EPF rule change: EPFO eases requirements for cheque, passbook uploads for online claims

The Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has changed EPF rules to relax the requirement of uploading an image of cheque leaf or attested bank passbook for certain eligible cases.

EPFO said that this change will speed up the processing of online claims and reduce rejections due to users not uploading pictures of cheques or passbooks when they apply.

The social security organisation said that the claims would be validated by online verification of the bank's know your customer (KYC) by the subscriber's bank or NPCI (National Payments Corporation of India), verification of bank KYC by the employer using a digital signature certificate (DSC), and seeded Aadhaar verification by UIDAI.

In a circular dated May 28, 2024, the EPFO said, "With a view to facilitate the speedy settlement of claims filed online and to reduce the rejection of claims due to the reason of non-uploading of the image of cheque leaf/ attested bank passbook while filing claims online, it has been decided with the approval of the CPFC to relax the requirement of mandatory uploading of the image of cheque leaf/ attested bank passbook for certain eligible cases based on certain validations which include Online Verification of the Bank KYC by concerned Bank/NPCI, Verification of Bank KYC by the employer using DSC, Seeded Aadhaar Number verified by UIDAI among others".

The claims eligible for this relaxation will be colour-coded soon to prevent the accidental return of such eligible claims due to non-uploading of cheque leaf or passbook.

How to withdraw PF amount online?

• Visit the UAN portal and login
• Click on 'Sign in' after entering captcha
• Click on the 'online services' tab
• Select 'Claim (Form-31,19,10C&10D)'
• Enter bank details and click on 'verify'
• In the claim form, select the type of claim you need, such as full EPF settlement, EPF part withdrawal (loan/advance), or pension withdrawal, under the tab ‘I Want To Apply For’.
• Select ‘PF Advance (Form 31)’
• Enter amount
• Validate using Aadhaar linked number and submit