EPF Withdrawal/Claim
EPF withdrawal or EPF claim means employees can take out their saved PF money online using the UAN Member Portal of EPFO. You can withdraw all the money or only some part of it, depending on the rules and your eligibility. With EPFO 3.0, the process is getting faster and easier. Soon, you may also be able to withdraw PF money instantly using ATMs and UPI.
How to Make an EPF Claim Online
- Go to the UAN Member Portal and log in using your UAN and password.
- Check your KYC details (Aadhaar and bank account) under Manage - KYC to make sure they are correct.
- Click on Online Services and select Claim (Form-31, 19, 10C, and 10D).
- Enter your bank account details and click Verify.
- Click on Proceed for Online Claim.
- Choose the type of claim:Form 31 (EPF Advance): If you are still workingForm 19 (EPF Withdrawal): If you have left your jobForm 10C (Pension Withdrawal): If you have left your job
- Tick the declaration box.
- Enter the OTP sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile number and click Submit.
Documents Needed for EPF Withdrawal Online
To avoid rejection of your PF claim application, make sure these points are completed:
- UAN and KYC
Your UAN must be active. Aadhaar and PAN should be linked and verified.
- Bank Details
Your bank account must be linked to UAN. Check details and update if anything is wrong.
- Date of Exit
You cannot apply using Form 10C or Form 19 if your Date of Exit is not updated. Update it in the Service History section.
- Service Overlap
Make sure there are no overlapping job dates in your work history.
Who Can Withdraw PF Online?
You can withdraw your PF money online if these things are ready:
- 01
Your UAN is active
- 02
Your Aadhaar, PAN, and bank details are verified
- 03
Your mobile number is linked to your bank account
- 04
You are retired, unemployed, or meet the rules for partial withdrawal
Key Highlights of Online EPF Claim
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| KYC verification | Aadhaar and bank account must be verified |
| Processing time | Usually takes 7 - 20 days |
| Employer approval | Not needed for most online claims |
| Full withdrawal allowed | After 2 months of unemployment or after retirement |
| UAN activation | Must be activated |
How to Claim Your EPF Offline
You can also withdraw PF offline by using the Composite Claim Form (Aadhaar) or (Non-Aadhaar).
- Use this form if:Your Aadhaar and bank details are linked with UANYour UAN is active How to apply:Fill the formSubmit it to the EPFO officeNo need for employer signature
- Use this form if:Your Aadhaar and bank details are NOT linked with UAN How to apply:Fill the formGet it signed by your employerSubmit it to the EPFO office
- EPF Withdrawal Limits
Condition How Much You Can Withdraw Unemployment You can take 75% of your PF money soon after losing your job. The remaining 25% can be taken after 2 months Note: To withdraw full PF money, you must be unemployed for at least 2 months.
You can withdraw a portion of your PF money only for certain reasons. Each reason has its own limit.
Purpose How Much You Can Withdraw Service Needed Criteria Required Buying a House Up to 90% of the PF balance 5 years Property should be in your or your spouse's name. Medical Treatment Employee shares with interest or 6 months' basic salary + DA (whichever is lower) No minimum service period is required for medical emergencies. Can be used for self or family treatment Early - Retirement Up to 90% of the PF balance At age 54, or 1 year before retirement Applicable near retirement Marriage Up to 50% of employee contribution 7 years For self, sibling, or children's marriage Home Renovation Up to 12 months' salary 5 years The house should be in your or your spouse's name. Education Up to 50% of employee contribution 7 years For children's education Special Situations 100% of employee share Depends on EPFO conditions If the salary is not received for 2 months or the company shuts down. - Less than 6 months of service: You usually cannot withdraw pension money.Between 6 months and 10 years: You can withdraw full pension money using Form 10C.More than 10 years: You cannot take the pension as cash. You will get a monthly pension instead.
01Composite Claim Form (Aadhaar)
02Composite Claim Form (Non-Aadhaar)
Important Note: For a partial EPF withdrawal, you do not need extra certificates. You can use self-declaration instead.
EPF Withdrawal Options, Limits, and Rules
01Full Withdrawal
You can take out all your PF money only if you are unemployed or retired.
