New Delhi, June 21 -- The Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) is often viewed as a retirement savings vehicle, but the scheme also allows members to tap into their corpus for major life events long before retirement. From funding a child's higher education and meeting wedding expenses to buying a house or repaying a home loan, the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) permits partial withdrawals subject to specific eligibility conditions and limits.

These withdrawals, known as EPF advances, enable members to access a portion of their accumulated savings without waiting until retirement. However, the amount that can be withdrawn varies depending on the purpose of the claim, the member's years of service and the balance available in th...