EPF withdrawal rules govern when and how you can access your EPF (Employees’ Provident Fund) balance. Understanding these rules is essential for FIRE planning, since EPF is often a significant part of your retirement corpus.

Partial Withdrawal

You can make partial withdrawals for specific purposes:

• Medical emergency — Up to 6 months’ basic + DA or actual expense
• Marriage/education — Up to 50% of member’s share
• Home purchase/construction — Up to 90% for down payment or construction
• Home loan repayment — Up to 90% of balance
• Unemployment — After 1 month of unemployment, up to 75% of balance; rest after 2 months

Full Withdrawal

• Retirement — At 58 (or 55 if you’ve been unemployed for 2 months before)
• Job change — You can withdraw if unemployed for 2+ months, or transfer to new employer
• International relocation — Full withdrawal allowed

For FIRE Planning

If you retire early, EPF can be withdrawn fully only after 58 (or 55 with unemployment conditions). Plan your retirement corpus so that EPF bridges the period from 58 onward, while PPF, NPS, and mutual funds cover the years before.