How to Claim EPF Online: PF Withdrawal Process And How TO Check Status
The Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) is a retirement benefits scheme under the Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Act, 1952. Regulated by the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), the scheme requires the employer and employee to contribute 12% of the latter’s basic salary and dearness allowance (DA) towards the fund. When an individual wishes to withdraw the funds, they must file an EPF claim by filling up a withdrawal form online.
Read on to understand how to claim an EPF online, the eligibility criteria you need to meet and the documents required.
What is an EPF Claim?
The term ‘EPF claim’ means to make a withdrawal from your Employees’ Provident Fund. You can partially or wholly withdraw your EPF, depending on your need. For instance, partial withdrawal of EPF is allowed in exceptional circumstances such as loan repayment, educational purposes, marriage and the like. On the other hand, complete EPF withdrawal is typical among retired persons or unemployed individuals. Regardless of the goal, you can make an EPF claim following some defined steps, starting with the online filing of an EPF withdrawal form.
How to Apply for an EPF Claim?
Following is the step-by-step procedure to apply for an EPF claim via UAN portal online:
- Visit the Member e-Sewa Unified Portal of EPFO India.
Go to the official website of EPFO and enter your UAN, password and CAPTCHA
- Go to the ‘Online Services’ tab
Hover your cursor above the Online Services tab and select ‘Claim (Form-31, 19 & 10C)’ from the drop-down menu.
- Verify KYC and Bank Details
Once you select the EPF claim form, the following page would be displayed. You would be able to see your KYC and other details. Enter your bank account number and click ‘Verify’.
- Acknowledge Certificate of Undertaking
Click ‘Yes’ to acknowledge Certificate of Undertaking and proceed further.
- Select the ‘Proceed for online claim’ option
Select ‘Proceed for Online Claim’. You also need to select the reason for your EPF claim from a dropdown list based on your eligibility. You also need to select the claim you need – EPF settlement, EPF part withdrawal, etc., under ‘I Want to Apply For’. Those who are not eligible for EPF withdrawal, they won’t be able to see the option in the dropdown menu.
- Select ‘PF Advance (Form 31)’
Click on ‘PF Advance (Form 31)’ to withdraw your fund. You would also need to provide the amount required and your address. Once your employer approves the claim request, the amount would be deposited to your bank account within 15-20 days.
EPF Claim Eligibility Conditions
Before applying for an EPF claim, you must be well-versed with the terms and conditions that make you eligible for the application. Below is a list of the eligibility conditions an employee must fulfil to qualify for EPF withdrawal:
- Complete withdrawal of the EPF amount is allowed only for retired individuals. The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation considers cases of early retirement only for individuals above the age of 55 years.
- Partial withdrawal of EPF is sanctioned only in particular circumstances such as medical emergencies, higher education, marriage, home loan repayment or house purchase/construction.
- Individuals can claim their EPF corpus in case of unemployment before retirement due to retrenchment or lockdown.
- Only 75% of the EPF corpus can be withdrawn after a month of unemployment. The remaining amount is transferred to the new EPF account after the individual gains employment.
- The EPFO permits employees to withdraw 90% of the amount in their EPF account one year before retirement.
- When you claim EPF online, you must have an active Universal Account Number (UAN), your bank details linked with the UAN and your Aadhaar and PAN details on the EPF database. By linking your Aadhaar and UAN to your EPF account, you can get claim approval online without waiting for your employer’s consent.
Documents Required for EPF Claim
Individuals applying for Employees’ Provident Fund withdrawal require the following documents during the application:
- Duly filled Composite Claim Form.
- Identity proof of the applicant.
- Address proof of the applicant.
- Two revenue stamps.
- Bank account statement of the EPF holder (the bank account must only be in the name of the EPF holder while they are alive).
- A blank and cancelled cheque with the account number and IFSC code clearly visible. The cheque must be a single account holder cheque.
What is EPF Claim Status?
Your EPF claim status describes the latest information about your application for EPF withdrawal. In other words, your EPF claim status gives you a fair idea of the progress of the withdrawal process once you have applied for an EPF claim online. Moreover, keeping a track of the EPF claim status will help you take necessary action in case of any glitch or delay in the claiming process. Individuals who wish to withdraw funds from their EPF account can make a claim online and track their EPF claim status online or offline. But to claim EPF, you must fulfil the eligibility requirements.
How to Check EPF Claim Status Online?
You can check EPF claim status online in three ways:
1. Through the EPFO Portal
Follow the steps below to track EPF claim status through EPFO portal:
- Step 1: Visit the EPFO India portal.
- Step 2: Go to the ‘Services’ tab and click ‘For Employees’ from the dropdown list.
- Step 3: On the next page, click on ‘Know Your Claim Status’ under the ‘Services’ section. You will be redirected to the passbook login page.
- Step 4: Enter your UAN, password and CAPTCHA in the respective boxes and click on ‘Search’.
- Step 5: Select ‘Member ID’.
- Step 6: Click the ‘View Claim Status’ option to check your EPF claim status.
2. Through the UAN Member Portal
Follow the steps below to track EPF via UAN member portal:
- Step 1: Enter your UAN and password to sign in to the UAN Member Portal.
- Step 2: Click on the ‘Online Services’ option.
- Step 3: Click on the ‘Track Claim Status’ option.
3. Through the UMANG app
Follow the steps below to track EPF claim status via UMANG app:
- Go to the app’s homepage and search for the EPFO option.
- Select the ‘Track Claim’ option under ‘Employee Centric Services’.
- Enter your UAN and click on ‘Get OTP’.
- Enter the OTP to login and check your EPF claim status.
How to Check EPF Claim Status Offline?
You can check your EPF claim status offline by sending an SMS from your registered mobile number to 7738299899. The SMS format is EPFOHO UAN LAN.
LAN is the language code in which you want to receive the claim status details. The table below lists the language codes:
| Language | Code |
| Hindi | HIN |
| English | ENG |
| Marathi | MAR |
| Tamil | TAM |
| Bengali | BEN |
| Telugu | TEL |
| Kannada | KAN |
| Malayalam | MAL |
| Gujarati | GUJ |
| Punjabi | PUN |
Individuals can also check their EPF claim status offline by giving a missed call on the toll-free number 011-22901406 from their registered mobile number. The call will be automatically disconnected, and the individual will receive their EPF claim status through an SMS on their registered mobile number.
Final Word
EPF claim allows employees to withdraw corpus from the EPF account on retirement or due to exceptional circumstances such as unemployment or medical emergencies. Applying for an EPF claim online is pretty straightforward and requires the applicant to upload relevant documents. However, applicants must also bear in mind that approval of the claim is subject to fulfilment of eligibility conditions specified by the EPFO. Once the EPF claim application is successful, individuals can check its status online or offline to track progress.
FAQs
Ans: An active UAN and bank details linked with the UAN, Aadhaar, and PAN are mandatory requirements to initiate an online EPF claim.
Ans: You can log in to your EPF account by entering your 12-digit UAN and password on the EPFO portal. Alternatively, you can use the details to access your account via the UAN Member Portal.
Ans: Complete withdrawal of the EPF amount is not permitted while you are still working. However, partial withdrawal is allowed in exceptional circumstances such as medical emergencies or house loan repayment.
Ans: EPF claim status settled means that your EPF claim application has been processed and the amount transferred to your bank account.
Ans: Employers registered under the Employees’ Provident Fund Act, 1952, must contribute at least 12% of an employee’s remuneration toward the latter’s EPF account and cannot lower the contribution.
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