Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the Dependants’ Protection Scheme (DPS)?
DPS was incepted in May 1989 and was administered by CPF Board until it was privatised in September 2005.
From 1 April 2021, Great Eastern Life became the sole provider of DPS.
It is a term-life insurance scheme which provides insured members and/or their families with some money to get through the first few years should the insured members meet an untimely death, suffer from terminal illness or total permanent disability.
The impact of such an event is far greater when the individual has not yet accumulated enough CPF or other savings to be bequeathed to any dependant(s) reliant on said individual’s income. This is why DPS coverage is automatically extended to all working Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents, upon a valid CPF working contribution between the age of 21 and 65.
2. Do all CPF members need DPS?
Members should consider whether they have dependants who are reliant on their current income. For example, members who may not need DPS include:
- Those whose dependants have already grown up and become financially independent, e.g. children who reach adulthood and started working.
- Those who have already built up enough CPF or private savings, as such savings could be bequeathed to their dependants directly, to tide them over the first few years of expenses in the event of an untimely death.
- Those who already have their own private term or life insurance, which provides enough insurance protection and payout to tide dependants over the first few years of expenses in the event of an untimely death.
Insurance premiums, including for DPS, become more expensive with age. Should members decide that they wish to opt out of DPS, they may do so by informing Great Eastern Life to terminate their DPS cover any time by completing the opt out form. Opting out of DPS will allow such members who may not need DPS to retain more of their CPF savings for their retirement income.
3. Is DPS compulsory?
Coverage under the DPS is not compulsory. However, continuing with the DPS cover will provide some financial protection for the policyholder’s family.
Policyholders can contact Great Eastern Life to terminate their DPS cover any time by completing the opt out form.
Members should consider the benefits of DPS carefully before terminating their DPS cover. If member decides to re-join DPS in the future, he/she will need to submit a health declaration again and the cover will be provided subject to him/her being in good health then.
4. Who is eligible for DPS?
All Singaporeans and Permanent Residents between age 16 and 60 can be covered under DPS. From 1 April 2021, those aged up to age 65 would be eligible.
5. What are the changes to DPS from 1 April 2021?
- Appointment of Great Eastern Life as the sole insurer to administer DPS.
- The maximum sum assured is increased from S$46,000 to S$70,000 for members up to age 60
- The maximum age of coverage is increased to cover those above age 60 and up to age 65, at a maximum sum assured of S$55,000
| Before 1 April 2021 | From 1 April 2021 | |
|---|---|---|
| Sum Assured | S$46,000 (for members aged 21 and above to 60) |
S$70,000 (for members aged 21 and above to 60) S$55,000 (for members aged 60 and above to 65) |
| Automatic extension of DPS cover | CPF members aged 21 to below 60 years, when they receive a valid CPF contribution | CPF members aged 21 to below 65 years, when they receive a valid CPF contribution |
| Automatic annual renewal | Members with an active DPS cover, before their 60th birthday | Members with an active DPS cover on or after 1 April 2021, before their 65th birthday |
| Can apply to join DPS | Members aged 16 and above but below 60 | Members aged 16 and above but below 65 |
| Insurer(s) | Great Eastern Life & NTUC Income | Great Eastern Life |
6. I have been insured under DPS for many years. Do I still need to make a health declaration now that Great Eastern Life is the sole DPS insurer from 1 April 2021?
Members currently insured under DPS do not need to submit a new Health Declaration form for illnesses that developed on or after the commencement of their DPS covers. Great Eastern Life will take over all obligations of DPS covers issued under NTUC Income and continue to cover any medical conditions that had developed on or after the commencement of members’ DPS covers under NTUC Income.
7. I am currently insured under DPS and have illnesses before the commencement of my DPS policy which I did not declare previously. What should I do now?
The validity of your DPS cover is subject to you being in good health when your policy commenced. Great Eastern Life will not consider claims from a member who has withheld relevant information in the health declaration.
You are therefore required to complete the Health Declaration if you have serious pre-existing illness that existed before the commencement date of your DPS policy, and you have not declared the illness to your insurer previously. However, if your DPS policy commenced before 17 September 2005, that is, before the privatisation of the DPS, you are not required to submit any health declaration.
