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EPFO Reveals: ₹9,000 Crore Lying in 31 Lakh Accounts—Here’s How to Withdraw Your Money..

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Online PF Withdrawal Process: A recent RTI report has revealed startling information regarding the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO). Data indicates that approximately ₹9,330 crore remains unclaimed across nearly 30.91 lakh inactive PF accounts nationwide. However, there has been a slight improvement compared to the previous financial year; as of March 31, 2025, 31.83 lakh inactive accounts were holding a total of ₹10,181 crore, meaning there has been a reduction of about 92,000 accounts and ₹851 crore in unclaimed funds.

This revelation comes at a time when the EPF Scheme 2026 has been notified and implemented. Effective from June 29, 2026, this new scheme replaces the historic EPF Scheme of 1952. Its primary objective is to make PF regulations simple, transparent, and fully digital for approximately 8 crore active members.

Eligibility Criteria for Online PF Claims
If your money has been lying in a PF account for a long time, you can now transfer it to your bank account from the comfort of your home. However, certain conditions must be met, as listed below:

Your Universal Account Number (UAN) must be active. Your proof of identity (Aadhaar), PAN card, and bank account must be fully linked to and verified with your UAN. The mobile number linked to your identity proof must be active to receive verification codes.

How to Withdraw PF Money from Home
Visit the EPFO ​​Member Portal. Sign in by entering your 12-digit UAN, password, and captcha code. Click on the 'Online Services' tab in the top menu bar of the homepage and select the appropriate form (Claim Form 31, 19, 10C, or 10D) from the dropdown list. Your profile details will appear on the screen. Enter the bank account number linked to your UAN here and click on 'Verify'. Next, accept the terms and conditions by clicking 'Yes'. After clicking 'Proceed for Online Claim', go to the 'I Want to Apply For' option and select the appropriate form based on your requirement.

**Which form to fill for which purpose**

Select 'Form 31' if you wish to make a partial withdrawal while still employed—for reasons such as illness, marriage, children's education, or house construction. Use 'Form 19' if you want to settle your entire PF fund two months after leaving your job. Use 'Form 10C' if you wish to withdraw the accumulated pension fund amount.

**Upload documents and details**

After completing the steps above, enter the reason for withdrawal, the amount you wish to withdraw, and your current address. Then, upload a clear scanned copy of your bank passbook or a cancelled cheque (in JPEG or JPG format, with a file size between 100 KB and 500 KB).

**Digital verification and submission**

Select the checkbox for the declaration and click on 'Get Aadhaar OTP'. Enter the OTP received on your registered mobile number and complete the process by clicking on 'Validate OTP and Submit Claim Form'.


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