Housewives earn no salary, so no employer pays EPF or PERKESO contributions for them. Two government schemes fill the gap: EPF i-Suri for retirement savings (the government adds 50% of every RM1, up to RM300 a year), and PERKESO LINDUNG KASIH for accident and invalidity protection at RM120 for 12 months.
This guide explains who qualifies, what you get, how to register and pay, and how the two schemes differ. Every figure is from EPF, PERKESO and the MOF Portal Manfaat (sources below). At the end there are work-from-home money ideas to make the contributions easier to afford.
The two schemes do different jobs. i-Suri is savings (the money stays yours in your EPF account), while LINDUNG KASIH is protection (benefits are paid if there is an accident, invalidity or death).
| i-Suri (EPF) | LINDUNG KASIH (PERKESO) | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Retirement savings + government incentive | Domestic accident and invalidity protection |
| Who qualifies | eKasih-registered women, EPF members, under 60 | Housewives who are citizens/PRs, under 55 |
| What you pay | Any amount from RM1 (RM600 a year for the full incentive) | RM120 for 12 months, paid in advance |
| What you get | 50% incentive up to RM300 a year, plus annual dividends | Treatment, monthly allowances, lump sums (see benefits table) |
| Money returned? | Yes, it stays in your EPF account | No, contributions are not refunded |
| Register at | KWSP i-Akaun app, SST or an EPF office | suri.perkeso.gov.my or a PERKESO counter |
If you qualify for both, you can join both: they are run by two different agencies for different purposes.
According to the EPF i-Suri page, i-Suri is a voluntary contribution scheme for women registered in the National Poverty Data Bank (eKasih), including housewives, widows, single mothers and single women. You must be:
The government pays a special incentive of 50% of every RM1 you contribute, up to RM300 a year. The lifetime cap is RM3,000 or age 60, whichever comes first. To get the full RM300, contribute at least RM600 a year (about RM50 a month). EPF's examples:
| You contribute in a year | Government incentive |
|---|---|
| RM200 | RM100 |
| RM500 | RM250 |
| RM600 | RM300 (maximum) |
| RM800 | RM300 (still the maximum) |
The incentive is credited twice a year, and both your contributions and the incentive are split 75%, 15% and 10% into Akaun Persaraan, Akaun Sejahtera and Akaun Fleksibel. The savings also earn EPF's annual dividend.
1. Make sure you are in eKasih. If you were listed as of 30 November of the previous year, EPF can register you for i-Suri automatically.
2. Register yourself in the KWSP i-Akaun app (*Pendaftaran i-Saraan* menu), at a Self-Service Terminal (SST) with your MyKad, or at an EPF office with form KWSP 16G (M).
3. Contribute through the i-Akaun app (one-off or monthly Auto Simpan via DuitNow AutoDebit), internet banking, a BSN bank agent, BSN, Maybank, Public Bank or RHB counters (with form KWSP 6A(2)), an SST or the EPF mobile team.
4. Check: contributions are credited within 3 working days (electronic) or 7 working days (other channels). Minimum RM1; the overall voluntary contribution cap is RM100,000 a year.
LINDUNG KASIH, the Housewives' Social Security Scheme, took effect on 1 December 2022 under the Housewives' Social Security Act 2022. PERKESO defines a housewife as a woman, married or not, who manages a household full time or part time, including wives, mothers, divorcees, widows and single mothers. It does not require eKasih.
Cover includes domestic accidents (injuries while managing the home and family, 24 hours a day during the contribution period) and invalidity (permanent illness or disability). Main benefits per PERKESO's 2025 booklet:
| Benefit | Rate |
|---|---|
| Medical benefit (domestic accident) | Free treatment at PERKESO panel clinics or government clinics/hospitals |
| Permanent disablement benefit | Lump sum of up to RM30,000 depending on the injury |
| Invalidity allowance | RM300 a month, up to age 55 |
| Constant attendance allowance | RM250 a month if she needs another person's care |
| Rehabilitation or dialysis | Up to RM50,000 per contribution period; dialysis aid of RM200 a month |
| Funeral benefit | RM3,000 lump sum (from 1 June 2024) |
| Survivors' pension (dependants) | RM300 a month to an eligible widower, children or parents |
1. Go to suri.perkeso.gov.my, create an account and complete the housewife's profile (and the husband's details if he is paying).
2. Choose the contribution period and pay RM120 for 12 months by FPX.
3. Or visit a PERKESO counter and fill in Form SR 1.
4. Keep the receipt. Domestic accident cover starts once the contribution is paid and lasts 12 months, so renew before it ends to avoid a gap.
RM50 a month for i-Suri and RM10 a month (RM120 a year) for LINDUNG KASIH are easier with a side income. Some DuitMap ideas that work from home:
See also 100+ money ideas on DuitMap and the guides to JKM welfare aid 2026 and STR 2027.
KWSP i-Suri: Women listed in eKasih who save in the EPF get a 50% government incentive, up to RM300 a year and RM3,000 in a lifetime.
KUSKOP – Garis Panduan Perniagaan Dari Rumah: Home-business licence (including food) from your local council.
Kiddocare: Babysit as an independent carer through the Kiddocarer app; paid weekly.
MengajiOnline: Teach Iqra', the Quran, Tajwid and Fardu Ain online from home. Allowance from RM10 an hour, paid monthly.
IPR INSAN (Kementerian Ekonomi): jual makanan guna mesin layan diri: A government income programme for B40, poor and hardcore-poor households with food-business experience. The government pays the vending machine rental, site rental, maintenance and installation for 24 months; you only pay to prepare and deliver the food plus e-wallet charges. Ready-to-eat food is sold at up to RM5 at places like hospitals, public universities, government buildings and LRT/MRT stations.
Shopee Affiliate Program: RM10 per new buyer, 1% for existing buyers (capped at RM5 per order). Age 18+, Malaysian users.
i-Suri is EPF savings with a government incentive for eKasih-registered women; the money stays yours. LINDUNG KASIH is PERKESO protection (RM120 a year) that pays benefits after a domestic accident, invalidity or death.
50% of every RM1 contributed, up to RM300 a year, with a lifetime cap of RM3,000 or until age 60. Contribute RM600 a year to get the full incentive.
EPF's page for 2026 states a maximum of RM300 a year. Other figures circulating on social media do not match the current official rate; always check the EPF site.
No. You must be registered in eKasih as of 30 November of the previous year. You can still save through i-Saraan (see the i-Saraan guide) and join LINDUNG KASIH, which does not need eKasih.
Yes. The husband, the housewife, family or a third party can pay. If the husband chooses to pay, the 'once in, always in' principle applies.
Under 55. First-time contributors must be under 54.
Yes for both, subject to the other conditions. i-Suri covers housewives, widows, single mothers and single women in eKasih; LINDUNG KASIH covers wives, mothers, divorcees, widows and single mothers.
Seven monthly aid schemes from the Social Welfare Department in one table: who qualifies, how much they pay, the documents to bring and what Budget 2027 proposes.
The government adds 20% to your voluntary EPF savings, up to RM500 a year. Who qualifies, how much to save and how to register in the KWSP i-Akaun app.
STR 2027 applications are open all year from 15 Oct 2026. Eligibility, 2027 STR + SARA amounts by income and children, how to apply and how to avoid scams.
Summary of the EPF i-Suri page, EPF statement of 31 December 2025, MOF Portal Manfaat, the PERKESO page, FAQ and 2025 booklet, and the Budget 2027 speech, checked on 4 November 2026. Rates and conditions can change; the official EPF and PERKESO sites are the final word. This guide is not financial advice. Disclaimer