Now, you can withdraw EPF for treatment sans doctor certificate

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 Fundscheme1952isamendedto do away with the requirement of variouscertificatesandproformas forseekingadvancefortreatment of illness and 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.

"The Labour Ministry has amended the clause 68-J and 68N of the Employees Provident Fund Scheme 1952 for enabling members to take non-refundable advances from their account for treatment of illness and buying equipment to minimise the hardship on account of handicap," a senior official said.

At present, the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) subscribers can seek advance under Para 68-J of the EPF Scheme for their and their dependents' treatment for illness. Besides, the physically challenged member can seek advance for purchasing equipment to deal with handicap under Para 68-N.