This article was first published on January 2017 and has been edited and updated for accuracy and clarity.
Do you know the rights you have over the retirement money you save in your EPF account? CompareHero.my spoke to Puan Balqais Yusoff, Head of Strategy Management Department in EPF to help answer some of the common questions we have.
She also shared key rights and responsibilities you need to know to make wiser decisions for your future and prepare for a better retirement, including withdrawals from Akaun 2.
Related: Everything You Need To Know About EPF i-Sinar Facility
What can you withdraw your EPF savings for?
You may have heard about people taking out their EPF savings before their retirement, but before you plan on doing the same here are some important points you should know.
Firstly, Puan Balqais shares that EPF allows their members to withdraw from their savings for purposes which EPF believes will improve retirement life of their members, which includes housing; education; and for medical purposes. There are also different withdrawal rights according to the various EPF accounts – Akaun 1 and Akaun 2.
EPF allows full withdrawal of Akaun 1 and Akaun 2 under certain conditions:
- When a person migrate to another country
- Upon a person becoming disable, or in the event of death.
- A civil servant placed under the pension scheme. This individual can cease to contribute to the EPF because they are entitled for the government pension scheme under KWAP.
1. Akaun 1
This is the main account for your retirement needs and makes up 70% of your EPF savings. Money from this account can only be taken out upon retirement. Throughout our working life, there is a basic savings amount that EPF has determined is required for each age group. To see the amount of savings you should have at your current age, click here.
Based on that chart, if you have an excess of money, that is you have saved more than your Basic Savings for your current age, you can actually invest your money in EPF approved fund management institutions. You can utilise 30% of your excess savings.
Let’s say you’re 30, according to the basic savings set by EPF you should have at least RM29,000. You have RM40,000 in Akaun 1, which means you have RM11,000 in excess. You can then invest 30% (as of 1 January 2017) from the excess of RM11,000 which amounts to RM3,300 into fund management which has institutions which has been approved by EPF.
“If an EPF member does not reach the basic saving requirement, they cannot utilize the money from Akaun 1 to invest in unit trusts”, said Puan Balqais.
Related: EPF i-Sinar Category 2 Application Opens Today – Here’s How You Can Apply
2. Akaun 2
30% of your total EPF savings will be in this account, from which you can make pre-retirement withdrawals for purposes stated above, including housing, education and medical.
“EPF allows pre-retirement withdrawals which in a way enhance the retirement wellbeing of our members. Savings in Account 2 can be withdrawn under specific conditions.” – Puan Balqais
Puan Balqais shares that EPF members can withdraw savings from Akaun 2 for the following purposes:
- Housing withdrawal, as this allows a member to have a roof over their head when they retire.
- Education withdrawal. Members can withdraw for themselves or their children, because EPF believes with better education they have the opportunities for a better livelihood in the future.
- Medical withdrawal. For members who have to pay for medical treatment of critical illness, they can withdraw for themselves or their close family members. Health is wealth.
- Age 50 withdrawal. A member can withdraw the full amount from their Akaun 2 when they turn 50. Nevertheless it is encouraged that members do not withdraw their savings in Akaun 2 at age 50, because once they withdraw it entirely, it’s gone and they do not earn their annual dividends.
- Haj withdrawal. Haj withdrawals helps members finance basic expenses of the Haj with a limit of RM3,000.
3. Akaun 55
Upon reaching age 55, your savings in Akaun 1 and Akaun 2 will be combined and put into this account. When members turn 55, they can make withdrawals and have access to savings in Akaun 55 anytime. They can perform a lump sum withdrawal, monthly withdrawals or partial withdrawal. But members should also know that “as long as an individual still has savings in EPF even upon reaching age 55, they will still enjoy the annual dividend” said Puan Balqais.
4. Akaun Emas
This is an account for EPF members who continue to work beyond the age of 55. Monthly contributions between the age of 55 – 60 will be allocated under this account. Member’s cannot access savings in Akaun Emas until they reach age 60. But savings under Akaun 55 will still be accessible to members. Upon reaching 60, all savings will be consolidated into this single account. They will then have full access to the savings in Akaun Emas to make full withdrawals, or even partial withdrawals.
See also: Imagine Being Able to Retire Rich, Instead of Broke and Poor
What extra benefits do you get from EPF?
Individuals who contribute to EPF will have access to certain benefits where they or their family will receive a sum of money if an unfortunate event happens to them before they turn 55.
