Have your say on Singapore's CPF

As promised during Prime Minsiter Lee Hsien Loong's National Day Rally speech back in August, the government is setting up a advisory panel to look at how Singapore's Central Provident Fund (CPF) can be enhanced.

In order to kick off, the Ministry of Manpower has announced an invitation for public comments and feedback, as well as a series of focus groups discussions, in order to discover how CPF can be made more flexible to better meet the needs of Singaporeans and provide additional options in retirement.

The panel will gather public views under these areas of the Terms of Reference:

1. How the Minimum Sum should be adjusted beyond 2015, in order to meet the objective of delivering a basic monthly retirement payout for life.

2. How to enable CPF members to withdraw more as a lump sum upon retirement, and the circumstances for their doing so, taking into consideration the impact on retirement adequacy for different groups;

3. How to provide an option for members who prefer CPF payouts that are initially lower but rise with time to help with increases in the cost of living; and

4. How to provide more flexibility for members who wish to:

ii. Seek higher returns while balancing the higher investment risks involved, through private investment plans;

iii. Invest in private annuities when they retire as an alternative to CPF LIFE.

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The MOM said the groups discussions will be conducted over the next few months.

More details of the sessions are available at www.cpfpanel.sg. You can also send feedback on the areas being studied at cpf_panel@mom.gov.sg.

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