Can I make multiple withdrawals from EPF for the same purpose?

I have withdrawn from PF for purchase and construction of house once. Now I want to withdraw again for the same purpose. Am I eligible? -
Anonymous

Withdrawing from your EPF (Employees' Provident Fund) balance is only possible under certain circumstances, such as purchasing or constructing a house/flat, repaying loans taken for purchasing or constructing a house/flat, medical treatment, marriage, higher education of children, retirement, and a few other special cases.

While there are limits on how much you can withdraw for each purpose, there are also limits on the number of times you can withdraw for a particular purpose. For instance, in case of purchasing or constructing a house/flat, you may withdraw only once. The monetary limits of withdrawal are as follows:

• For the purchase of a site: 24 months of basic pay and DA (dearness allowance), or the total of employee and employer share with interest, or the total cost, whichever is the least.
• For the purchase or construction of a house/flat: 36 months of basic pay and DA, or the total of employee and employer share with interest, or the total cost, whichever is the least.
• For addition/alteration/improvement of an existing house/flat: 12 months of basic pay and DA, or employee share with interest, or cost, whichever is the least.

In case of marriage and higher education of children, you may withdraw up to three times with a monetary limit of 50 per cent of employee share with interest. However, there are no limits on the number of times you can withdraw for special cases.

Therefore, in your case, since you have already withdrawn for the purpose of purchasing or constructing a house/flat, you will not be able to withdraw again for the same purpose.

Suggested read: Is PF withdrawal taxable?

This article was originally published on March 22, 2023.