EPFO launches Passbook Lite and single-login portal; enables faster claim settlement

The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has launched a new feature on its member portal, Passbook Lite, aimed at simplifying access to Provident Fund (PF) services for its subscribers. 

With this facility, EPFO members will now be able to view a simplified version of their EPF passbook directly on the portal without having to log in separately to the passbook website. 

Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced major digital reforms undertaken by the EPFO to ensure ‘efficient, transparent and user-friendly services to its members’, the Ministry of Labour & Employment said in a release on Thursday. 

How will Passbook Lite work

Presently, the members have to log in to the passbook portal of EPFO to check their PF contributions and transactions. 

"EPFO has introduced a new facility called ‘Passbook Lite’ within its member portal. This feature will enable members to easily check their passbook and related summarised view of the contributions, withdrawals and balance in a simple and convenient format through the member portal itself without having to go to the passbook portal,” the release said. 

For the members who want a more detailed view of their passbooks with graphical representations of transactions, the existing Passbook Portal will remain available. This will reduce traffic on the portal and make it easier for subscribers to access their passbooks.  

Annexure K (Transfer Certificate)

Another major digital reform is easy and direct access to Transfer Certificates. Members will now be able to download their transfer certificates directly in PDF format from the member portal. Earlier, this certificate was only shared between PF offices, and the members had to request it for access.

Transfer certificates are used when PF accounts are transferred after a member changes jobs. 

This development will allow members to track the status of PF transfer applications online, verify that PF balances and service periods are correctly updated and maintain a permanent digital record for future reference. The record is important for (Employees’ Pension Scheme) calculations. 

Efficient approvals

The EPFO has also updated its approval hierarchy, delegating the powers previously held by RPFCs or Officers-in-Charge to Assistant PF Commissioners and subordinate levels.

With this, services including PF transfers, settlements, advances, refunds, cheque/ECS/NEFT returns and interest adjustments will no longer need multiple layers of higher-level approvals. This will make claim settlements faster, simplify the approval process and improve accountability at field offices. 

Not only this, but it will also improve transparency, making settlements simpler for members with reduced processing time.