Application for Death Extract
A death extract is a certified true copy of the Death Certificate. Application for death extract can only be submitted online.
Banks
Please notify the deceased person’s bank, especially for receipts and cheques deposited automatically, or if mortgage payments and other transactions (e.g. GIRO deductions) are carried out directly from the account.
Insurance Companies
Inform the deceased person’s insurance companies. Beneficiaries may receive payouts from insurance policies, credit and trade unions or fraternal organisations, etc.
Bills & Miscellaneous Items
Check for any outstanding debts, such as credit-card bills. For bills where payment is made automatically via GIRO, inform the companies to cancel the GIRO.
Where appropriate, contact the deceased person's landlord, cancel utilities such as electricity and telephone connections, and other items such as safety deposit boxes etc. Give the post office a forwarding address for the deceased person's mail.
Lawyers/Solicitors
Obtain the deceased person's will and inform his lawyer and/or executor.
Estate Duty
An estate duty is payable on the value of a deceased person's net assets above a specified threshold amount. More information on estate duties is available.
You can also contact:
Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore
Ruling and Estate Duty Branch
Tel: 6351 3380
Email: ed@iras.gov.sg
Public Trustee
The Public Trustee administers the estates of deceased persons if the value does not exceed $50,000.
The Public Trustee will:
1. Administer the assets of the deceased (for example bank and other financial institutions deposits, undrawn salaries, CPF savings and New Singapore Shares).
2. Sell or transfer shares held by the deceased person in Singapore-listed companies.
3. Transfer any vehicle belonging to the deceased to the beneficiary.
4. Ascertain the validity of claimants' entitlement as beneficiaries and the relationship between the claimants and the deceased person.
5. Hold the minor's share in trust until the beneficiary reaches age of maturity and may make monthly payments for the minor's maintenance and education.
More information can be found at:
Applications can be made online.
Central Provident Fund (CPF) Withdrawal
When a CPF member passes away, nominated beneficiaries will receive:
1. The deceased person’s CPF savings
2. Other monies due to the deceased person
3. Assets owned by the deceased.
If no nomination is made or it is found to be invalid, the Public Trustee will handle the deceased person’s CPF savings, other monies due to or assets. These savings or assets will then be distributed to the deceased person’s family members according to Intestacy Laws.
Making a Claim
On a member's death, the deceased's family can inform the Board of the member's death by submitting the deceased's death certificate, at any CPF office. After verifying the validity of the deceased's nomination, the Board would invite the nominees to make a claim.
To withdraw the deceased person’s CPF savings, the following original documents will have to be submitted to the CPF Board:
- Death Certificate of deceased
- Marriage Certificate or Certificate of Making the Decree Nisi Absolute (i.e. Divorce Certificate), where applicable
- Birth certificate(s) of the deceased person’s child(ren)
- Singapore identity card or other identification documents
- Nominees' bank passbooks or bank statements
- Nominees' statement of account with the Central Depository Pte Ltd (CDP) if the Special Discounted Shares due to the nominee is to be transferred to his or her individual CDP account.
More information can be found here.
For enquiries, please call 1800 227 1188 (Code 5, Sub-code 2) or e-mail to wdlondeath@cpf.gov.sg.
Social Assistance
There are various government social assistance schemes available if help is needed. These schemes are administered by the Community Development Councils.
The schemes are:
(a) Public Assistance (PA) Scheme/Special Grant (SG)
(b) Home Ownership Plus Education Scheme (HOPE)
(c) Rent and Utilities Assistance Scheme (RUAS)
(d) Interim Financial Assistance Scheme (IFAS)
(e) Student Care Fee Assistance (SCFA)
(f) Centre-based Financial Assistance Scheme for Child Care (CFAC)
(g) Work Assistance Programme (WAP)
(h) Kindergarten Financial Assistance Scheme (KiFAS)
More details on these social assistance schemes can be found at:
(a) Community Development Councils
(b) Central Singapore CDC
(c) North East CDC
(d) North West CDC
(e) South East CDC
(f) South West CDC
Workmen’s compensation for dependants in a work-related death
1. Compensation is given to the dependants of a workman in a work-related death. Under the Workmen's Compensation Act, compensation is paid to the injured worker in non-fatal work-related accidents.
2. The Act defines workmen as being hired under a contract of service. The following definitions apply as well:
a) Any person employed for manual labour (irrespective of how much the monthly wage); and
b) Any person employed other than for and whose monthly salary does not exceed $1,600.
3. Employers are required under the Act to report all work-related accidents to the Work Injury Compensation Department, Ministry of Manpower within certain stipulated deadlines.
4. Under the Act, dependants of a deceased workman include the spouse, parent, grandparent, step-parent, child, grandchild, step-child, siblings, half siblings. Dependants do not actually have to rely on the workman's monthly wages.
5. Compensation for a fatal work-related accident = average monthly earnings x multiplying factor.
The amount of compensation is capped at S$111,000. The minimum sum is S$37,000.
6. Please contact the Work Injury Compensation Department to check if a work-related accident has been reported.
Work Injury Compensation Department
Tel: 6438 5122
Email: mom_wcd@mom.gov.sg.
More information on workmen's compensation can be found at here.
Child Adoption
If the deceased person leaves behind a child below the age of 21, family and friends may wish to adopt the child and give him or her a new home. Adopting a child is not just a legal process. It involves much thought and emotion as well.
More information and resources on the process of adoption, issues and challenges post-adoption are available.
Counselling
Coping with the death of a loved one or close friend is painful and may be difficult. You can seek the professional advice and support from your nearest Family Service Centres (FSCs). The FSCs are your neighbourhood-based focal points of family resource which everyone can turn to on any family-related matters. They are around to promote the well-being of families and individuals.
More information on Family Service Centres are available at:
• Directory of Family & Community Services
• National FSC Helpline: 1800-838 0100 (toll free line)
Please call the Helpline, which operates in English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil, to contact your nearest FSC.
You may also wish to seek professional counselling from the following voluntary welfare organizations.
Samaritans of Singapore (SOS)
Helpline: 1800 221 4444 (24-hr toll-free line)
SOS provides a 24-hour crisis line service, which gives emotional support to people who are troubled. All calls to SOS are kept in strict confidentiality.
Care Corner Mandarin Counselling Centre
Hotline: 1800 353 5800 (10am to 10pm daily)
Care Corner Mandarin Counselling Centre provides counselling services to the Mandarin-speaking population, allowing them to share their problems in total anonymity and strict confidentiality.
Support Groups
The death of a child can be a particularly difficult loss. Child Bereavement Support (Singapore) is a support group for bereaved parents set up by bereaved parents, providing support groups, befriending and information.