Here are the six changes CPF Board is making in the coming year:
1. Expanding the Matched Retirement Savings Scheme
Seniors with lower retirement savings can tap on the Matched Retirement Savings Scheme or MRSS to save more for their retirement. The MRSS provides dollar-for-dollar matching grants of up to $2,000 a year on voluntary cash top-ups made to their retirement savings. This includes both the special account and the retirement account. A lifetime limit of $20,000 applies.
The CPF Board is expanding MRSS to all eligible Singaporeans with disabilities of all ages from Jan 1 2026.
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Eligibility for the MRSS is automatically assessed at the start of each year and eligible members will be informed either via email or hardcopy letter. Members can also check their eligibility on the CPF website in early 2026. The government’s matching grant will be credited to the relevant accounts in the following year.
2. Launch of Matched MediSave Scheme
In Budget 2025, the government announced that it will match up to $1,000 a year on voluntary cash top-ups made to MediSave accounts of eligible members under the Matched MediSave Scheme or MMSS. The scheme will help boost the healthcare savings of Singaporeans aged 55 to 70 (inclusive) with lower MediSave savings. MMSS will commence on Jan 1 2026 and last for five years.
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Eligibility for the MMSS is automatically assessed at the start of each year and eligible members will be informed either via email or hardcopy letter. Members can also check their eligibility on the CPF website in early 2026. The government’s matching grant will be credited to the relevant accounts in the following year.
3. Enhancements to CareShield Life
Several changes will be made to CareShield Life, Singapore’s national long-term care insurance scheme, progressively from January 2026.
Firstly, the annual payout growth rate will be doubled to 4% from 2%, between 2026 to 2030. Monthly CareShield Life payouts will be increased as follows:
In addition, the government will provide over $570 million more in premium support. This is on top of existing premium subsidies and will help offset the increase in premiums over the next five years. Premiums will remain fully payable by MediSave.
The government will also be reinstating the underwriting criteria for individuals born in 1979 or earlier to moderate the extent of premium increases for older policyholders. From Jan 1 2026, those born in 1979 or earlier can only enrol in CareShield Life if they have no pre-existing disabilities.
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4. Higher CPF contribution rates for platform workers
The increase in CPF contribution rates for platform workers will be gradually phased in from 2025 to 2029 under the Platform Workers Act. The act was passed on Sep 10 2024 and came into force on Jan 1 2025. The changes will apply to platform workers born in or after 1995, and those born before 1995 who opt in to it.
Contribution rates will increase between 2025 to 2029 to match employer-employee CPF rates (20% for platform workers and 17% for platform operators). The contributions will be allocated to their ordinary, special or retirement and MediSave accounts.
Lower-income platform workers can tap on the Platform Workers CPF Transition Support or PCTS scheme for cash support to offset part of the year-on-year increase in CPF contributions. The scheme will offset 75% of the increase in a platform worker’s share of ordinary, special or retirement account contributions in 2026. Eligible workers do not need to apply for the PCTS scheme as the assessment for it is automatic.
5. Higher CPF contribution rates for senior workers
The total CPF contribution rates for workers aged above 55 to 65 will be increased by 1.5 percentage points from Jan 1 2026. The increase comprises a 0.5 percentage point increase in employer contributions and a 1 percentage point increase in employee contributions. The increased contribution rates will be allocated to the retirement accounts of senior workers.
In addition, the CPF Transition Offset, a temporary wage offset scheme, will be provided to employers to help cushion the impact of the increased contribution rates for one year. The offset is equivalent to half of the 2026 increase in employer CPF contributions and will be provided automatically.
6. Increase in CPF Ordinary Wage ceiling
The CPF Ordinary Wage ceiling will be raised to $8,000 from $7,400 on Jan 1 2026. The ceiling has been gradually raised since Sep 1 2023, and next year’s hike will be the final round of increase. The CPF annual wage ceiling of $102,000 remains unchanged.
The CPF Ordinary Wage ceiling limits the amount of ordinary wage that attracts CPF contributions in a calendar month for all employees. According to the CPF Board, the increase in the ceiling “aims to keep pace with rising wages” and ensure retirement adequacy for the majority of employees.
