PF Withdrawal Online: Provident Fund (PF) is considered a retirement fund and therefore subscribers must not think of making any withdrawals, until and unless there is a financial emergency and all other options to generate money are closed. As an emergency doesn't come after giving you any kind of ultimatum, you should be ready to handle that both mentally and financially. So, how does PF withdrawal work? Know that PF withdrawal online is not possible without the Universal Account Number or UAN. While going for the PF withdrawal online, subscribers need to log onto the official EPFO website — epfindia.gov.in. Even UAN won't be enough for PF withdrawal online, UAN has to be linked with Aadhaar card number, bank account number and all KYC related documents should be provided for successful Provident Fund withdrawal online.

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Speaking on the PF withdrawal rules Jitendra Solanki, a SEBI registered tax and investment expert said, "PF withdrawal is possible only during retirement or after two months of unemployment. Under the EPFO rules, a PF account holder can go for the PF withdrawal up to 50 per cent of the employees' share in the PF account in case of marriage of the account holder, daughter, son, brother or sister. But, to avail of this PF withdrawal benefit, the PF account has to be at least 7 years old. A similar amount of PF withdrawal is allowed for the education of the PF account holder or his or her children after class 10th. In this case, also the PF account has to be at least 7 years old."

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Solanki said that PF withdrawal is allowed for the purchase of land, purchase or construction of a house if the PF account is 5 years or more than 5 years old. For land – PF withdrawal is allowed up to 24 times of monthly wages plus Dearness Allowance (DA) while for a house – PF withdrawal is allowed up to 36 times of monthly wages plus DA. However, Solanki maintained that one can activate UAN for PF withdrawal online if he or she doesn't have the UAN number.

How to activate UAN number? Here is the step by step guide for that:

1] Go to the EPFO portal epfindia.gov.in;

2] Select the option ‘Our Services’ and click at ‘For Employees’;

3) Then click at the ‘Member UAN/Online Services’;

4) Take the cursor at ‘Activate your UAN’ (located under ‘Important Links’ on the right-hand side) and click;

5) Enter your credentials like UAN, date of birth, mobile number and then click on ‘Get authorisation pin’;

6) Enter the OTP received on your mobile phone and click on ‘I Agree’; and

7] Click at 'Validate OTP and activate UAN' option.

Recently, the retirement regulatory body EPFO has launched a new service allowing EPFO subscribers to generate their UAN online without asking the recruiter.

Once you activate your UAN, then as said earlier, it is also mandatory to link your UAN with your Aadhaar Card number and the bank account. Then only, you will be able to go for the PF withdrawal online.