Online Provident Fund: No more hassles! You can withdraw PF balance from EPFO website

If you want to withdraw your Provident Fund (PF) then here is a piece of good news for you. Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) offers an online service to help you withdraw your provident fund (PF) account balance in the easiest possible way. To run this function smoothly, EPFO has introduced a one-page composite form for the subscribers. The PF balance can be withdrawn online only by those persons who have linked their Universal Account Number (UAN) with Aadhaar. 

The single page composite claim form has replaced many other previously used claim forms - namely Form 19, Form 10C, Form 31, etc. These claim forms can be accepted and processed without the attestation by the employer. Only self-attestation is needed.

Earlier EPFO had three withdrawal forms  -namely Form 19 for final PF settlement, Form 10C for pension withdrawal and Form 31 for non-refundable PF advance. If the PF amount is withdrawn before five years of continuous employment then it will be taxable as “income from salary".

Conditions when PF can be withdrawn
One can withdraw PF balance for buying a house, land or even for setting off a home loan. Also, medical expenditure or marriage in the family, for child's higher education, etc can be the reason for the withdrawal of money.  One can also withdraw PF balance a year before retirement.

Documents required for withdrawal
In most of the cases, to withdraw the amount, one needs Aadhaar, bank account details and PAN card number.

When can one withdraw money from EPF?
You can make a partial or complete withdrawal of your money with your EPF. One can withdraw his\her entire money with EPF, only when he\she retires or remains unemployed for more than two months. In this case of unemployment, one must get it authorised with a gazetted officer that he\she has been unemployed for more than two months. Under certain circumstances, one can also do a partial withdrawal from an EPF account.

How to check your EPF account balance on EPFO portal
To check ones EPF account balance on the Employee Provident Fund Organization website, the employee should make sure that their employer has activated their Universal Account Number (UAN). The UAN is unique for all the employees that fall under the EPF scheme. 

If your UAN is activated, then follow the steps mentioned below:
1. Go to the EPFO portal. 
2. Click on the tab which reads ‘Our Services’.
3. Choose the option that reads 'for employees', in the drop-down menu.
4. Click on the Services
5. Select the option of 'member passbook' under the drop down.
6. After this, a login page will be displayed. Enter your UAN and password.
7. Post this step, you will get access to your EPF account and can check your account balance.