One balance, three payout shapes
The plans differ in shape, not in generosity: the same Retirement Account buys a flat payout, a rising one that starts lower, or a lower one that can fall further. We show all three side by side and rank none of them.
Enter salary and DOB on the home page to use your own projection.
A Retirement Account of $400,000 at 65 supports roughly $2,093 a month on the Standard plan, $1,674 rising 2% a year on Escalating, or $1,884 on Basic. Over twenty years the Escalating payout reaches $2,487.
Standard
$2,093/month, flat
The same amount every month for life. Because it does not increase, its purchasing power falls as prices rise.
Escalating
$1,674/month, +2% a year
Starts lower, rises 2% every year to keep pace with prices. Crosses the Standard payout in the mid-seventies.
Basic
$1,884/month, can fall
Lowest starting payout, and it steps down once combined balances fall below $60,000. A larger bequest is not guaranteed.
Starting later instead
Payouts can begin any time between 65 and 70. Each year deferred raises the monthly amount permanently.
How these numbers were produced
- 01Scaled from CPF's published anchor: an Enhanced Retirement Sum set aside at 55 in 2025 corresponds to payouts of about $3,300 a month from 65.
- 02Escalating shown at roughly four-fifths of Standard at 65, then compounding 2% a year.
- 03Actual payouts depend on your cohort, sex, and the CPF LIFE parameters at the time.
Indicative only. Use CPF's own payout estimator for figures tied to your record. SimplyCPF does not recommend a plan.
What is CPF LIFE?
CPF LIFE (Lifelong Income For the Elderly) is Singapore's national annuity scheme that provides retirees with a monthly payout for life, no matter how long they live. It ensures you will not outlive your retirement savings.
When you turn 65, you can start receiving monthly payouts from your CPF LIFE plan. The amount you receive depends on:
- Your Retirement Account (RA) balance, built from CPF savings and top-ups
- The CPF LIFE plan you choose, Standard, Escalating, or Basic
- When you start payouts, deferring to age 70 gives higher monthly amounts
If you were born in 1958 or later and have at least S$60,000 in your Retirement Account when your payouts begin, you are included in CPF LIFE automatically. The Basic Retirement Sum for 2026 is S$110,200, but that is the amount you set aside for a given payout level, it is not the threshold for joining.
You can defer your payouts up to age 70. Each year you defer increases your monthly payout by roughly 7%. If you give no instruction, payouts start automatically at 70 on the Standard Plan.
CPF Retirement Sums (2026)
The Retirement Sums determine how much you need in your CPF Retirement Account (RA) for different levels of CPF LIFE payouts. These amounts increase yearly to keep pace with inflation and longer life expectancy.
Tip: You can withdraw the amount above your FRS at age 55, or transfer it to RA for higher CPF LIFE payouts later.