How family members can withdraw EPF savings of a deceased member

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DEATH is never easy for anyone. In addition to the emotional distress, surviving family members would need to continue dealing with life’s realities.

To help family members cope financially, the EPF introduced the Death Withdrawal to ensure that the EPF savings of a member can be withdrawn by the nominated beneficiary or nearest next-of-kin in the event of the member’s demise.

Who is eligible to apply for this withdrawal in the event of a member’s death?

If the member has made a nomination during his or her lifetime, the named nominee would need to apply for this withdrawal, provided that the nominee is 18 years of age or older.

In cases where a member passed on without nominating any beneficiary, the nearest next-of-kin or administrator can apply to withdraw the member’s EPF savings. However, the EPF highly urges all members to name their nominees to ensure that their savings will go to their intended beneficiaries.

How much can be withdrawn?

The entire amount of the deceased member’s EPF savings can be withdrawn.

What happens if the nominee is below 18 years old?

If the nominee is still below 18 years of age, the EPF will only make payment to the nominee when he or she reaches the age of 18. Nonetheless, the guardian of the nominee may apply to withdraw on behalf of the nominee for the purpose of supporting the nominee. Approval will however be at the discretion of the EPF in which the guardian needs to substantiate his or her claim of guardianship of the nominee.

What is the scenario for Muslim members?

In the case of Muslim members, the beneficiary merely acts as an administrator (Wasi), who upon the member’s death has an obligation to distribute the deceased’s property in accordance with the Faraid Law.

What are the procedures for withdrawing if nomination was made?

With nomination, the process is straightforward and hassle-free. Application for a Death Withdrawal can be made by a nominee simply by completing KWSP 9KM (AHL) Form and submitting it together with the member’s Death Certificate, the beneficiary or applicant’s identification card and their personal Savings Account Passbook or the original copy of a Personal Current Account Statement.

Upon receiving the complete set of documents, the EPF will process the application and disburse the entire amount of the member’s savings to the nominee within two weeks.

What happens to the EPF savings of a member who has failed to nominate?

Without nomination, the process of withdrawing the deceased member’s EPF savings would not be as simple and may be more time-consuming.

When there is no nominee, the EPF will pay the savings of the deceased member to the next-of-kin that, in the opinion of the EPF, has the right to be accorded the savings.

He or she may apply to withdraw the deceased member’s savings by producing the following documents: Member’s Death Certificate, Applicant’s identification card, Letter of Administration or Letter of Probate or Distribution Order, documents that indicate and verify the applicant’s relationship with the deceased, Marriage Certificate Children’s Birth Certificate (if any) and Personal Savings Account Passbook or the original copy of Personal Current Account Statement.

Will a deceased member’s dependent receive any death benefit from the EPF?

Yes. As a gesture of compassion and to ease the financial burden of the deceased member’s dependents, the EPF will present a Death Benefit payment of RM2,500 to a dependent of the deceased.

This benefit is only applicable if the member passed on before reaching the age of 55 and it may be given, at the discretion of the EPF, to the member’s widow or widower, children or parents in which it may not necessarily be the nominee.

EPF Public Relations Department contributed to the above article. For further enquiries regarding the Death Withdrawal, please contact our Call Centre at 03-8922 6000 or log on to www.kwsp.gov.my.