KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 31): The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) will roll out a series of policy and product enhancements on Jan 1, 2026, including the introduction of i-Saraan Plus for gig-economy workers and a new Retirement Income Adequacy (RIA) framework.

These initiatives, originally announced in Budget 2026, are designed to strengthen retirement savings, expand social protection and enhance the member experience, according to the EPF in a statement on New Year’s eve.

New support for gig workers and housewives

Under i-Saraan Plus, which is a voluntary contribution facility tailored for e-hailing and p-hailing drivers, eligible drivers will receive a higher government matching incentive of up to RM600 per year, with a lifetime cap of RM6,000.

The participating platforms will facilitate the automatic contribution deductions at rates determined by the drivers themselves.

The scheme builds on the existing i-Saraan programme, which offers government matching contributions of up to RM500 a year, capped at RM5,000 over a lifetime.

Meanwhile, the eligibility age for i-Suri, the contribution scheme for housewives, has been extended from 55 to 60, aligning it with the national minimum retirement age. The government will continue to match 50% of annual contributions under i-Suri, capped at RM300 per year and RM3,000 over a lifetime.

Higher haj withdrawal limit

To better support members performing the haj, the EPF is raising the limit of haj withdrawal from Akaun Sejahtera to RM10,000, up from RM3,000 previously.

It is also simplifying the application process by removing the requirement for members to verify their Tabung Haji savings balances when applying for the withdrawal.

RIA framework for new savings benchmarks

The Retirement Income Adequacy (RIA) framework will also formally come into effect on Jan 1. It establishes three savings tiers to guide members’ retirement planning. They are: Basic Savings (RM390,000), Adequate Savings (RM650,000) and Enhanced Savings (RM1.3 million).

In line with these new savings tiers, the EPF is also revising its policies for high-balance accounts and investments.


RM1 million+ withdrawals: For members aged below 55 with significant savings, the increase of their excess savings limit that can be withdrawn will be raised gradually, by RM100,000 every year over three years, starting with RM1.1 million in 2026.
Member Investment Scheme: The eligibility threshold to use funds for external investments will now be aligned with the Basic Savings level. The minimum savings quantum for MIS eligibility will be revised in stages to ensure that excess savings used for investments do not affect one’s basic retirement needs.

“Overall, these adjustments operationalise the RIA framework announced in 2024, reflecting EPF’s commitment to balancing flexible access with the long-term protection of members’ savings, in line with current cost of living,” the EPF said.

Separately, the EPF has refreshed the branding of its voluntary contribution options, introducing i-Simpan for self-contributions and i-Topup for voluntary excess contributions above the statutory rate.

“These initiatives include measures announced in the government’s Budget 2026 by the prime minister on Oct 10, 2025, strengthening the EPF’s commitment to responding to members’ evolving needs while supporting long-term financial resilience, wellbeing and a more secure and meaningful retirement,” the retirement fund added.

Read also:

Highlights of Budget 2026