CPF Account Value Thread 2026

[trave1er]

Yes, Yesaka said he/she met the FRS a few years ago. But also said he/she can "topup to ERS or $24,800 to met current FRS".

I think more likely what's going on is that the FRS ceiling has risen faster than the funds in Yesaka's CPF accounts. Only Yesaka will know for sure.

 

[VicFirth]

Hi, like to check with you, when u do VHR over the years, it will decrease your principal amount first?
I am now 50+ but not yet 55. Thinking of doing VHR between now and 55. Now 'owing' myself $270k + and accrue interest of ard $70k+.

How much did you put back per year?

Yes. The principle first. You will then notice the accrued interest don't increase so fast if the refund is substantial.

After the principle then the accrued interest.

Once you complete the refund inclusive of accrued interest, the VHR option in CPF mobile will then become NA for you!

Then see your compound supercharge.

 

[BBCWatcher]

Yes, Yesaka said he/she met the FRS a few years ago. But also said he/she can "topup to ERS or $24,800 to met current FRS".

I think more likely what's going on is that the FRS ceiling has risen faster than the funds in Yesaka's CPF accounts. Only Yesaka will know for sure.

No, that's normal. For tax relief purposes the FRS is measured on a principal only basis. For OA lump sum withdrawal purposes meeting your age 55 FRS is sufficient. And for RA top up purposes any amount is allowed up to the current Enhanced Retirement Sum (ERS), again measured on a principal only basis.

 

[yesaka]

No, that's normal. For tax relief purposes the FRS is measured on a principal only basis. For OA lump sum withdrawal purposes meeting your age 55 FRS is sufficient. And for RA top up purposes any amount is allowed up to the current Enhanced Retirement Sum (ERS), again measured on a principal only basis.

Yes, Yesaka said he/she met the FRS a few years ago. But also said he/she can "topup to ERS or $24,800 to met current FRS".

I think more likely what's going on is that the FRS ceiling has risen faster than the funds in Yesaka's CPF accounts. Only Yesaka will know for sure.

Yes, thanks very much for the advice.

MA still haven't deduct from my private shield plan. According to Singlife letter, will be sometimes next week.

.Will decide which prorption of topup to MA and/or RA to do after the deduction.

 

[fire]

Was just wondering, anyone know how the mthly payout for ERS works?

Example:
Current ERS: 440,800
@65 start monthly payout = ?

I know mthly payout for ERS suppose to start low, increase 2% annually. Just wondering how low is low

 

[BBCWatcher]

MA still haven't deduct from my private shield plan. According to Singlife letter, will be sometimes next week.
.Will decide which prorption of topup to MA and/or RA to do after the deduction.

If you have a payroll cycle contribution that will hit this month, before your Integrated Shield and MediShield Life premium deductions, then it would make sense to make a Voluntary Contribution to MediSave a day or two before your payroll cycle. That is, at least if you're trying to deposit as many dollars as you can into MA.

Was just wondering, anyone know how the mthly payout for ERS works?
Example:
Current ERS: 440,800
@65 start monthly payout = ?
I know mthly payout for ERS suppose to start low, increase 2% annually. Just wondering how low is low

Use the CPF LIFE Monthly Payout Estimator or the Retirement Payout Planner to get that answer.

Note that you can start CPF LIFE payouts at age 70 (the default), age 65, or anywhere in between. Note also that neither your age 55 Enhanced Retirement Sum nor the current Enhanced Retirement Sum are the limits. Every time the ERS is raised everyone (including those who've met the ERS in the past) is allowed to deposit more dollars into RA.

 

[KOPS1974]

Yes. The principle first. You will then notice the accrued interest don't increase so fast if the refund is substantial.

After the principle then the accrued interest.

Once you complete the refund inclusive of accrued interest, the VHR option in CPF mobile will then become NA for you!

Then see your compound supercharge.

Ok. Thanks for the info

 

[fire]

If you have a payroll cycle contribution that will hit this month, before your Integrated Shield and MediShield Life premium deductions, then it would make sense to make a Voluntary Contribution to MediSave a day or two before your payroll cycle. That is, at least if you're trying to deposit as many dollars as you can into MA.

Use the CPF LIFE Monthly Payout Estimator or the Retirement Payout Planner to get that answer.

Note that you can start CPF LIFE payouts at age 70 (the default), age 65, or anywhere in between. Note also that neither your age 55 Enhanced Retirement Sum nor the current Enhanced Retirement Sum are the limits. Every time the ERS is raised everyone (including those who've met the ERS in the past) is allowed to deposit more dollars into RA.