“Pre-existing illness” refers to health condition(s) that existed before the commencement date of your DPS policy. To clarify, the commencement date does not refer to the date at which your policy is transitioned to Great Eastern Life. For example, if your policy had commenced with NTUC Income on 15 February 2010, this date is your policy commencement date. Your DPS policy commencement date will be carried over for the transition to Great Eastern Life.
Please click here for more information on the examples of serious pre-existing illnesses that may affect your cover eligibility.
8. I would like to apply for a Dependants’ Protection Scheme (DPS) cover. Do I need to declare my health to be covered under DPS?
Yes, the eligibility for a DPS cover is subject to you being in good health when your policy commences. As with any life insurance, DPS cover may be declined or deferred if a member has serious pre-existing illnesses. This underwriting practice is necessary to ensure that the scheme remains viable and the premiums are kept affordable for all insured members.
The DPS insurer will not consider claims from a member who has serious pre-existing illnesses or has given false or misleading statements or withheld relevant information in the health declaration.
Please click here for more information on the examples of serious pre-existing illnesses that may affect your cover eligibility.
9. How much do I need to pay to be covered under DPS ?
The amount of premium you need to pay for a DPS cover depends on your age at your last birthday
Age (Last Birthday) |
Yearly Premium for S$70,000 sum assured
|
34 years and below |
S$18 |
35 – 39 years |
S$30 |
40 – 44 years |
S$50 |
45 – 49 years |
S$93 |
50 – 54 years |
S$188 |
55 – 59 years |
S$298 |
60 – 64 years |
S$298 (for sum assured of S$55,000) |
10. How can I check if I am covered under DPS?
You can check the status of your DPS coverage by logging in to the CPF website with your SingPass and view your coverage status under “Providing for your loved ones”, or by checking your yearly CPF Statement of Account.
11. How do I join DPS?
DPS is automatically extended to Singaporeans or Permanent Residents, between age 21 and 65 upon a valid CPF working contribution.
CPF members aged 16 and above who were not extended a DPS cover automatically but wish to be insured can apply for DPS directly with Great Eastern Life.
To apply, you can:
a. Click here to download the Proposal Form and return the completed form to us, or
b. Get in touch with your Financial Representative, or
c. Drop by our Customer Service Centre at 1 Pickering Street, #01-01 Great Eastern Centre, Singapore 048659.
If you have any questions, you may contact our customer service officers at +65 6839 4565 or e-mail us at dps-sg@greateasternlife.com.
12. How do I renew my DPS policy?
A renewal notification will be sent to you 30 days before your renewal date. You have a grace period of 60 days from the renewal date to make payment.
Payment via CPF
A deduction will be made from your CPF savings on the renewal date automatically. If the deduction is not successful due to insufficient funds, a re-attempt will be made on the 16th of the next month or the month after next, depending on the renewal date, which will be advised on the unsuccessful deduction notification to you.
Payment via GIRO
An automatic deduction will be made from your designated GIRO account monthly. If the deduction date falls on a Sunday or Public Holiday, the deduction will be made on the prior working day. To check on the specific date of GIRO deduction, please contact us for more information.
Payment via other methods
You may choose to make payments via alternative payment methods such as e-banking, AXS, cash or cheque within 60 days from the policy renewal date.
If you had previously opted out and you wish to re-join the scheme, please click here.
If your policy had lapsed and you wish to reinstate it, please click here.
13. How do I change my payment method?
To change the payment method for your DPS policy, please click here to download the Change Payment Method & Authorisation Form and email the completed form to us at dps-sg@greateasternlife.com.
14. What happens if the deduction from my CPF / GIRO account is unsuccessful?
If the deduction from your CPF / GIRO account is unsuccessful, an unsuccessful deduction notification will be sent to you.
Options to pay:
1. Payment via CPF
- For CPF, there will be a re- attempt made from your CPF savings on the 16th of the next month or the month after next, depending on your renewal date, which will be advised on the unsuccessful deduction notification to you.
2. AXS
- You may pay via AXS machines, AXS m-Station (via Smartphone and Device) or AXS e-Station (via www.axs.com.sg).
- Please select the “Great Eastern Life (10 digits)” tab when making payment.
