How to Withdraw PF Amount From Your EPF Account

The Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) is a social security program for salaried individuals. It is a mandatory savings scheme, accumulating funds from both employee and employer contributions to provide financial support, particularly for retirement. This guide clarifies the process of withdrawing funds from an EPF account.

Eligibility and Types of Withdrawal

Accessing EPF funds depends on specific conditions, broadly categorized into full and partial withdrawals. Full withdrawal is permitted upon retirement, at 58 years of age. Individuals can also opt for a full withdrawal if they experience unemployment for two consecutive months. An initial withdrawal of up to 75% is possible after one month of unemployment.

Partial withdrawals, also known as advances, are available for specific needs while still employed. These include marriage, where up to 50% of the employee’s share can be withdrawn after seven years of service. Educational expenses for post-matriculation studies for oneself or children also allow withdrawal of up to 50% of the employee’s contribution after seven years of service. Funds can also be accessed for medical emergencies, home purchase or construction, home loan repayment, or house renovation. Each has specific service period requirements and withdrawal limits, such as up to 90% of the corpus for home loan repayment after three years of service.

Preparing for Your Withdrawal Application

Before initiating any withdrawal, preparation ensures a smooth process. A Universal Account Number (UAN) is a permanent account number for all EPF accounts linked to an individual. It must be activated and linked with a working mobile number. Activating the UAN allows access to online services, including tracking contributions and making withdrawal claims.

Compliance with Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements involves linking and verifying identification documents with your UAN on the EPFO portal. These documents include an Aadhaar card, a Permanent Account Number (PAN) card, and bank account details. The Aadhaar card is for identity verification and receiving one-time passwords (OTPs) for online transactions. The PAN card is necessary for withdrawals exceeding certain thresholds to ensure tax compliance.

The bank account linked to the UAN must be active and in the member’s name, with its details, including the Indian Financial System Code (IFSC), accurately updated on the portal. A cancelled cheque or bank passbook copy is generally no longer mandatory for KYC-compliant UANs if Aadhaar and bank KYC are verified. Ensuring all details are updated and verified beforehand prevents delays or rejection of the withdrawal application.

Submitting Your Withdrawal Claim Online

With preparatory steps completed, submitting an online withdrawal claim is streamlined. Log into the EPFO member e-Sewa portal using your active UAN and password. Navigate to the “Online Services” tab, then select the “Claim (Form-31, 19 & 10C)” option. This leads to the online claim form.

The system displays your member details and KYC information. Enter your bank account number, as registered with EPF, and click “Verify.” Accept the certificate of undertaking to proceed. From the available options, select the appropriate claim type for your withdrawal purpose: “PF Advance (Form 31)” for partial withdrawals, “Only PF Withdrawal (Form 19)” for full settlement, or “Only Pension Withdrawal (Form 10C)” for pension-related claims.

Fill in the required details, including the reason for withdrawal, the desired amount, and your current address. The system prompts for verification through an Aadhaar-linked One-Time Password (OTP). After entering the OTP sent to your registered mobile number, submit the application. A reference number is provided upon successful submission.

Submitting Your Withdrawal Claim Offline

For individuals who prefer or require an offline method, the process involves submitting a physical form. The primary document for offline submission is the Composite Claim Form, which has largely replaced older individual forms like Form 19, Form 10C, and Form 31. This form can be downloaded from the EPFO website or obtained from a regional EPFO office.

There are two versions of this form: Composite Claim Form (Aadhaar) and Composite Claim Form (Non-Aadhaar). If your Aadhaar and bank details are linked and verified on the UAN portal, you can use the Aadhaar version, which does not require employer attestation. The Non-Aadhaar version is used if these details are not seeded and requires attestation from your employer.

Fill out the form using your personal, employment, and bank details. Attach physical documents, which may include a copy of your Aadhaar card, PAN card, and a cancelled cheque or bank passbook copy for bank verification. Once completed and attested (if required), submit the form to the nearest jurisdictional EPFO office.

Tracking Your Claim and Receiving Funds

After submitting a withdrawal claim, monitoring its progress is straightforward. Check the status through the UAN portal by logging in and navigating to the “Online Services” tab, then selecting “Track Claim Status.” The official EPFO website and the UMANG app also provide facilities to track claim status using your UAN and other details.

EPFO processes online claims with updated KYC within a few days, often within 3-4 working days for auto-mode claims. Other online claims take around 15-20 working days. Offline claims may also take up to 20 days. Once approved, funds are directly transferred to the member’s verified bank account.

You will receive SMS alerts on your registered mobile number when the claim application is received and when funds are transferred. If there are delays beyond the expected timeframe or if the claim is rejected, check the reason for rejection on the portal. In such cases, addressing the identified issues and re-submitting the claim may be necessary.