Older Singaporeans with lower retirement savings will receive a boost to their Central Provident Fund (CPF) accounts next year, as part of enhanced retirement adequacy measures announced during the 2026 Budget.
Under the new initiative, eligible citizens aged 50 and above will receive a one-off CPF top-up ranging from S$500 to S$1,500. The move is aimed at strengthening retirement income security for those who may not yet have accumulated sufficient savings under the Basic Retirement Sum (BRS) framework.
The support measure targets individuals with CPF retirement balances below S$110,200 as at 31 December 2025, which corresponds to the 2026 BRS threshold.
Who Qualifies For The CPF Top-Up
To be eligible, recipients must be Singapore citizens born in 1976 or earlier and aged at least 50 in 2026. In addition, they must have CPF retirement savings below S$110,200 as at the end of 2025.
Property ownership and housing value also form part of the eligibility criteria. Individuals must not own more than one property, and their residential property must have an Annual Value (AV) of S$31,000 or below as at 31 December 2025.
The amount credited will vary based on both CPF savings levels and the AV of the recipient’s home.
Those with less than S$60,000 in CPF retirement savings and living in homes with an AV of not more than S$21,000 will receive the maximum S$1,500 top-up. If the home’s AV is between S$21,000 and S$31,000, the payout will be S$500 instead.
Meanwhile, individuals with CPF balances between S$60,000 and below S$110,200 will receive S$1,000, provided they meet the property criteria.
The top-ups will be credited in December 2026 directly into recipients’ Retirement Account (RA). For those who have not yet set up an RA, the funds will be channelled into their Special Account (SA).
Targeted Support To Strengthen Retirement Planning
The tiered structure ensures that those with lower balances receive larger support, reinforcing the principle of progressive assistance. By focusing on individuals with limited retirement adequacy, the measure seeks to narrow retirement gaps without broad-based spending.
For many Singaporeans approaching their retirement years, CPF savings remain a crucial pillar of long-term financial planning. The additional top-up can enhance future monthly payouts under CPF LIFE, thereby strengthening income stability during retirement.
As living costs, healthcare expenses and long-term care needs continue to rise, maintaining adequate CPF balances is increasingly important for financial resilience.
New CPF Investment Scheme To Launch In 2028
In a separate development, the CPF Board will introduce a new voluntary investment option in 2028. The scheme will adopt a life-cycle investment approach, featuring a predefined glide path towards retirement.
Unlike the current CPF system, which offers stable and risk-free interest rates, the upcoming scheme is designed for members willing to accept some investment risk in exchange for potentially higher long-term returns.
Key features are expected to include automatic age-based portfolio rebalancing, simplified investment choices and lower fees. The investment mix will gradually shift towards lower-risk assets as members approach their retirement age, reducing the need for active portfolio management.
The CPF Board will work alongside commercial providers to offer products that automatically adjust asset allocations over time. This structure is intended to help members stay invested through market cycles without frequent intervention.
Authorities have emphasised that all investment products carry risks and returns will depend on market conditions. More details are expected closer to the scheme’s launch.
Together, the CPF top-up and new investment framework signal a continued effort to strengthen retirement adequacy while offering greater flexibility for long-term financial planning in Singapore.