02Partial Withdrawal
03Pension Withdrawal Rules
Types of EPF Withdrawal Form
When you want to withdraw your PF money, you need to choose the correct form:
- 01
Form 19: For Full EPF Withdrawal
Form 19 is used when you want to withdraw your full PF amount. It is mainly used after you leave your job and want to close your PF account. You can apply for this form if you are unemployed for at least 2 months. It helps you get the total balance from your EPF account as a final settlement.
- 02
Form 31: For Partial EPF Withdrawal (Advance)
Form 31 is used when you need only some part of your PF money. You can use this form even while you are still working. It is allowed only for certain reasons like medical treatment, education, marriage, or buying or repairing a house. The amount you can withdraw depends on the reason and rules set by EPFO.
- 03
Form 10C: For Pension Withdrawal
Form 10C is used to withdraw your pension amount under the EPS scheme. You can use this form if you have worked for more than 6 months but less than 10 years. If you have worked for more than 10 years, you cannot withdraw the pension as a lump sum. Instead, you will receive a monthly pension after retirement.
Why Was Your EPF Claim Not Approved?
If your status shows "PF Claim Rejected", it may be due to these reasons:
- Name Mismatch
Your name in EPFO records does not match your Aadhaar or bank details. You need to correct it using a Joint Declaration Form.
- Unclear Cheque Image
The uploaded cheque image is not clear, so the officer cannot read your name or IFSC code.
- Wrong Form
You selected the wrong form or option, like choosing Form 31 with the wrong reason.
- Payment Failed After Approval
The money was sent, but returned because your bank account is inactive, frozen, or your bank details are incorrect.
EPF Withdrawal Tax
Tax on EPF claim depends on how long you have worked.
| Service Time | Tax Rule |
|---|---|
| 5 years or more | No tax. Full PF amount is tax-free |
| Less than 5 years | If the EPF amount is less than Rs. 50,000, no tax is cut |
| Less than 5 years | If the EPF amount is more than Rs. 50,000, 10% TDS is cut |
If your PAN is not linked, 30% TDS will be deducted. If you worked less than 5 years and your total income is not taxable, you can submit Form 15G or Form 15H to avoid TDS deduction.
EPFO New Provident Fund Rules
There have been some new changes in the rules for PF claims. These changes make it easier for some people to withdraw their money.
- Aadhaar Not Always Required
Earlier, Aadhaar was needed for PF claims. Now, it is not compulsory for some people. This helps those who do not have Aadhaar, like international workers, Indians with foreign citizenship, and people from Nepal and Bhutan.
- Other Documents Can Be Used
If you don't have Aadhaar, you can use other documents for verification. These include your passport, citizenship certificate, PAN card, or bank details.
- Extra Check for Large Amounts
If your PF claim amount is more than Rs 5 lakh, your employer will need to do an extra verification before the money is approved.
Who Does Not Need Aadhaar (Special Cases)
Aadhaar is not required for these people:
- International Workers
People from other countries who worked in India and have now left, but never got an Aadhaar card.
- Indians Living Abroad
Indians who have moved to another country permanently and do not have an Aadhaar card.
- People from Nepal and Bhutan
Citizens of Nepal and Bhutan who are working in India but do not have Aadhaar.
These people can still apply for PF claims without Aadhaar.
More New Changes in PF Claims
- 01
Faster Claim Processing
Now, PF claims can be processed from different locations, not just one office. This helps speed up the process and reduces delays. - 02
Less Paperwork Needed
In some cases, you no longer need to upload cheque images or bank passbook copies. This makes the claim process simpler and quicker. - 03
Higher Auto-Approval Limit
Earlier, only claims up to Rs 1 lakh were auto-approved. Now, this limit has been increased to Rs 5 lakh, so more claims can be settled faster without manual checks. - 04
Faster Withdrawal for Housing
You can now withdraw money to buy or build a house after 3 years of opening your EPF account. Earlier, you had to wait 5 years. - 05
Higher Withdrawal Limit for Housing
You can now withdraw up to 90% of your EPF balance for housing needs. Earlier, there was a lower limit based on a fixed number of months of contributions.
FAQs
EPF withdrawal means taking out your saved PF money from your EPFO account using the UAN Member Portal.
Yes, you can withdraw only some part of your PF for reasons like medical, education, or house needs.
Form 19 is for a full PF claim, Form 31 is for a partial withdrawal, and Form 10C is for a pension withdrawal.
Your payment may fail. You should update and correct your bank details in the UAN portal.