- RM2,500 as token of sympathy given to next of kin in the event of the member’s death
NOTE: Application must be made within 6 months from the date of death of the EPF member by their next of kin.
- RM5,000 as token of sympathy if a member becomes incapacitated (on top of being able to withdraw all of their EPF money in full)
NOTE: Application must be made within 1 year from the incapacitation case of the member.
However, all of these benefits are no longer available once a member turns 55. In the event of death or incapacitation after that age, members will no longer have the right to receive the death or incapacitation assistance.
You might wonder, does EPF use our monthly contributions to pay out these tokens or aid? Puan Balqais assures us that this isn’t the case. Money for these benefits are sourced from EPF investments income, so don’t worry it does not come from member’s and their employers contribution.
“From our investments, EPF generates income, and the entire income is distributed as dividends after deducting all the administrative cost including the payment of these assistance.” shares Puan Balqais.
Who has the right to your EPF savings?
Do you know what will happen to your money in your EPF account in the case of an unfortunate event, such as death? You have the right to nominate your beneficiary, so if you haven’t done so we highly suggest to get on it.
Make sure the rights of your loved ones are taken care of by nominating any individuals for your EPF savings. This is a right given to you as you get to choose who you believe will handle your money in a proper manner if anything happens to you.
Before you nominate, know this:
- Members can nominate any natural person, meaning a human as a beneficiary. For Muslims they must nominate an administrator or wasi who will act as an intermediate person that will distribute their asset in EPF based on the faraid As for non-Muslims they can nominate anyone where percentage entitled for the savings can be allocated for the individuals they nominate.
- Nomination must be of an individual, so you cannot name an organization, association, societies or any type of entities. Puan Balqais advises all of us to nominate their next of kin such as their spouse, children or parents to receive or administrate their savings.
“Members can nominate other individuals who are not their next of kin as beneficiary or administrator (for Muslims), but naming individuals other than next of kin may raise difficulties in the future when they pass on especially the flow of the money as there will always be a lot of dispute with money matters.” – Puan Balqais
Find more about KWSP nomination here.
Are there different rights between the conventional EPF Savings and Simpanan Shariah?
“The 2.5% of minimum guaranteed dividend return which applies to the conventional scheme does not apply to Simpanan Shariah. This is because under Shariah principle EPF is not allowed to make any promise of the gains.” – Puan Balqais
If you have switched, or are planning to switch, to the recently announced Simpanan Shariah, you’ll be happy to note that there are no loss of rights. However, there is a difference in terms of the minimum guaranteed dividend returns.
But don’t worry, if you have opted for Simpanan Shariah, EPF will not create capital depreciation. This means in the event that EPF makes losses, your savings will not incur loss. For example, you currently have savings of RM20,000 in Simpanan Shariah which will then be invested by EPF. In the event that EPF makes losses, you will not incur that loss and will still have the RM20,000.
Once you go to Shariah, you cannot go back
Another point to take note is once you convert your savings from conventional to the Simpanan Shariah scheme, you cannot switch back to conventional scheme.
“Once the money is being tainted and you take it back and forth (between the two different schemes) we cannot ensure the money is being properly cleansed according to the Shariah principle. You will be mixing the funds that you invest because you will be investing in non-Shariah compliant assets. This is why we can’t allow people to switch back and forth between the schemes.” - Puan Balqais
Do you get taxed on your EPF contributions?
There are tax relief from the government depending on what has been announced in the Budget. Right now, members receive a RM6,000 tax relief for life insurance premium and EPF contributions combined. As for the employer contributions, they are tax free.
This means your contribution as an employee will be taxed according to your income bracket and the tax relief you get. As the gross income of an employee, including the employee’s portion of EPF contributions are taxed based on the income bracket set by the Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia, members can claim the amount contributed through the tax relief mentioned above.
For self-employed individuals who contributes to EPF, the tax relief they will get is also RM6,000.
EPF is more than just a retirement fund, they aim to prepare Malaysians for a better future
“We are beyond looking at your retirement savings. We want to be an institution that helps you grow and enables you to enjoy a secure retirement. We want to be at the heart and mind of the members. We hope Malaysians will look at retirement from a different context whereby, they recognize the need to start planning now.”
Puan Balqais also ensures us that EPF’s duty is to their members. With their FREE Retirement Advisory Services, you can get assistance and financial knowledge to plan your retirement by determining what your needs, wants, and desires are.
Now that you know the rights you have for your retirement savings, you should be able to make better informed decisions towards the money you have in your EPF accounts. Remember to consider all the advice shared above before using your retirement savings.
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