Great news for EPFO subscribers! You can now complete all tasks online, including activating inactive EPF accounts, transferring accounts, and making claims. There’s no longer a need to visit the EPFO office.
Private-sector employees contribute to the Employee Provident Fund (EPF), and millions of subscribers are benefiting from EPFO’s online services. Here’s a detailed guide on how to use these services.
What Is an Inactive EPF Account?
An EPF account becomes inactive if no contributions are made by either the employee or the employer for 36 months.
This often happens when employees in the private sector forget to transfer their EPF account after changing jobs, which stops contributions.
After three years of inactivity, the account is considered inactive. However, the money in the account continues to earn interest.
How to Reactivate an Inactive Account
To reactivate your account, first check if your Universal Account Number (UAN) is linked to your Aadhaar card.
UAN is a unique number assigned to each EPF account. You can update your KYC details through the EPFO member portal.
How to Transfer Your EPF Account
If you’ve changed jobs, you need to transfer your EPF account from your old employer to your new one. To do this, log in to the unified EPFO portal and file a transfer request.
The transfer request needs to be verified by your current employer, which may take two to three weeks. You will receive SMS notifications about the status of your account transfer.
How to Withdraw Money from Your EPF Account
You can withdraw money from your EPF account if you’ve been unemployed for over two months, or after retirement.
Additionally, partial withdrawals are allowed for specific reasons, such as medical treatment, marriage, purchasing a house, or education, while you’re still employed.
The Claim Process Explained
To make a claim, log into EPFO’s Unified Member Portal with your UAN and password. After logging in, go to the “Online Service” tab and select the appropriate claim form.
You will need to verify your bank and Aadhaar details, state the reason for withdrawal, and upload necessary documents.
Once submitted, your claim will be authenticated via an OTP sent to your mobile phone.
