CPF members who are working and earning an income may have dependants who are reliant on their income. If such CPF members suddenly meet with an accident or contract a terminal illness that results in the loss of their income, the dependants who are reliant on them may be left in the lurch. The impact is greater when the member has not yet accumulated enough CPF or other savings which could be bequeathed to their dependants to tide them over the first few years of their untimely demise. Therefore, Dependants' Protection Scheme (DPS) is useful to such working CPF members. This is also the reason why DPS coverage is automatically extended to members upon their first CPF contribution between age 21 and 65.