- Can I nominate my minor child (below 18 years old) as my EPF beneficiary?
Yes, but kindly reconsider.
If you nominate a child under 18, KWSP will not release the money immediately. Instead:
- EPF will act as a trustee and keep the funds until your child reaches 18.
- A guardian cannot freely withdraw the money, unless KWSP approves certain uses such as education or medical expenses.
- Once your child turns 18, the full balance is transferred to them.
Recommendation:
- If you want immediate access for family support, it may be better to name your spouse as the nominee.
- Alternatively, you may even name Amanah Raya Berhad as the EPF nominee and specify detailed instructions in the trust deed.
- If I mention my EPF savings in my will, do I still need to update my EPF nomination?
Yes — you still need to update your nomination.
According to the EPF Act 1991, a nomination made with EPF takes priority over anything written in your will.
Example:
- If you nominated Mr A at EPF, but wrote in your will that the EPF savings should go to Mr B, Mr A will still get the money.
Practical Tip: Treat your will and your EPF nomination as two separate documents. Keep both updated to ensure consistency with your wishes.
- Why is it important to make an EPF nomination?
If you don’t make a nomination, your family may face delays and extra procedures when claiming your savings.
- With a nomination: the money goes directly to your nominee(s), much faster, providing them with immediate cash flow during a critical time.
- Without a nomination: your family must prove their entitlement, often by going through court or administrative processes.
In short — nomination makes the process smoother, cheaper, and quicker for your loved ones.
- What happens to my EPF savings if I pass away without a will (intestate)?
If you also did not make an EPF nomination, the process becomes even more complicated:
- EPF cannot release the savings directly to any individual.
- Family members must apply to the High Court for Letters of Administration.
- Once the Letter of Administration is issued and submitted to the EPF officer, distribution will follow the Distribution Act 1958 (for non-Muslims).
This process can take time and cause stress for your family, which is why a valid will and proper nomination help avoid complications.
- Should I include my EPF savings in my will?
Technically, your EPF nomination overrides your will. That means the person named in your EPF nomination will inherit the funds, not the person you name in your will.
So why still mention EPF in a will?
- To cover situations where your nomination fails (for example, if the nominee passes away before you).
Key takeaway: Keep both your nomination and will updated — they work hand-in-hand.
Final Note: Many Malaysians still haven’t made an EPF nomination. If you’re one of them, don’t delay — it only takes a short time, but it saves your family from long, painful procedures later.
👉 Stay tuned for our upcoming articles, we’ll discuss what happens if your nominee dies before you, and how to plan around it. Stay tuned.
The information in this article is sourced from the official EPF website~https://www.kwsp.gov.my/en/w/article/epf-nomination
