The Government Information Center

Although Employees' Provident Fund [EPF] which requires that a compulsory age be completed to claim the fund balance, members of ETF do not have to wait till they complete a specified age to withdraw their fund balance.
However, the following points must be noted:

Cessation of employment is compulsory if a withdrawal claim is to be made.

�Reason for cessation could be retirement, resignation, dismissal, vacation of post, etc.

A member is not entitled to make a claim for withdrawal of fund balance until the lapse of five years from the date of cessation of employment in respect of which a refund has been made. Exceptions to this rule are:
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Reaching the age of 60 years

Migrating for permanent residence

Joining state service which entitles the member to a pension

Termination of employment due to permanent disability

Death of a member

Those eligible to make a withdrawal claim should pay attention to the under-mentioned points:

�Processing of claims has been computerized significantly. It is therefore necessary that the claim application form should be legibly and correctly filled to avoid data errors. Name, address, bank account details, etc. should be in BLOCK CAPITAL LETTERS.

A separate application form is required for each Employer, if the member had worked for more than one Employer.

The member must have a bank account in his/her name or jointly. A photocopy of the bank passbook or statement showing such details as the bank name, branch, account number, account-holder's address and national identity card [NIC] number, etc. should be attached to the claim application.

A copy of NIC certified by the Employer should be submitted.

�In case of in the member’s name given in the claim application is different from that appearing in Returns, Annual Member Statement, in the NIC or the Bank Account, a letter from the Employer certifying that those names refer to one and the same person should be submitted.

�In cases where the institution / company where the member was employed is not in operation and whereabouts of proprietor, partners or directors are not known, a form VI(D) titled Letter of Indemnity [specimen is given in Appendix ] should be completed by the member and certified by Grama Niladhari and Divisional Secretary. This Letter of Indemnity should be submitted along with the claim application as per instructions given therein, in addition to Form VI(C).

Members cannot, while being employed, make a claim for withdrawal of fund balance made up of contributions from the current employer, even if they have completed five years of service.

Normal system
Claims are paid within 21 working days subject to availability of returns and submission of required documents.

Special system
Claims are paid within 10 working days subject to producing documentary proof in support of the urgency, for instance migration, sickness/surgery, redeeming of pawned articles, family expenses such as weddings, educational expenses etc.

Express claims system
Claims are paid within two working days. Before accepting claims the Board will ensure that contributions and returns have been received by the Board. An official service fee is charged for each claim, depending on the value of the claim.

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The number of claims accepted on this basis per day is limited to 65.

Withdrawal claims are accepted and processed at the following offices of the Board :

Head Office. Labour Secretariat, Narahenpita, Colombo 5.

Regional Offices at Gampaha, Kandy, Matara ,Kurunegala and Badulla

Claim applications may also be handed over to other Regional Offices of the Board.

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