The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has approved simplifications in the fund withdrawal process for subscribers. Banasree Purkayastha explains what the changes mean for the 300 million-plus members of the retirement fund body

New partial withdrawal rules

The partial withdrawl provisions have been simplified by merging 13 complex provisions into a single, streamlined rule categorised into three types —essential needs (illness, education, marriage); housing needs; and special circumstances. Earlier, under ‘Special Circumstances,’ an EPFO member was required to clarify the reasons for partial withdrawals — natural calamity, lockouts/closure of establishments, continuous unemployment, outbreak of epidemic, etc. This often led to rejection of claims and consequent grievances.

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