Today's fast world needs convenience especially while dealing with money. The easy way to withdraw PF is online. Online withdrawal is quicker than the old techniques. Withdraw your PF balance at any time, from anywhere. This saves time and minimizes hassles, making it easier for you to manage your finances. So, stress-free, it will be. Online PF withdrawal helps ensure the availability of money at the right moment. To this extent, it adds efficiency to the process. It satisfies the new need for fast and convenient solutions. In a broader sense, it underlines the rising importance of convenience in banking services and brings money management within reach.

What Is Employees' Provident Fund (EPF)?

The Employees' Provident Fund is one of the mandatory savings schemes for specific class workers. Employees contribute 12% of their basic salary every month, and the employer also contributes the same amount. Hence, a good amount of money is accumulated in the EPF account through interest annually, thereby managing to save a considerable amount for retirement. An employee can withdraw the whole amount from his EPF account at retirement. It provides vital support to employees during years of retirement. This scheme by EPF ensures employees always have a safety net. They help to achieve a long-term possibility of attaining financial stability in the future.

When Can You Withdraw EPF?

Complete PF Withdrawal

The following are the conditions under which one can withdraw their EPF money in full:

• When one retires.
• He/she can withdraw 75% of the Employees' Provident Fund amount if he/she has been jobless for more than a month. In cases where unemployment lasts more than two months, they can withdraw the remaining 25%.
• On job change, one cannot be unemployed for at least two months to withdraw the full EPF balance. If somebody is unemployed for less than two months, that person cannot take out the full amount.

Partial PF Withdrawal

How To Draw Your PF Amount?

You can withdraw as long as you are not under any advisory or order of restraint by the commission. How to make your Employees' Provident Fund balance withdrawal depends on how you apply for it—either in person or online. Here is the procedure involved in each: 

Physical Application

1. Composite Claim Form (Aadhaar)

• Eligibility:  Use this form if your Aadhaar and bank details have been linked on the UAN portal and your UAN is activated.
• Procedure: The form is to be filled out and sent directly to the concerned EPFO office. There is no requirement for any attestation by the employer in this case.

2. Composite Claim Form (Non-Aadhaar)

• Eligibility: This form is submitted in case the Aadhaar and bank accounts details are not connected through the UAN portal.
• Procedure: the form will have to be filled and attested by the employer before its submission to the concerned EPFO office.

Note: There is a relaxation concerning several certificates in case of partial withdrawal. You can self-certify to get pain for several partial withdrawals, rather than submit any additional papers.

Online Withdrawal

Your EPF amount can also be withdrawn directly online. For online withdrawal of EPF, your UAN should be activated with updated Aadhaar and bank details. After meeting all the listed requirements, follow the online process to finish your withdrawal request.

The following are the steps to be followed for the efficient management of EPF balance withdrawal.

1. Conditions

The following conditions need to be fulfilled for EPF withdrawal online through the EPF portal:

• Activation of the Universal Account Number; The mobile number used for activating the UAN is in working condition.
• Basically, this UAN gets linked to your KYC, like your Aadhaar, PAN, bank details, and the IFSC code.

Earlier employers will not be asked to sign the withdrawal application if all the above conditions are completed.

Read Our Blog: Universal Account Number (UAN): How to know and activate UAN Online?

Steps to Apply for Provident Fund Withdrawal Online on UAN Portal

• Log in to the UAN portal Go to any browser and access the website of the UAN portal.
• Log In Enter your Universal Account Number and password. Fill in the captcha code and click 'Sign In'.

• Check KYC Details Click on the 'Manage' tab; select 'KYC'. Check here if your KYC details are verified, viz., Aadhaar, PAN, and bank account.

• Verify all of your KYC information must be verified. This is a prerequisite for processing your claim.
• Click on the 'Online Services' tab and then click on 'Claim Form (31, 19,10C&10D').

• The next window will show your member details and your KYC information. Enter your bank account number and click 'Verify'.

• Click 'Yes' to agree to the certificate of undertaking and proceed further.

• Click 'Proceed for Online Claim' to begin your withdrawal process.
• Within the claim form, choose the kind of claim you would want: full EPF settlement, EPF part withdrawal (loan/advance), or pension withdrawal. In case you do not find what you want to select, it simply means that with your criteria, you are not eligible for that service.
• If you want to withdraw money, select 'PF Advance (Form 31).' Give the reason for the advance, the amount required, and the address.

• Check the certificate and submit your application. You may have to upload scanned documents based on what you filled out in the form.

How to Check Provident Fund Withdrawal Status?

The following steps will help an individual check the status of his claim for withdrawal of PF:-

• Login to the UAN portal with your Universal Account Number and password.
• Click on 'Online Services' and further click on the option 'Track Claim Status'.
• Enter your reference number.
• The status will be shown on the screen.

Read Our Blog: UAN Login, Portal Registration, Universal Account Number Activation and Status Check

Conclusion

The PF is a mandatory scheme through which some of your salary goes, every month, toward retirement funds, with the employer contributing an amount equal to it. You are entitled to withdraw your PF fully or partly under some conditions like retirement or unemployment, and also for some specific needs. The process has been made easy online through the UAN portal wherein you have to activate your UAN, followed by linking it to Aadhaar and bank details. Faster, hence time-saving compared to the traditional forms. Moreover, one can monitor the status of their claim easily. Online PF withdrawal meets the modern demands of efficient and hassle-free financial management.