Matching Contribution Incentives For EPF i-Suri, i-Saraan Raised
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The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) has recently announced a series of implementations and policy enhancements to help the lower income group increase their savings.
Specifically, they are aimed at securing the retirement future and income security of its members, both current and future ones.
Higher matching contributions incentives for EPF i-Saraan and i-Suri
This lines up with the government’s Budget 2023 and 2024 announcements addressing the evolving needs of EPF members. This is to ensure that their financial wellbeing and resilience stays strong during their retirement years.
The prime minister had announced that the contribution limit for the i-Saraan programme will be increased to RM500 per year, limited to RM5,000 for life time. Meanwhile for the i-Suri programme, it will be increased in 2024 to RM300 per year, limited to RM3,000 for life time.
What is EPF voluntary contribution for i-Saraan and i-Suri?
EPF i-Saraan is a voluntary contribution initiative that offers opportunities for self-employed members without fixed incomes and employees of the gig economy to obtain exclusive government incentives for retirement purposes.
Under the scheme, Malaysians working in the informal sector, including the self-employed with no fixed income and under the age of 60, can voluntarily contribute up to 15% of their monthly income to the retirement fund.
At the beginning of the initiative, the government also provided a matching incentive of RM300 per year for all contributors. As of 1 January 2024, this maximum matching incentive limit for the has been raised to RM500 per year.
Incentives will also continue to be provided for i-Saraan participants who contribute, subject to a maximum lifetime incentive of RM5,000. This is being done to encourage more participation and contributions to the EPF programme, thus increasing overall retirement savings while allowing more members to benefit from government incentives.
i-Suri offers similar incentives for housewives, aiming to ensure the well-being of the housewives as well as to recognise their contribution to their family.
The most recent increase in incentives sees the government providing a matching incentive of 50% on every RM1 voluntary contribution by housewives who are under the age of 55 and registered in the e-Kasih database, subject to a maximum incentive limit of RM300 per year.
In addition, the government will also be providing incentives to every i-Suri participant who contributes subject to a maximum lifetime incentive of RM3,000.
Who can qualify for these higher EPF incentives for i-Saraan and i-Suri?
Both i-Saraan and i-Suri are designed specifically to help those are not within the full time employment category. Therefore, they do not enjoy regular contributions going into their EPF savings.
Who is eligible for i-Saraan?
- EPF members who are Malaysian citizens
- Below 60 years of age
- Self-employed and not earning regular income
- Opted to contribute under i-Saraan
Who is eligible for i-Suri?
- EPF members who are Malaysian citizens
- Below 55 years of age
- Housewives registered under the National Poverty Data Bank (eKasih) as of the latest list
| i-Saraan | i-Suri | |
|---|---|---|
| Who can contribute | Self-employed members and do not earn a regular income. | Self and husband to an eligible spouse. |
| Eligibility | - EPF members - Malaysian citizen - Below 60 years of age - Self-employed and not earning regular income - Opted to contribute under i-Saraan | - To register as EPF member - Malaysian citizen - Housewives who are registered in the National Database on Poverty (eKasih) as of 30 November 2021 - Below 55 years of age - Must contribute a minimum of RM5 per month or RM60 per annum into your EPF account - Wife of Head of Household (HOH)/Female HOH - Opted to contribute under Kasih Suri Keluarga Malaysia |
| How to register | Submit i-Saraan form KWSP 16G(M) to EPF counter or Register online at Portal Pendaftaran i-Saraan | Submiti-Saraan form KWSP 16G(M) to EPF counter |
How do you register for i-Saraan or i-Suri?
Sign up for i-Saraan or i-Suri
- In EPF website, click on i-Saraan Online Registration
- Go to the nearest EPF office to submit the form KWSP 16G(M)
- Option: Register at the nearest EPF self service terminals (SST) or through KWSP i-Akaun app.
The EPF has also taken steps to further optimise how it handles its investment portfolios by separating the its Simpanan Konvensional and Simpanan Shariah.
This strategic split is said to be to further enhance the goals of the Simpanan Shariah portfolio and better diversify the fund’s investments. According to the EPF, as of 30 September 2023, its investment assets amounted to RM1,092.32 billion, comprising 39% Shariah assets and 61% conventional assets.
