CPF nominations in-person at the CPF Service Centre, via a hardcopy nomination form or online at any time using their Singpass. This is to provide flexibility based on the member’s choice and to encourage members to make their nominations.