<h1>EPF withdrawal rules revised: government says simplified access and exceptions; opposition alleges punitive restrictions on savers' access.</h1> The EPF rule changes consolidate withdrawal categories and simplify limits, allowing eased withdrawals for purposes like marriage, housing, education and medical treatment and permitting full eligible emergency withdrawals up to twice yearly without documentation. The amendments change timing for premature final settlement and pension-component withdrawals and provide for a minimum balance requirement subject to explicit exceptions that allow full withdrawal on events such as retirement, permanent disability, retrenchment, voluntary retirement or leaving the country permanently.