Tried before, unable to use CPF LIFE Monthly Payout Estimator as I'm below 55 the other planner doesn't tells what I'm looking for.

 

[BBCWatcher]

Tried before, unable to use CPF LIFE Monthly Payout Estimator as I'm below 55 the other planner doesn't tells what I'm looking for.

OK, I found someone who can get into that estimator. Here are the estimates for a hypothetical male born in 1971 with a RA balance of $440,800. (Evidently that's for a male who just celebrated his 55th birthday this month and will fund his new RA to the current ERS before the end of this month.)

• Standard Plan from age 65: $3,410
• Escalating Plan from age 65: $2,690 (-21.1% versus Standard Plan payout)
  
  
• Standard Plan from age 70: $4,550 (+33.4% versus age 65)
• Escalating Plan from age 70: $3,680 (+36.8% versus age 65) (-19.1% versus Standard Plan payout)

Escalating Plan payouts grow at 2% per year for life. The exact payout figure could "wobble" a bit for both plans depending on whether and how much the CPF Board's actuarial projections differ from reality, but the 2%/year part (above any wobble) is guaranteed. All figures are in future nominal dollars and are not inflation-adjusted.

As mentioned, these payout figures can be increased simply by continuing to top up the RA every time the ERS is raised.

 

[fire]

OK, I found someone who can get into that estimator. Here are the estimates for a hypothetical male born in 1971 with a RA balance of $440,800. (Evidently that's for a male who just celebrated his 55th birthday this month and will fund his new RA to the current ERS before the end of this month.)

• Standard Plan from age 65: $3,410
• Escalating Plan from age 65: $2,690 (-21.1% versus Standard Plan payout)
  
  
• Standard Plan from age 70: $4,550 (+33.4% versus age 65)
• Escalating Plan from age 70: $3,680 (+36.8% versus age 65) (-19.1% versus Standard Plan payout)

Escalating Plan payouts grow at 2% per year for life. The exact payout figure could "wobble" a bit for both plans depending on whether and how much the CPF Board's actuarial projections differ from reality, but the 2%/year part (above any wobble) is guaranteed. All figures are in future nominal dollars and are not inflation-adjusted.

As mentioned, these payout figures can be increased simply by continuing to top up the RA every time the ERS is raised.

Many thanks for the effort.

Seems like mthly payout for the ERS will need to take abt 10yrs to reach the mthly payout for the FRS not sure how many yrs gonna take to reach the stated 2 * FRS.

This helps me to decide if I should go for FRS or ERS

 

[fr33d0m]

Was just wondering, anyone know how the mthly payout for ERS works?

Example:
Current ERS: 440,800
@65 start monthly payout = ?

I know mthly payout for ERS suppose to start low, increase 2% annually. Just wondering how low is low

ERS is different from CPF LIFE Escalating Plan...

ERS is enhanced retirement sum, which defines the max amount you can have in your RA.

You can have ERS, but choose CPF LIFE Basic or Standard or Escalating Plan.

 

[fr33d0m]

Many thanks for the effort.

Seems like mthly payout for the ERS will need to take abt 10yrs to reach the mthly payout for the FRS not sure how many yrs gonna take to reach the stated 2 * FRS.

This helps me to decide if I should go for FRS or ERS

you are confusing 2 different things. with 2 x FRS, you should get 2 x monthly payout with the same plan.

 

[chong18]

OK, I found someone who can get into that estimator. Here are the estimates for a hypothetical male born in 1971 with a RA balance of $440,800. (Evidently that's for a male who just celebrated his 55th birthday this month and will fund his new RA to the current ERS before the end of this month.)

• Standard Plan from age 65: $3,410
• Escalating Plan from age 65: $2,690 (-21.1% versus Standard Plan payout)
  
  
• Standard Plan from age 70: $4,550 (+33.4% versus age 65)
• Escalating Plan from age 70: $3,680 (+36.8% versus age 65) (-19.1% versus Standard Plan payout)

Escalating Plan payouts grow at 2% per year for life. The exact payout figure could "wobble" a bit for both plans depending on whether and how much the CPF Board's actuarial projections differ from reality, but the 2%/year part (above any wobble) is guaranteed. All figures are in future nominal dollars and are not inflation-adjusted.

As mentioned, these payout figures can be increased simply by continuing to top up the RA every time the ERS is raised.

Why no basic plan?

 

[BBCWatcher]

you are confusing 2 different things. with 2 x FRS, you should get 2 x monthly payout with the same plan.

