Half of the FRS. The minimum you must keep in CPF at age 55 if you own a property in Singapore (with sufficient remaining lease).
The Basic Retirement Sum is the minimum amount of CPF savings you must keep in your Retirement Account at age 55, provided you own a property in Singapore with a lease covering you to age 95.
BRS is exactly half of the Full Retirement Sum and is updated annually in step with FRS revisions.
For those turning 55 in: 2023 — S$99,400. 2024 — S$102,900. 2025 — S$106,500. 2026 — S$110,200.
BRS gives a CPF LIFE Standard Plan monthly payout of approximately S$950 from age 65 (CPF's official illustration for the 2026 BRS of S$110,200) — meaningful but below what most retirees need to cover essentials.
If you own a property with a lease covering you to age 95, you only need to set aside BRS in your RA — the property is treated as collateral for the retirement income shortfall.
Property-pledged BRS allows you to withdraw any RA savings above BRS at 55 (subject to the first S$5,000 free-withdrawal rule).
If you sell the property, CPF will require you to top up the RA back to FRS — using the proceeds. This is how CPF protects retirement income even if you cash out housing wealth.
Most planners advise against settling for BRS. A S$900 / month payout in today's dollars buys far less in 20 years after inflation, even though CPF LIFE adjusts.
Hitting at least FRS (or even ERS) takes pressure off your private investments to fund a comfortable retirement. The 4% guaranteed RA return is hard to beat consistently.
S$110,200 for those turning 55 in 2026. BRS is exactly half of the Full Retirement Sum and rises with FRS each year.
Only if you own a property in Singapore with a lease covering you to age 95. In that case you can pledge the property and keep just the BRS in your Retirement Account, withdrawing the difference. Without a property, you must keep at least the FRS.
Approximately S$950 / month for life under the Standard Plan starting at 65 (CPF's official illustration for the 2026 BRS of S$110,200). Meaningful but generally below what most retirees need to cover essentials — most planners advise targeting at least the FRS.
CPF will require you to top up your Retirement Account back to the FRS using the property sale proceeds. The pledge effectively links the BRS withdrawal to ongoing property ownership.