3. Internet banking
- Please select “Great Eastern Life (10 digits)” as the Bill Payee Organisation for OCBC, DBS/POSB, UOB or Standard Chartered Bank account holders.
4. Cheque
- Please send a crossed cheque payable to “The Great Eastern Life Assurance Co. Ltd” and write your policy number, name and contact number on the back of the cheque.
- If no premium is received from you after 60 days from the renewal date, the policy will lapse. Reinstatement of policy is subject to satisfactory health underwriting.
15. What should I do if my DPS premium is only partially deducted from my CPF Savings?
If partial premium is deducted from your CPF savings, a partial deduction notification will be sent to you.
If premium is partially paid, the policy sum assured will be reduced proportionately (minimum sum assured is $5,000).
If you wish to restore to full coverage, and the policy is:
- within 60 days from the renewal date, please make the balance payment required. Please see the available payment methods here.
- after 60 days from the renewal date, please click here to download the Reinstatement/Top-Up Form and email the completed form to us at dps-sg@greateasternlife.com. Approval of application will be subject to receipt of required payment and satisfactory health underwriting.
If you wish to continue to be insured at the reduced sum assured, no action is required from you.
16. I am above 55 years old and have funds in my CPF Savings. Why did the deduction fail?
When you reach 55 years old, funds in your CPF Ordinary Account may have been transferred to your Retirement Account for your retirement needs. Hence, deduction from your CPF savings could be unsuccessful due to insufficient funds.
A notification will be sent to you 30 days before you reach 55 years old to let you know that your premium deduction for your DPS policy may be affected if you are making premium payment from your CPF savings. For ease of payment, you may choose to apply for payment by GIRO then. Alternatively, you may make payment via alternative payment methods listed here.
17. What happens when I turn 65 years old?
Your DPS policy will be terminated when you reach the maximum coverage age of 65 as of your policy renewal date. A notification will be sent to you to notify on the policy termination due to maximum age reached.
18. Do I need to make a new nomination for the DPS policy if I am already an existing DPS member?
From 1 April 2021, Great Eastern Life has been appointed by CPF Board as the sole DPS insurer.
For existing policyholders who are insured under Great Eastern Life and had made a nomination previously, you will not be required to make a new nomination.
For policyholders who were previously insured under NTUC Income, as your DPS cover under NTUC Income had ceased on 31 March 2021, any DPS nominations that you had made with NTUC Income are no longer valid. Thus, you are required to make a new nomination under Great Eastern Life.
Please note that DPS claim benefits do not form part of CPF proceeds and will not be distributed based on your CPF Nomination.
19. How do I make a revocable nomination for DPS?
If you are at least 18 years old and wish to have the death claim benefits paid to specific person/organization i.e. beneficiary(s), you can make a revocable nomination by completing the DPS nomination form and submitting the completed form to us. You can also cancel the nomination by making a new nomination and it will take effect from the date a valid form is submitted. To obtain the DPS Nomination form, you may:
1. Click here to download Form 4 Revocable Nomination
2. E-mail us at dps-sg@greateasternlife.com
3. Contact our customer service officers at +65 6839 4565 to request for the form to be sent via post
Kindly complete the form and return it to us at:
1 Pickering Street
#13-01 Great Eastern Centre
Singapore 048659
An acknowledgement letter will be sent after we process your request.
20. Who will receive the DPS approved claim benefits?
For death claims, if you have made a DPS nomination, or have a will which is made know to us, your beneficiary(s) according to the nomination or will (whichever takes effect at the later date) will receive the benefits. If no nomination or will is made, the benefits will be paid to proper claimant(s). A proper claimant can be the executor of the deceased's estate or family member, e.g. spouse, parent, child or sibling.
21. Can I change my revocable nomination?
You may revoke your existing nomination and make another new nomination at any time.
If you wish to revoke your existing nomination and not nominate any new nominees, please complete Form 5 Revocation of Revocable Nomination.
If you wish to change nominees, please complete Form 4 Revocable Nomination.
22. What kind of nomination can I make? Can I make a trust nomination for my DPS?
You may make a revocable nomination for DPS however trust nomination is not allowed for DPS.
