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Oral Answer by Minister for Manpower Dr Tan See Leng to PQ on Treatment Of CPF Nomination Upon Divorce

NOTICE PAPER NO. 1808, 1809 OF 2023 FOR THE SITTING ON 20 MARCH 2023 

QUESTION NO. 4362, 4373 FOR ORAL ANSWER

MP: Mr Lim Biow Chuan 

To ask the Minister for Manpower whether the CPF Board will introduce regulations to void a CPF nomination made by a CPF member in favour of the spouse whenever that CPF member has divorced the spouse who was nominated.

MP: Ms Sylvia Lim 

To ask the Minister for Manpower whether the Government will amend the Central Provident Fund Act 1953 to provide for the automatic revocation of a nomination when the beneficiary becomes an ex-spouse following a divorce.

Answer

1. The CPF nomination scheme provides CPF members with the option to nominate recipients of their CPF monies upon their demise, and the proportion of savings each nominee should receive.

2. CPF nominations are currently treated in the same way as wills. They are revoked upon marriage to give the member an opportunity to make a new nomination. Like wills, CPF nominations are not revoked in the event of a divorce as we recognise that the CPF member may still intend to provide for the ex-spouse and children from the marriage. Nevertheless, the CPF Board includes reminders to all members to review their nominations in their annual statement of account. The Board also intends to remind those members who have undergone divorce to review their nominations.

3. CPF members should review and update their nominations when their life circumstances have changed. The CPF Board has enhanced the CPF nomination service to enable members to conveniently review their nominations and make changes securely, including via the CPF website.

4. The Ministry of Law is studying whether to reform the rule in the Wills Act 1838 that provides for the automatic revocation of wills in the event of marriage. MOM and the CPF Board will likewise study the CPF nomination rules, so that the policy remains relevant to the evolving needs and behaviours of our citizens.