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Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) is a very important government-backed retirement savings scheme for crores of salaried employees of the country. Under this scheme, both the employee and the employer deposit 12-12 percent of the employee’s basic salary and dearness allowance (DA) in the EPF account every month. This creates a larger and stronger fund for retirement in the long run.
Although it is basically a retirement scheme, the Employee Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) allows its members to make premature partial or full PF withdrawal online in certain special and emergency circumstances.
What is UAN (Universal Account Number) and its importance?
EPFO to each of its members A unique 12 digit Universal Account Number (UAN) Is issued. This number remains valid throughout the life of the employee. Whenever an employee changes his job, the new Member ID issued by his new company gets linked to this old UAN. Due to this, all the past and present PF accounts of the employee are linked on a single digital platform, making it very easy to manage the funds.
What are the main types of EPF withdrawals?
The process of withdrawing money from EPF account is mainly divided into two parts:
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Partial Withdrawal / PF Advance: It is also called PF advance. Under this, members can withdraw some part from their fund during their employment as per the prescribed rules for personal needs (like illness or marriage).
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Full Withdrawal: Under this, members can withdraw the entire amount deposited in their EPF account (both employee and employer’s share) together. This facility is available only on retirement from service or in special circumstances prescribed by EPFO.
Under what circumstances can 100% PF be withdrawn (Full Withdrawal)?
According to EPFO rules, the entire PF fund can be withdrawn only in the following 4 major situations:
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On retirement: Members can withdraw their entire fund after completing the age of 58 years and completely retiring from service.
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In case of long unemployment: If an EPF member remains unemployed for more than 12 months (1 year) continuously, he can withdraw the entire amount. According to the rules, 75% of the amount can be withdrawn after the first month of leaving the job and the remaining 25% after 12 months.
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On permanently settling abroad: If an employee is leaving India and going abroad permanently for employment or any other purpose, he can withdraw the entire amount.
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In case of untimely death of the member: In the unfortunate event of the death of an EPF member, the entire deposit amount is handed over to his registered nominee or legal heir.
What are the circumstances valid for partial PF withdrawal?
If you are in dire need of money while on the job, EPFO allows partial withdrawal for the following emergency or critical purposes:
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Marriage of self, children or siblings
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For the treatment of serious illness or medical treatment
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To build a new house, buy a flat or buy land
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To repay the old home loan prematurely
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To repair or renovate the ancestral house
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For children’s higher education expenses
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In case of purchase of essential equipment related to disability, natural disaster or sudden lockout in the company/factory.
What documents and conditions are required for PF Withdrawal?
To file Online PF Claim, you must have the following documents and details:
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Activated Universal Account Number (UAN)
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PAN card and valid identity proof for identification
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Bank account passbook or canceled check with name printed on it
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Necessary documents as per the purpose of the claim (such as medical certificate, home loan statement or marriage certificate).
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Special safety notes: Digital verification of your identity is very important for online PF withdrawal. For this, it is mandatory for your credentials to be correct on the EPFO portal.
Important FAQs (questions and answers) related to EPF withdrawal
Question: Can money be withdrawn from EPF more than once?
answer: Yes, you can withdraw advance amount from EPF multiple times as per your need and purpose. However, categories like marriage and higher education have a maximum withdrawal limit (say 3 times) in a lifetime.
Question: What to do if PF withdrawal claim gets rejected again and again?
answer: If the claim is rejected, first log in to the ‘EPFO Member e-Sewa’ portal and check the exact reason for rejection by going to the ‘Track Claim Status’ option. Reapply after correcting deficiencies.
Question: What will happen if the nominee is not added to the EPF account?
answer: It is very important to do e-nomination in EPF account. If a nominee is not added, the family has to go through court proceedings and lengthy legal succession processes to withdraw the money in case of death of the member.
Question: Is it right to withdraw or transfer PF after changing job?
answer: According to financial experts, instead of withdrawing PF money when changing jobs, it should always be transferred online to the account of the new company (PF Transfer). With this, you continue to get the benefit of compounding interest on your investment and continuity of service is maintained.
Question: What are the main reasons for rejection of online PF claim?
answer: Claims are often rejected due to incomplete or incorrect KYC, mismatch of bank account details or IFSC code, non-activation of UAN, spelling mistake in name or date of birth, not completing the required minimum service period or choosing the wrong withdrawal form.