Over four crore members of the retirement fund body EPFO can now withdraw funds from their EPF account for treatment of illness and purchasing equipment to deal with handicap without medical certificates. The Employees' Provident Fund Scheme 1952 is amended to do away with the requirement of submission of various certificates and proformas for seeking advance for treatment of illness and purchasing equipment required in case of physical disabilities.
Now, the subscribers can seek fund withdrawal from their EPF account on various grounds by using a composite form along with a self-declaration. Employees with EPF accounts are allowed to withdraw provident fund savings up to six months’ salary in cases of hospitalisation for at least a month, major surgical operation or in case they are suffering from tuberculosis, leprosy, paralysis, cancer and heart ailments.
Earlier, employees were required to produce a certificate from the employer stating that the ESI Scheme facility is not provided to them along with a doctor’s certificate of serious illness. Moreover, physically challenged employees will also not be required to produce a certificate from a medical practitioner to withdraw their EPF savings for purchasing equipment or aids.
Now, the subscribers can seek fund withdrawal from their EPF account on various grounds by using a composite form along with a self-declaration. Employees with EPF accounts are allowed to withdraw provident fund savings up to six months’ salary in cases of hospitalisation for at least a month, major surgical operation or in case they are suffering from tuberculosis, leprosy, paralysis, cancer and heart ailments.
Earlier, employees were required to produce a certificate from the employer stating that the ESI Scheme facility is not provided to them along with a doctor’s certificate of serious illness. Moreover, physically challenged employees will also not be required to produce a certificate from a medical practitioner to withdraw their EPF savings for purchasing equipment or aids.