Not quite double due to bonus interest effects, but close.

Why no basic plan?

The only positive the CPF LIFE Basic Plan might accomplish is to leave a larger residual to CPF nominees. But there's a significant cost to take that chance, and it's not guaranteed. In my view if you're in poor health at age 69 (before CPF LIFE payouts start at age 70)(*) and have at least one CPF nominee that you care about, the CPF LIFE Basic Plan is probably the best choice. Otherwise in my view it makes much more financial sense to use CPF LIFE to defend bequests and gifts from other assets. In other words, in my view there's no need to estimate CPF LIFE Basic Plan payouts because it's a life scenario-based selection, not really a payout-based one.

The CPF LIFE Monthly Payout Estimator can provide Basic Plan estimates if you'd like.

(*) If you're trying to maximize a bequest from CPF RA specifically, you'd never start payouts before age 70. That's tautological, really. But if you can't financially make it to age 70, and if you need to start payouts earlier (because you're broke), it'd be at least very strange to pick permanently lower monthly payout amounts than the CPF LIFE Standard Plan offers. You desperately need the money, after all.

 

[fr33d0m]

Not quite double due to bonus interest effects, but close.

The only positive the CPF LIFE Basic Plan might accomplish is to leave a larger residual to CPF nominees. But there's a significant cost to take that chance, and it's not guaranteed. In my view if you're in poor health at age 69 (before CPF LIFE payouts start at age 70)(*) and have at least one CPF nominee that you care about, the CPF LIFE Basic Plan is probably the best choice. Otherwise in my view it makes much more financial sense to use CPF LIFE to defend bequests and gifts from other assets. In other words, in my view there's no need to estimate CPF LIFE Basic Plan payouts because it's a life scenario-based selection, not really a payout-based one.

The CPF LIFE Monthly Payout Estimator can provide Basic Plan estimates if you'd like.

(*) If you're trying to maximize a bequest from CPF RA specifically, you'd never start payouts before age 70. That's tautological, really. But if you can't financially make it to age 70, and if you need to start payouts earlier (because you're broke), it'd be at least very strange to pick permanently lower monthly payout amounts than the CPF LIFE Standard Plan offers. You desperately need the money, after all.

just because CPF LIFE Basic has a better bequest scenario in some cases, it does not make it the only use case. CPF LIFE Basic can be adequate, if one prefers more self-funded retirement, rather than a social-funded retirement, especially for people with significant assets outside CPF.

 

[BBCWatcher]

just because CPF LIFE Basic has a better bequest scenario in some cases, it does not make it the only use case. CPF LIFE Basic can be adequate, if one prefers more self-funded retirement, rather than a social-funded retirement, especially for people with significant assets outside CPF.

What does that even mean?

People able to top up their RAs to the ERS who are in good health at age 69.X, who start payouts at age 70, and who have significant assets outside CPF are more likely than not to "beat" the fair actuarial bet between payout plans. The Basic Plan would not typically be a sensible financial choice for that cohort.

 

[fr33d0m]

What does that even mean?

People able to top up their RAs to the ERS who are in good health at age 69.X, who start payouts at age 70, and who have significant assets outside CPF are more likely than not to "beat" the fair actuarial bet between payout plans. The Basic Plan would not typically be a sensible financial choice for that cohort.

Not sensible because of what? A lower payout? The difference between plans are not large enough to make meaningful comparisons for a large group of males.

 

[BBCWatcher]

Not sensible because of what? A lower payout?

The risk-adjusted net present value is more likely to be higher for the other CPF LIFE payout plans in these circumstances (individual topping up their RA to the ERS, plenty of other assets, age 70 payout start, good health at 69.X) compared to the Basic Plan.

The difference between plans are not large enough to make meaningful comparisons for a large group of males.

The RA-NPV difference is likely to be small as a percentage of net worth for a wealthy person, but that still doesn't mean it's wise to choose the smaller RA-NPV.

 

[LostChild4ever]

The day has come. You log in your CPF and feel super rich after getting the interest.

Time to show off your big account values and teach the rest how you did it. Pictures please.

I have to stick to 2 room bto or resale. .
-Used up OA have to depend on non CPF for retirement
-MA max will exceed 100k limit in the future

 

[fire]

ERS is different from CPF LIFE Escalating Plan...

ERS is enhanced retirement sum, which defines the max amount you can have in your RA.

You can have ERS, but choose CPF LIFE Basic or Standard or Escalating Plan.

Ic... Thanks for the clarification. That means escalating plan is no go for me.