Withdrawal of Benefits 權益的提取

Normal Withdrawal Age, Early Retirement and Payment Methods 一般提取年齡、提早退休及付款方式

MPF provides retirement savings, so benefits derived from mandatory contributions normally remain preserved until age 65. A member who reaches 65 may claim on that ground while continuing to work; leaving a job, changing employers or needing cash does not itself permit early withdrawal. [MPFA Study Notes, Tenth Edition, section 3.11](https://www.mpfa.org.hk/en/-/media/files/supervision/mpf-intermediaries/registration-requirements/study_notes_10th_v1_eng.pdf)

Early retirement requires three things together: the member must be at least 60, declare that all employment and self-employment have ended, and declare no intention of becoming employed or self-employed again. Leaving one job while continuing a self-employed business does not meet the condition.

Claims based on reaching 65 or early retirement may be paid as a lump sum or by instalments, with unwithdrawn benefits remaining invested. Claims on the other specified grounds must be paid as a lump sum; a wish to retain some investments does not create an instalment option.

Permanent Departure from Hong Kong and Small Balances 永久離開香港及小額結餘

Permanent departure involves both the intention to settle elsewhere and permission to reside there permanently. The member must declare departure or intended departure to live outside Hong Kong, with no intention of returning for employment or to resettle as a permanent resident, and provide evidence acceptable to the trustee of permission to reside permanently outside Hong Kong. This withdrawal ground may be used only once in a lifetime.

The small-balance threshold is a balance not exceeding HK$5,000 in an MPF scheme, so exactly HK$5,000 is included. A statutory declaration must confirm no intention of future employment or self-employment and no accrued benefits in any other MPF scheme; a member cannot claim from several schemes merely because each has a low balance.

Small-balance claims also require a wait of at least 12 months. Count from the contribution day for the latest contribution period for which a mandatory contribution was required to any registered scheme, up to the claim date; the last working day or the actual date a contribution was deposited is not a substitute.

Death, Total Incapacity and Terminal Illness 死亡、完全喪失行為能力及罹患末期疾病

On death, the member's accrued benefits form part of the estate and are claimed by the personal representative or the Official Administrator. A spouse or other relative does not gain authority to claim merely through that relationship; distinguish an estate beneficiary from a person authorised to handle the estate claim.

Total incapacity concerns the particular kind of work performed in the member's last job before becoming incapacitated. A registered medical practitioner or registered Chinese medicine practitioner must certify permanent unfitness for that work, and the member must declare that the relevant employment contract has ended; permanent inability to perform every kind of work is not required.

Terminal illness concerns life expectancy: a registered medical practitioner or registered Chinese medicine practitioner must complete and sign a medical certificate giving the opinion that the illness is likely to reduce the member's life expectancy to 12 months or less. A serious diagnosis without medical certification meeting that life-expectancy requirement is insufficient.

Claimants, Payment Deadlines, Charges and Statements 申索人、付款期限、費用及報表

Apart from death claims, which require the deceased member's personal representative, a claim may be made by the member or a committee of the estate appointed under the Mental Health Ordinance (Cap. 136). The committee's authority comes from its legal appointment; being a carer or relative alone does not confer that authority.

Provided all required documents have been received, the latest payment date is the later of two dates: 30 days after the claim is lodged, and 30 days after the contribution day for the last contribution period ending before the claim. Calculate the two deadlines separately and compare them; they do not combine into a 60-day period.

No fee or financial penalty may be charged, imposed or deducted from the member's account for a lump-sum payment or the first four instalment withdrawals each year. The exception is necessary transaction costs incurred, or reasonably likely to be incurred, in buying or selling investments to implement the withdrawal and payable to someone other than the approved trustee; the trustee's own administration charge does not qualify. Protection for the first four withdrawals does not impose a four-withdrawal annual limit.

The eMPF Platform provides the claimant with a benefit payment statement showing the payment date and amount of accrued benefits paid, allowing the claimant to check the actual payment. [MPFA Study Notes, Tenth Edition, section 3.11](https://www.mpfa.org.hk/en/-/media/files/supervision/mpf-intermediaries/registration-requirements/study_notes_10th_v1_eng.pdf)