The Employees Provident Fund has announced a wide range of policy and product updates that will take effect from 1 January 2026, aimed at strengthening retirement adequacy, expanding social protection and improving the overall experience for members.
According to information published on EPF’s official website, the changes build on measures introduced under Budget 2026 and are designed to better support members amid rising living costs while helping them plan for a more secure and meaningful retirement.
Below is a breakdown of the key changes.
Hajj withdrawal limit increased to RM10,000
EPF will increase the Hajj Withdrawal limit from RM3,000 to RM10,000 for members who have received an official offer to perform Hajj from Lembaga Tabung Haji.
Key changes include:
- Withdrawals will continue to be made from Akaun Sejahtera
- The requirement to verify Tabung Haji account balances will be removed
- Members can plan Hajj expenses more easily without additional checks
This update reflects the current cost of performing the Hajj.
i-Saraan Plus introduced for gig economy drivers
EPF will introduce a new voluntary contribution facility called i-Saraan Plus, designed specifically for e-hailing and p-hailing drivers.
Under i-Saraan Plus:
- Drivers can receive government matching incentives of up to RM600 per year
- The lifetime cap for incentives is RM6,000
- Drivers will be registered as EPF members through participating platform providers
- Contribution deductions can be set at rates chosen by the drivers themselves
The initiative builds on the existing i-Saraan programme and aims to strengthen retirement protection for gig workers.
i-Suri eligibility extended to age 60
The eligibility age for i-Suri will be extended from 55 to 60, aligning it with the national minimum retirement age.
For 2026:
- The government will continue matching 50 percent of annual contributions
- The yearly cap remains at RM300
- The lifetime cap remains at RM3,000
This allows more women to continue building retirement savings for a longer period.
New retirement benchmarks under RIA Framework
The Retirement Income Adequacy (RIA) Framework will come into effect on 1 January 2026, introducing three retirement savings benchmarks to guide members.
The three tiers are:
- Basic Savings at RM390,000
- Adequate Savings at RM650,000
- Enhanced Savings at RM1.3 million
These benchmarks are meant to help members assess whether their savings are on track for retirement.
Changes to RM1 million withdrawals
To align with the Enhanced Savings benchmark, EPF will revise its policy on withdrawals for members with savings above RM1 million.
Key points:
- Members below age 55 will be allowed flexibility to manage excess savings
- The excess withdrawal threshold will be increased gradually
- In 2026, the threshold will be RM1.1 million
- The limit will rise by RM100,000 each year over three years
This phased approach is meant to protect long term retirement needs while allowing flexibility.
Members investment scheme aligned with basic savings
EPF will align the Members Investment Scheme with the new framework to safeguard core retirement savings.
This means:
- Only savings above the Basic Savings level can be used for investment
- The minimum savings requirement will be revised in stages
- Basic retirement savings will be better protected from investment risks
New names for voluntary contribution options
EPF has refreshed the names of its voluntary contribution options to make them clearer and easier to understand.
The updated names are:
- i-Simpan for self contributions
- i-Topup for voluntary excess contributions beyond the statutory rate
These sit alongside existing facilities such as i-Saraan, i-Sayang, i-Suri and Akaun Persaraan Top Up Savings.
For more information, you can refer to EPF’s official website for more details and FAQs.
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