Clarification by Minister for Manpower
Ministry of ManpowerSpeakers
Summary
This clarification concerns the ongoing review of the Dependants' Protection Scheme (DPS) by Minister for Manpower Dr Tan See Leng to balance coverage sustainability with affordability for members. Minister for Manpower Dr Tan See Leng explained that 75% of lapsed policies involve members over age 55 who lack Ordinary Account contributions due to retirement or self-employment. He noted that 40% of members with lapsed coverage as of late 2022 have since reinstated their insurance by December 2024, while overall participation remains high. Currently, the scheme protects over two million residents, covering 86% of active CPF members aged between 21 and 65. The Minister concluded that the framework is continuously reviewed to ensure members or their beneficiaries receive sufficient payouts should they become eligible.
Transcript
The following reply was given by the Minister for Manpower (Dr Tan See Leng) during Question Time at the Sitting of 15 October 2025:
The Minister for Manpower (Dr Tan See Leng): We have not stopped reviewing this framework because we want to try to provide for the coverage for as long as possible. But we always have to balance between sustainability, affordability and also, ensuring that there is a sufficient sum left behind for the members to tap on when they are finally eligible for that payout, at age of 65 or 70, depending on how they choose.
With regard to the Member's point on the non-payment, those members whose DPS coverage lapsed, about 75% of them are aged above 55 years old. Many of them are no longer working, or they were self-employed persons before. Thus, they do not have Ordinary Account contributions which could be used to pay for those premiums. And for those whose DPS coverage lapsed as of 31 December 2022, around 40% of them have reinstated or they have started new cover as of 31 December 2024. So, this has to be taken against the broader numbers. Today, there are over two million Singaporeans and Permanent Residents who are covered under DPS. And amongst the active CPF members between the ages of 21 and 65, 86% are covered under DPS. So, that number, that 75%, is of that 16% that we are really talking about. [Please refer to "Number of CPF Members Aged 65-67 Still in Employment and Review of Dependants' Protection Scheme to Increase Age Limit of 65", Official Report, 15 October 2025, Vol 96, Issue 8, Oral Answers to Questions section.]
Written statement by Dr Tan See Leng circulated with leave of the Deputy Speaker in accordance with Standing Order No 29(5):
I wish to make the following factual clarifications to the speech made during the oral reply for Parliamentary Questions No 8 and No 9 at the Sitting of 15 October 2025. It should read as follows:
The Minister for Manpower (Dr Tan See Leng): We have not stopped reviewing this framework because we want to try to provide for the coverage for as long as possible. But we always have to balance between sustainability, affordability and also, ensuring that there is a sufficient sum left behind for the members or their beneficiaries to receive, should they become eligible for that payout.
With regard to the Member's point on the non-payment, those members whose DPS coverage lapsed, about 75% of them are aged above 55 years old. Many of them are no longer working, or they were self-employed persons before. Thus, they do not have Ordinary Account contributions which could be used to pay for those premiums. And for those whose DPS coverage lapsed as of 31 December 2022, around 40% of them have reinstated or they have started new cover as of 31 December 2024. These lapses have to be taken against the broader numbers. Today, there are over two million Singaporeans and Permanent Residents who are covered under DPS. And amongst the active CPF members between the ages of 21 and 65, 86% are covered under DPS.