Tan See Leng: Over 90K aged 65–67 still working, forming a third of CPF members
During the 15 October 2025 Parliament sitting, Manpower Minister Tan See Leng said that around 94,500 people aged 65 to 67 were employed in 2024, forming about 33 per cent of CPF members. He noted that extending DPS coverage beyond 65 would raise premiums and reduce retirement savings.
- About 94,500 people aged 65 to 67 were employed in 2024, accounting for roughly 33 per cent of CPF members in that age group.
- Dependants’ Protection Scheme (DPS) lapse rates have remained low, under 0.2 per cent over the past three years.
- The Manpower Ministry is reviewing DPS parameters amid calls to extend coverage beyond the current age limit of 65.
SINGAPORE: Speaking in Parliament on 15 October 2025, Manpower Minister Tan See Leng revealed that about 94,500 individuals aged between 65 and 67 were employed in 2024, representing roughly one-third of Central Provident Fund (CPF) members in that age group.
He was responding to Sembawang GRC Member of Parliament Mariam Jaafar, who had asked about the number of CPF members below 65 whose Dependants’ Protection Scheme (DPS) coverage had lapsed in recent years due to non-payment of premiums.
The DPS currently provides term insurance coverage for CPF members up to the age of 65.
Dr Tan explained that extending this upper age limit would lead to significantly higher premiums because of increased mortality risks beyond 65.
Such a change, he said, would also reduce members’ available savings for retirement.
Dr Tan noted that when the maximum age of DPS coverage was raised from 60 to 65 in 2021, the Ministry of Manpower had sought to strike a balance between offering longer protection for dependants and ensuring adequate retirement funds for members.
Over the past three years, lapse rates for DPS among members under 65 have remained below 0.2 per cent.
Members are notified by both SMS and mail if their CPF balances are insufficient to cover premium payments, and may choose to pay in cash.
Those who miss payments are granted a 60-day grace period and receive a final notice before coverage lapses. Members whose coverage has ended may reapply to Great Eastern Life, the current scheme administrator.
In response, Mariam acknowledged the need to manage premium costs but urged a review of the current age limit.
She highlighted that many Singaporeans continue to work beyond 65, with the re-employment age now at 67, and often continue supporting both children and elderly dependants.
She asked if the Ministry had conducted studies on the feasibility and cost implications of aligning DPS coverage with the re-employment age.
She also suggested considering targeted or optional extensions for those who wish to maintain coverage past 65, even at higher premiums.
Dr Tan replied that actuarial studies showed premiums would rise disproportionately if DPS coverage were extended beyond 65.
However, he said the Ministry was open to reviewing the scheme further, noting that any adjustment must balance sustainability, affordability, and sufficient retirement savings.
He added that ongoing reviews take into account broader policy shifts, including planned increases to the retirement and re-employment ages—to 65 and 70 respectively—before 2030.
On the issue of lapsed coverage, Dr Tan said that about 75 per cent of affected members were aged above 55, many of whom were no longer working or were self-employed and lacked regular CPF contributions.
As of 31 December 2022, around 40 per cent of those whose coverage had lapsed had either reinstated their policies or started new ones by the end of 2024.
Currently, more than two million Singaporeans and permanent residents are covered under the DPS.
Among active CPF members aged 21 to 65, 86 per cent have DPS protection. Dr Tan emphasised that while it may not be possible to cover every individual, the Ministry aims to maintain a broad-based and sustainable scheme.