When the policyholder makes a trust nomination, he/she loses all rights to the ownership of the policy, which means all living benefits such as Terminal Illness and Total Permanent Disability payouts will be paid to the nominees. Also, the policyholder can only revoke the trust nomination with the consent of all the nominees.
However, if CPF monies are used to pay for the policies, you must retain complete control of your retirement funds during your lifetime. Thus, trust nomination is not allowed for DPS as you will no longer have control over the proceeds of this policy during your lifetime.
23. What do I have to do if I wish to opt out?
Members should consider the benefits of DPS carefully before terminating their DPS cover. DPS is a term-life insurance scheme which provides insured members and/or their families with some money to get through the first few years should the insured members meet an untimely death, suffer from terminal illness or total permanent disability. If any member(s) decide(s) to re-join DPS in the future, he/she will need to submit a health declaration again and the cover will be provided subject to him/her being in good health then.
To opt out, please click here to download the Opt-Out Form and email the completed form to us at dps-sg@greateasternlife.com.
24. How can I apply for DPS again if I have previously opted out of the policy?
If you had opted out, you would have received an opt-out letter from us. If you wish to re-join the scheme, you may:
a. complete the opt-back form at the overleaf of the opt-out letter and email the completed form to us at dps-sg@greateasternlife.com within 30 days from the date of the opt-out letter, or
b. if after 30 days from the opt-out and within 120 days from renewal date, we will require a Reinstatement Form. Please click here to download the Reinstatement/Top-Up Form. Approval of the application will be subject to satisfactory health underwriting.
c. if after 120 days from renewal date, we will require a new Proposal Form. Please click here to download the Proposal Form. Approval of the application will be subject to satisfactory health underwriting.
25. Why did my policy lapse?
The policy will lapse if premium payment is not made within 60 days from the renewal date.
26. How can I reinstate my policy?
Once the policy has lapsed, the reinstatement can be done within 120 days from the renewal date.
Please click here to download the Reinstatement/Top-Up Form and email the completed form to us at dps-sg@greateasternlife.com. Approval of reinstatement will be subject to receipt of required payment and satisfactory health underwriting.
27. How can I make a claim?
A DPS claim can be made when a Life Assured passes away or is certified to be suffering from terminal illness or total permanent disability.
a) Terminal illness refers to an illness that a registered medical practitioner under the Medical Registration Act certifies is expected to result in death within 12 months
b) Total permanent disability refers to (i) the inability to take part in any employment permanently, or (ii) the total permanent loss of physical function of both eyes, both limbs, or one eye and one limb, certified by a registered medical practitioner under the Medical Registration Act.
A claim under (a) or (b)(ii) can be made only if the terminal illness or total permanent loss of physical function started on or after 1 May 2016.
For more information regarding the claim procedure, please click here.
28. My family member who was covered under DPS, had passed away/certified to be suffering from terminal illness or total permanent disability before 1 April 2021. Am I entitled to the new benefits of S$70,000?
For Claim events that happened before 1 April 2021, the insurance payouts will follow the DPS benefits applicable before 1 April 2021, with a sum assured of S$46,000 and bonus sum assured (if applicable).
29. My DPS was under NTUC Income before 1 April 2021. I want to file a claim with event date (death, terminal illness or total permanent disability) before 1 April 2021, which insurer should I approach on / after 1 April 2021?
Claimants can submit the claim directly to NTUC Income for event occurred before 1 April 2021 and NTUC Income will liaise directly with the Claimant on the settlement of the claim.
NTUC Income can be contacted at:
Email: healthcare@income.com.sg
Phone: 6332 1133
Website for claim submission: https://www.income.com.sg/claims/life-insurance
30. My DPS was under NTUC Income before 1 April 2021. I want to file a claim with event date (death, terminal illness or total permanent disability) after 1 April 2021 or I am unsure of the event date for terminal illness or total permanent disability, which insurer should I approach on / after 1 April 2021?
Claimants can submit the claim directly to Great Eastern Life and Great Eastern Life will process the claim for event date after 1 April 2021.
If the event occurred before 1 April 2021, Great Eastern Life will assist to forward the claim documents to NTUC Income for the processing of the claims. Following which NTUC Income will follow up directly with the Claimant on the completion of claim form and settlement of the claim.