The EPFO has made PF withdrawals much faster in 2026.
If you submit your PF claim online, the money now reaches your bank account in about eight days.
The government confirmed this improvement in a written reply to Parliament.
Earlier, PF withdrawals often took several weeks or even months.
Delays were common due to paperwork and employer verification.
With digital systems and Aadhaar-based verification, the process has become quicker and smoother.
How PF Withdrawal Has Become Faster
Once you submit an online PF claim, it is processed electronically.
In most cases, the amount is credited to your bank account within eight days.
This faster process is especially helpful for employees who have changed jobs or left employment and need quick access to their PF money.
However, to benefit from this speed, certain conditions must be fulfilled.
What Is the Simple Joint Declaration Process?
To withdraw PF online without delays, your EPF account must be linked with Aadhaar, and your KYC should be fully completed.
When KYC is complete, claims can be settled without employer approval.
To make updates easier, EPFO introduced the Simple Joint Declaration process.
This allows members to correct or update personal details quickly. EPFO has also introduced face authentication for generating and activating UANs, enabling employees to create their own UAN without assistance.
Digital Reforms Speed Up Claim Settlement
EPFO’s digital upgrades have led to a sharp rise in claim processing. In 2023–24, around 59.8 million claims were settled.
This number increased to 77 million in 2024–25 and reached 85.3 million in 2025–26 by January.
Online service requests, such as profile corrections, have also grown rapidly.
They increased from 66,000 in 2023–24 to over 2.7 million in 2025–26.
The EPFO 2.0 unified portal has simplified claims, KYC updates, pension payments, and employer filings, while reducing manual work and improving transparency.
Important Things to Remember
To receive your PF money without delay, keep your UAN active, link Aadhaar and your bank account, and ensure your KYC details are updated.
If you face any issues, you can track your claim on the EPFO portal or file a grievance online.
More improvements are planned, including PF withdrawal through UPI.
For now, receiving PF money in eight days is a major improvement.
What once took 20 days or more is now much faster, helping millions of employees manage their finances with ease.
