CPFB | Loss of mental capacity

Account services

Supporting a loved one who has lost mental capacity

What to do when you need access to a loved one's CPF savings and assets for their caregiving

Prerequisites
Digital access
Withdrawals
Claims
Legacy Planning
Resources
FAQs

In a nutshell

Once assessed to be unable to manage their savings or investments by a registered medical professional, an individual may not be allowed to access their CPF savings or payouts on their own.
CPF members who lose their mental capacity may need help to access CPF digital services on this website and the CPF Mobile app.
Caregivers appointed as donees through a Lasting Power of Attorney, or appointed as deputies by the courts, can act on their behalf.

Quicklinks

Apply to withdraw CPF savings and claim insurance: withdraw CPF savings, submit claims under Home Protection Scheme and Dependants' Protection Scheme
Access AIC eServices for Financing Schemes: apply for ElderShield or CareShield Life claims, MediSave Care withdrawals, etc.

Prerequisites

Who can act on a loved one's behalf

You do not automatically receive the right to act on behalf of an immediate family member if they lose mental capacity. Additional legal applications are required.

Lasting Power of Attorney

To act on behalf of a loved one who has lost mental capacity, they must have appointed you as their donee, prior to losing mental capacity, under a Lasting Power of Attorney.

If your loved one still has mental capacity now, they can plan ahead and apply for Lasting Power of Attorney through the Office of the Public Guardian website.

To check if you have been appointed a donee by your loved one, visit the Office of the Public Guardian website to check your status.

Court Order

If your loved one did not appoint a donee (i.e. make a Lasting Power of Attorney) while they had mental capacity, you can apply to the court to be made a deputy under the Mental Capacity Act.

To find out how to apply for a Court Order, visit the judiciary website. To be empowered to manage all of your loved one's CPF matters, ensure that your Court Order includes these suggested clauses (PDF, 109kb) when you apply.

If you need urgent financial support while applying

While applying for a court order, you can write to us to withdraw up to $10,000 from your loved one's CPF savings.

If there are multiple donees or deputies

If your loved one has 1 or more donees or deputies other than yourself, you may not be able to make decisions or apply to the CPF Board by yourself.

If donees and deputies were appointed to act jointly, they have to agree on the decision and apply together.
If they were appointed to act jointly and severally, donees and deputies can make decisions separately on their own, or together.

Note that donees and deputies can be appointed to make some decisions jointly and other decisions jointly and severally. Donees and deputies appointed to act jointly for a type of decision must all agree on the same decision.

For cases where the type of decision is not stated, the law assumes that all donees and deputies must act jointly.

Digital access

How to access a loved one's CPF account information

Step 1: Sign up for multi-user SMS 2FA service

Submit a medical report certifying your loved one's loss of mental capacity, together with the Lasting Power of Attorney or Court Order document, through these forms:

For donees under the Lasting Power of Attorney For deputies under Court Order

Do not disclose your loved one's Singpass ID or password to anyone.

Step 2: Visit the CPF website or open the CPF Mobile app

After you have set up multi-user SMS 2-factor authentication (2FA), follow these steps:

Visit the CPF website or open the CPF Mobile app.
Log in from the homepage or home screen using your Singpass ID and password.
A one-time password (OTP) will be sent via SMS to the contact number indicated in your 2FA application. Enter the OTP.
Access the CPF website or CPF Mobile app.

Withdrawals

How to withdraw CPF savings

If your loved one has been certified to have permanent loss of mental capacity by an accredited doctor, you can apply to withdraw some of their CPF savings to help with living expenses.

Find out more

Claims

How to apply for support or claims under other CPF related schemes

Be sure to read the eligibility criteria of each scheme before applying

Dependants' Protection Scheme

This scheme provides basic financial protection for CPF members in the event of death, terminal illness or total permanent disability.

You can make a claim if you are a beneficiary. You can also make a claim on behalf of the beneficiaries if you are a donee or deputy.

Find out more

Home Protection Scheme

If your loved one has a home financed using their CPF savings, they are likely covered under the Home Protection Scheme. The scheme protects them from losing their home if they cannot pay their outstanding loan due to death, terminal illness or total permanent disability.

You can make a claim if you are co-owner of the home. You can also make a claim on behalf of co-owners if you are a donee or deputy.

Find out more

ElderShield or CareShield Life

ElderShield and CareShield Life are long-term care insurance plans paid for through CPF members' MediSave savings.

Find out more about ElderShield claim process and CareShield Life claim process on the Agency for Integrated Care website.

MediSave Care

Singapore Citizens ages 30 and above can apply for monthly withdrawals from their own or their spouse's MediSave Account to fund long-term care expenses. If you're a donee or deputy, you can make the application on their behalf.

Find out more

Legacy Planning

How mental capacity affects CPF nominations

A loved one's loss of mental capacity may affect how CPF savings and assets are distributed or received as part of a CPF nomination.

CPF nomination

Nominations made before loss of mental capacity

If your loved one made a valid CPF nomination before their loss of mental capacity, the nomination stands and is not affected by their current health.

The CPF Board cannot invalidate a standing, valid CPF nomination. Only the courts can make or revoke a CPF nomination on behalf of someone who has lost mental capacity.

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