Fixed medical allowance for outdoor treatment – Clarification

Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation

(Ministry of Labour & Employment, Govt. Of India)

Bhavishya Nidhi Bhawan, 14-Bhikaiji Cama Place, New Delhi-110 066

Dated: – 14.03.2014

The Employees & Pensioners of the EPFO, who are not covered under Central Government Health Scheme, (CGHS) are paid Fixed Medical Allowance (FMA) per month to cater to the cost of medicines/treatment etc. wherehospitalization is not involved. At present, FMA is being given to employees/pensioners @ Rs. 2000 p.m.

Several references have been received regarding admissibility of Fixed Medical Allowance to both the spouse ,who are working or retired. In this regard it is clarified as under:-

a) In the following cases, only one of the spouse will be eligible for the facility of Fixed Medical Allowance

i) If both husband and wife are working in the EPF Organisation or both of them have retired from EPFO & are in same station.

ii) In case where one is EPFO employee & the spouse is EPFO pensioner & are in same station.

iii) In case where one is serving/retired official of EPFO and spouse is serving/retired Government or any other organization (including private Firm/Office).

Notwithstanding anything said above, if any one of the spouse is posted outside station (working), residing separately and need medical facilities as per entitlement without spouse, then both of them will be eligible for FMA.

b) As per the aforementioned circular dated 13.06.2013, if two or more members of ‘family’ are working in the EPFO, only one of them will be eligible for the facility of Fixed Medical Allowance. In this regard, it is further clarified that besides the spouse, other members of the ‘family’ as defined in CS (MA) Rules, 1944, who are working in EPFO & who are not dependent and also not residing with govt. servant shall be considered as a separate entity.

c) In the case of an EPFO employee whose wife/husband is an employee of a Government or any other organization (including private Firm/Office) he/she will be required to give an undertaking that his/her spouse is not availing of medical facilities in cash, if any, granted by their respective employers, so as to be eligible to receive FMA in EPFO.

Yours faithfully,

sd/-

(UDAY BAXI )

REGIONAL P.F. COMMISSIONER-I (HRM)