Matched Retirement Savings Scheme (MRSS) 2026: Claim Up to $2,000 a Year in Free CPF Top-Ups

Matched Retirement Savings Scheme (MRSS): free government money for your CPF

The Matched Retirement Savings Scheme is one of the most generous and most overlooked government schemes in Singapore: for every dollar an eligible senior tops up to their CPF Retirement Account, the Government adds a matching dollar, up to $2,000 a year and $20,000 over a lifetime.

This guide explains who qualifies in 2026, how much you can get, the exact steps to claim it, and the one tax-relief catch most people miss. If you or your parents are eligible, this is close to free money you should not leave on the table.

Last verified: 12 June 2026, against the CPF Board website. Scheme parameters can change at each Budget. Always confirm the current figures and your own eligibility on the CPF website before topping up.

Table of contents

1. What the MRSS actually is

2. Who is eligible in 2026

3. How much you can get

4. How to claim it step by step

5. The tax-relief catch most people miss

6. Topping up for your parents

7. Related CPF and government guides

8. FAQ

1. What the MRSS actually is

The Matched Retirement Savings Scheme, or MRSS, helps Singapore Citizens with lower retirement savings build up their CPF. When an eligible member receives a cash top-up to their Retirement Account, the Government matches it dollar for dollar.

• Dollar-for-dollar match. Every $1 of cash top-up to an eligible Retirement Account is matched with $1 from the Government, up to the annual cap.
• Bigger since 2025. The matching cap rose from $600 a year to $2,000 a year, with a $20,000 cap over an eligible member’s lifetime.
• No more age ceiling. The old age 55 to 70 limit was removed, so eligible members aged 55 and above now qualify. From 1 January 2026, the scheme also covers eligible persons with disabilities of all ages.
• It compounds. Your top-up and the matching grant sit in your Retirement Account earning CPF interest of up to 6% a year, boosting your eventual monthly payouts.

2. Who is eligible in 2026

You do not apply for the MRSS. CPF assesses your eligibility automatically every year and notifies you, generally by end February. You can also check anytime on your CPF Retirement Dashboard with Singpass.

To qualify for the MRSS in 2026 you must be a Singapore Citizen and meet all of the following criteria.

3. How much you can get

The matching grant is capped at $2,000 a year, with a lifetime limit of $20,000. You can top up any amount, in one go or in small regular sums, and the Government matches it up to that annual cap.

• Top up $600, get $600. A $600 cash top-up attracts a $600 matching grant, increasing the Retirement Account by $1,200 in total.
• Top up $2,000, get $2,000. Hitting the annual cap with a $2,000 top-up attracts the full $2,000 grant, adding $4,000 to the Retirement Account that year.
• Spread it out. Instead of one lump sum, you can make small top-ups through the year and still receive the matching grant, as long as the total is within the annual cap.

The grant is generally credited to your Retirement Account by the first quarter of the following year, and you are notified by email or post.

4. How to claim it step by step

There is no application form. The only thing you need to do is make the cash top-up within the deadlines, and the matching grant follows automatically.

• Check eligibility. Log in to your CPF Retirement Dashboard with Singpass, or wait for the CPF notification sent by end February.
• Make the cash top-up. Top up to the Retirement Account via the CPF website or CPF Mobile app. Anyone can do it, you, a family member, an employer or a caregiver.
• Mind the deadlines. For the match in a given year, submit a one-time top-up by PayNow by 31 December, or set up a recurring GIRO top-up by 31 October.
• Receive the grant. The matching grant is credited automatically to the Retirement Account by the first quarter of the next year, with a notification.

5. The tax-relief catch most people miss

Here is the detail that trips people up: since 1 January 2025, cash top-ups that attract the MRSS matching grant are not eligible for tax relief. You get the grant or the tax relief on that money, not both.

This rarely matters for the lower-income seniors the MRSS targets, because the matching grant is worth far more than the tax relief would be. But it does affect how you plan top-ups across a household.

Separately, cash top-ups that do not attract the MRSS grant still qualify for tax relief of up to $16,000 a year, $8,000 for top-ups to yourself and another $8,000 for top-ups to loved ones. If you are a higher-income family member topping up your own CPF, that relief is covered in our CPF cash top-up tax relief guide.

6. Topping up for your parents

The MRSS is one of the highest-return things you can do for an eligible parent. If they qualify, a top-up you make to their Retirement Account is matched dollar for dollar by the Government.

• Check their eligibility first. Eligibility is assessed on their savings, income and home, not yours. Confirm they qualify before topping up so your top-up attracts the match.
• Anyone can top up. You can top up a parent’s Retirement Account directly through the CPF website or app, and the matching grant still goes to them.
• Stack it with their other payouts. The MRSS sits alongside schemes like Silver Support and the Majulah Package. See how the pieces fit in our government payouts guide.

7. Related CPF and government guides

The MRSS works best alongside the rest of your CPF and government-support planning. These guides cover the pieces that connect to it.

• CPF cash top-up and tax relief guide: how the up to $16,000 a year tax relief works on non-MRSS top-ups to yourself and loved ones.
• CPF retirement sums explained: the Basic, Full and Enhanced Retirement Sums, and why the Basic Retirement Sum matters for MRSS eligibility.
• Silver Support Scheme: quarterly cash for lower-income seniors, a natural companion to the MRSS for eligible parents.
• Majulah Package: earn, save and retirement bonuses for younger seniors, another scheme worth stacking.
• Singapore government payouts schedule: the full calendar of cash schemes and when each one pays out.
• CPF shielding: a one-time move some members use around age 55 to keep more savings earning higher interest.

8. Frequently asked questions about the MRSS

Who is eligible for the Matched Retirement Savings Scheme?

You must be a Singapore Citizen aged 55 and above (or below 55 with MSF-verified disability status from 2026), with Retirement Account savings below the Basic Retirement Sum, average monthly income of not more than $4,000, a home with annual value not more than $21,000, and ownership of not more than one property. Eligibility is assessed automatically every year.

How much is the MRSS matching grant?

The Government matches cash top-ups dollar for dollar, up to $2,000 a year and $20,000 over your lifetime. Top up $600 and you get $600; top up $2,000 and you get the full $2,000.

Do I need to apply for the MRSS?

No. There is no application. CPF assesses your eligibility automatically each year and notifies you, generally by end February. You only need to make the cash top-up to receive the matching grant.

When is the deadline to top up?

For the matching grant in a given year, make a one-time top-up via PayNow by 31 December, or set up a recurring GIRO top-up by 31 October. The grant is credited by the first quarter of the following year.

Can I claim tax relief on an MRSS top-up?

No. Since 2025, cash top-ups that attract the MRSS matching grant are not eligible for tax relief. Separate non-MRSS top-ups still qualify for up to $16,000 a year in relief, as covered in our CPF cash top-up tax relief guide.

If you or your parents qualify, the MRSS is close to free money: top up the Retirement Account before the deadline and the Government matches it. Check eligibility on the CPF Retirement Dashboard, then see our CPF retirement sums explained and government payouts schedule to plan the rest.

Topping up boosts your eventual CPF LIFE payouts. See the impact with our free CPF LIFE payout estimator, no Singpass login needed.