MUIS strengthens retirement savings and community care support for senior Zakat beneficiaries

1. The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) is strengthening support for senior Zakat beneficiaries through higher retirement savings, expanded community care support and a review of its Zakat Financial Assistance Framework to ensure assistance remains relevant to the community’s evolving needs.

2. In the first year of the MUIS-CPF Matched Retirement Savings Scheme (MRSS), 830 eligible senior Zakat beneficiaries received around $3.3 million in CPF Retirement Account top-ups through contributions from MUIS and the Government. Together with continued monthly Zakat assistance and wider community support, these efforts reflect MUIS’s broader approach of meeting beneficiaries/ immediate needs while helping them build greater security for the future.

3. Speaking at the MUIS Zakat Beneficiaries Seniors Day 2026 at D’Marquee, Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs and Senior Minister of State for Defence, Mr Zaqy Mohamad, highlighted the importance of enabling seniors to age with dignity, confidence and assurance. The event also recognised the contributions that seniors have made to their families, the Muslim community and Singapore, and reaffirmed the community’s collective responsibility to support them in their later years.

Strengthening retirement security for senior Zakat beneficiaries

4. Singapore’s population is ageing, with one in four Singaporeans expected to be aged 65 and above by 2030. As seniors’ needs continue to evolve, MUIS introduced MUIS-CPF MRSS in 2025 to help eligible senior Zakat beneficiaries strengthen their retirement savings. The annual scheme provides eligible seniors with MUIS-funded top-ups of up to $2,000 into their CPF Retirement Accounts. Every dollar contributed by MUIS is matched dollar-for-dollar by the Government, effectively doubling the support credited to beneficiaries.

5. In its first year, 830 eligible senior Zakat beneficiaries received the retirement savings top-ups. MUIS contributed about $1.66 million from Zakat funds. Together with the Government’s matched amount, approximately $3.3 million was credited to beneficiaries’ CPF Retirement Accounts.

6. The MUIS-CPF MRSS complements the monthly Zakat Financial Assistance provided by MUIS. While monthly Zakat Financial assistance helps beneficiaries meet their daily living expenses, the MUIS-CPF MRSS initiative strengthens their longer-term financial security. By crediting the funds directly into their CPF Retirement Accounts, beneficiaries’ savings continue to earn CPF interest and contribute to higher monthly retirement payouts over time.

7. MUIS will continue reaching out to eligible seniors who have yet to participate in the annual scheme so that more beneficiaries can strengthen their retirement savings and benefit from the Government’s matching contribution.

Holistic support beyond financial assistance

8. Recognising that ageing well extends beyond financial security, MUIS continues to work with mosques and community partners to support seniors’ physical, social and spiritual well-being. Mosques serve as important and trusted community touchpoints, helping senior Zakat beneficiaries access support beyond financial assistance. Through partnerships with the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC), Active Ageing Centres, SingHealth and other community organisations, seniors are connected to a wider ecosystem of care that promotes active ageing, healthier living and social connectedness.

9. Senior Zakat beneficiaries are also introduced to the Santunan Emas programme, which connects them to community activities, health programmes, relevant services and spiritual guidance suited to their needs. As announced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong at the 2026 National Day Rally, Santunan Emas programmes for seniors will be expanded to Darul Makmur Mosque in Yishun, Assyafaah Mosque in Sembawang and An-Nur Mosque and Yusof Ishak Mosque in Woodlands. By bringing together mosques, healthcare providers, social service agencies and community partners, the programme enables seniors to receive more coordinated support and assures them that they do not have to navigate their ageing journey alone.

Reviewing the Zakat Financial Assistance Framework

10. MUIS will review its Zakat Assistance Framework to ensure assistance remains relevant as the community’s demographic, social and economic needs continue to evolve. The review will examine how assistance can continue to support underprivileged groups while remaining accessible to those who genuinely require support. It will also consider how community Zakat funds can be managed responsibly and sustainably so that assistance remains available in the years ahead. The review is part of MUIS’s ongoing efforts to ensure Zakat assistance remains responsive to the community’s changing needs. More details will be shared in the coming months.

A shared responsibility

11. Mr Zaqy also expressed his appreciation to Zakat contributors for their generosity and trust, and to mosques, Social Development Officers, volunteers and community partners for walking alongside beneficiaries and connecting them to the support they need.

12. In FY2025, MUIS disbursed a total of $74.7 million in Zakat funds to eligible beneficiaries across all eight asnaf (beneficiary groups), in accordance with Islamic principles. Around 40 per cent of the funds supported underprivileged beneficiaries, particularly those in the fakir (destitute) and miskin (poor) categories. Guided by the values of Ihsan and Ilmu, MUIS remains committed to administering Zakat with compassion and responsibility, continuously improving its support and ensuring that vulnerable members of the community are not left to journey alone.