Medical emergencies often strike without warning and can lead to significant financial pressure. For salaried individuals in India, the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) offers not only long-term retirement security but also financial relief during critical times, such as unexpected hospitalisation or major treatments.
Key Rule Update: EPFO allows members to withdraw an advance amount of up to ₹1 lakh from their PF account for medical emergencies without furnishing an estimate of medical expenses from the hospital or documentation.
What is PF Withdrawal for Medical Emergencies?
EPFO permits members to withdraw a portion of their PF savings for:
Hospitalisation due to serious illness
Major surgeries or operations
Treatment for critical diseases like cancer, heart problems, kidney failure, or tuberculosis
Illnesses requiring hospitalisation for over a month
Withdrawals can be made for the member, their spouse, children, or dependent parents.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for a medical PF withdrawal, you must:
Be an active EPF member with a valid UAN (Universal Account Number).
Have your UAN linked to Aadhaar, PAN, and bank account.
Ensure the illness affects the member or immediate family (spouse, children, dependent parents).
No minimum years of service are required for medical withdrawals.
Have sufficient EPF balance for the requested amount.
How Much Can You Withdraw?
You can withdraw the lowest of the following:
Six times your monthly basic wage + Dearness Allowance.
Total employee contribution including interest.
Actual medical treatment or hospitalisation cost.
This is considered a non-refundable advance, so repayment to EPFO is not required. In case of life-threatening illnesses, a lump sum medical advance of up to Rs 1 lakh can be granted instantly.
Required Documents
Medical certificate from a registered doctor or hospital.
Estimated cost of treatment (if not claiming under the instant Rs 1 Lakh rule).
Cancelled cheque or bank passbook copy with IFSC.
Aadhaar linked to UAN and Complete KYC.
Online PF Withdrawal Process (Form 31)
Activate UAN: Visit the EPFO Member Portal and set a password.
Login: Use your UAN, password, and captcha.
Submit Claim:
Go to Online Services > Claim (Form 31, 19, 10C & 10D).
Select ‘PF Advance (Form 31)’ and reason: Illness.
Enter the amount and upload medical documents.
Submit using Aadhaar OTP.
Funds are generally credited within 7–10 working days.
Common Reasons for Rejection
Mismatched personal details across UAN, Aadhaar, and bank records.
Incomplete KYC verification.
Insufficient EPF balance.
Illegible medical document uploads.
Tax Rules on Early PF Withdrawal
No TDS: If withdrawn after 5 years of continuous service.
TDS @ 10%: If withdrawal exceeds ₹50,000 before 5 years.
Yes, for specific reasons like medical emergencies, marriage, or education, you can withdraw within allowed limits.
What is Paragraph 68J?
Paragraph 68J of the EPF Scheme allows members to withdraw an advance for their own and their dependents’ medical treatment costs for critical illnesses or hospitalisation over a month.