Dependants’ Protection Scheme
Frequently asked questions

Enhancements to DPS from 1 April 2021

5.    What are the changes to DPS from 1 April 2021?

• Appointment of Great Eastern Life as the sole insurer to administer DPS
  
• Increase of sum assured from S$46,000 to S$70,000
  
• Increase of age coverage, to cover members up to age 65

Comparison of DPS features

6.    How much do I need to pay to be covered under the new DPS from 1 April 2021, as opposed to the existing premium structure?

The amount of premium you need to pay for a DPS cover depends on your age at your last birthday.

*New premium rates will only take effect upon the member’s next policy renewal after 1 April 2021.
 

7.    I am currently insured under DPS with Great Eastern Life. Do I need to apply for the higher sum assured?

You are not required to take any action as the increase in sum assured will be automatically extended to you from 1 April 2021 onwards. However, the new premium rates payable for a DPS cover will only be reflected in your next policy renewal after 1 April 2021.
 

8.    I am currently insured under DPS with NTUC Income. Do I need to terminate the cover and apply to Great Eastern Life again?

You are not required to take any action at this point in time. From now till the new contract takes effect from 1 April 2021, the current DPS insurers, Great Eastern Life and NTUC Income will continue to issue new DPS policies and serve DPS policyholders. CPF Board will work with the insurers to ensure a smooth transition, and more information will be provided to you before 1 April 2021.

9.    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 “My Messages”, or by checking your CPF Yearly Statement of Account.
 

10.    I am above 60 and my DPS cover has expired before 1 April 2021. Will DPS be automatically extended to me from 1 April 2021?

No, your DPS cover will not be renewed automatically. As the maximum age for DPS coverage has been increased to 65 years, you can apply for a DPS cover directly with Great Eastern Life from 1 April 2021. Your application will be assessed based on your health condition at the point of application.
 

11.    I was issued a bonus sum assured in 2003 and/or 2005. Will it be brought forward to the new DPS policy?

CPF Board distributed surpluses in the form of bonus sum assured to the DPS members insured before DPS was privatised in 2005. Members can contact their existing insurer, Great Eastern Life or NTUC Income, to check if they qualify for the bonus sum assured.

To standardise the sum assured for all insured members under the new contract as the new amount of S$70,000, existing members who are eligible for the bonus sum assured will receive a one-time premium rebate in lieu of the bonus sum assured. The one-time rebate will be credited into members’ CPF Ordinary Accounts by June 2021.

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Policy Servicing

12.    How do I join DPS?

DPS is automatically extended to Singaporeans or Permanent Residents, between age 21 and 60, when they receive CPF contribution from their employer. From 1 April 2021, the age range for automatic inclusion under DPS will increase, and apply to members between age 21 and 65.

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.

13.    Why do I need to declare my health to be covered under DPS?

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 amount of premium you need to pay for a DPS cover depends on your age at your last birthday.

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.

14.    Can I pay the DPS premiums by cash if I do not have sufficient funds in my CPF account?

If you do not have sufficient funds in your CPF Ordinary or Special accounts to pay for the DPS premiums, you can make payment to us via alternate payment modes such as E-banking, AXS, Cash or Cheque.

15.    Do I need to make a new nomination for the new DPS policy if I am already an existing DPS member?

From 1 April 2021, Great Eastern Life will take over the sole administration of DPS.

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.

Policyholders who are insured under NTUC Income will be provided with nomination forms and will be required to make a new DPS nomination.

Please note that DPS claim benefits do not form part of CPF proceeds and will not be distributed based on your CPF Nomination.

If you have questions pertaining to the change of nominees, please click here.

16.    What do I have to do if I wish to opt out?

To opt out, you can contact our customer service officers at +65 6839 4565 or e-mail us at dps-sg@greateasternlife.com for assistance.

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.

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Claims

17.    How can I make a claim?

A DPS claim can be made when a policyholder passes away or is certified to be suffering from terminal illness or total permanent disability.
a) Terminal illness refers to an illness that is likely to result in the death of the member 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 any of the following:

· Both eyes, or
· Two limbs, or
· One eye and one limb
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.
 

18.    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?

Claim events that happened before 1 April 2021 will be handled by the existing DPS insurers, Great Eastern Life and NTUC Income. The insurance payouts will follow the existing benefits of S$46,000 and bonus sum assured (if applicable).

19.    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 Great Eastern Life. If the event occurred before 1 April 2021, Great Eastern Life will assist Claimants previously insured with NTUC Income to complete the relevant Claimants’ Statement and liaise with NTUC Income on the claim. Following which NTUC Income will liaise directly with the Claimant on the settlement of the claim.

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Others

20.    Who do I contact if I need any help or clarification on how to use the Great Eastern app?

If you have questions pertaining to the Great Eastern app, please click here.

Otherwise, you can contact our customer service officers at +65 6839 4565 or email us at dps-sg@greateasternlife.com.