SINGAPORE: From January next year, the Medisave
Required Amount (MRA) will be raised to S$32,000, higher than the
current S$27,500.
The MRA refers to the amount that must be set aside in the Medisave
Account, after the CPF Minimum Sum requirement has been met.
Those who have met the CPF Minimum Sum and have a MRA shortfall at
the point of withdrawal have to make a top-up to the Medisave
Account with part of the balances from the Ordinary Account and/or
Special Account to meet the prevailing MRA.
The Central Provident Fund (CPF) Board, which announced the change
on Monday, also said members will continue to enjoy a risk-free
interest rate of 4 per cent on their Special and Medisave Accounts
(SMA) between January 1 and March 31, 2012.
The interest rate is also set at 4 per cent for the Retirement
Account (RA) - from January 1 to December 31, 2012.
This is in line with the government's announcement made in
September 2011 to maintain the 4 per cent per annum floor rate for
interest earned on all SMA monies and RA monies until December 31,
2012.
The CPF Board said savings in the SMA currently earn either 4 per
cent or the 12-month average yield of 10-year Singapore Government
Securities (10YSGS) plus 1 per cent, whichever is the higher.
The interest rate on SMA savings is adjusted quarterly, based on
interest rates on 10YSGS over a preceding 12-month period.
The average yield of the 10YSGS plus 1 per cent from December 1,
2010 to November 30, 2011, works out to be 3.19 per cent.
The SMA interest rate payable to CPF members from January 1 to
March 31, 2012 will be maintained at the current floor of 4 per
cent.
- CNA/cc
