EPFO plans UPI integration: Here’s how it will make your life easier

Pensioners and members of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) may soon be able to access their funds through the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), with the retirement fund body planning to roll out this feature by the end of May.

"EPFO currently has around 7.5 crore active members who maintain their PF accounts and contribute towards their pension. We have undertaken significant work in this regard," Labour and Employment Secretary Sumita Dawra told news agency ANI.

She said that claims up to ₹1 lakh have already been automated, self-correction mechanisms introduced, and unnecessary processes eliminated.

"Our next step is to incorporate UPI into the system," she added.

EPFO access, auto-claims

The official revealed that the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has provided suggestions for integrating UPI, and a proposal has been submitted for EPFO’s consideration.

"After conducting the necessary testing, we expect to roll out the UPI front end for EPFO claims by the end of May," she said.

This will allow members to view their EPFO accounts directly on the UPI interface, file auto-claims, and receive instant approvals if eligible.

“The approval process will be instant if the consumer is eligible, ensuring quick credit to their accounts,” Dawra said.

The secretary noted that stabilising the centralised database will take two to three weeks, after which the front end for UPI integration will be ready.

ATM withdrawal

Earlier this month, Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced the upcoming launch of EPFO 3.0, which will allow subscribers to withdraw funds directly from ATMs using their Universal Account Number (UAN). "In the coming days, EPFO will become equivalent to a bank. You won’t need to visit EPFO offices or your employer. It’s your money, and you can withdraw it whenever you want," Mandaviya said at the inauguration of EPFO’s Telangana Zonal Office.

The announcements come amid robust growth in EPFO membership. According to provisional payroll data released last Thursday, EPFO added 17.89 lakh net members in January 2025, an 11.67% year-on-year increase compared to January 2024.

The data also showed an 11.48% rise in net payroll additions compared to December 2024.

Of the 8.23 lakh new subscribers enrolled in January, 57.07% belonged to the 18-25 age group, marking a 3.07% year-on-year growth.

"This is in consonance with the earlier trend which indicates that most individuals joining the organized workforce are youth, primarily first-time job seekers," a labour ministry statement said.

The net payroll addition for this age group stood at 7.27 lakh, up 8.15% from January 2024. The data also highlighted a significant rise in female participation, with 2.17 lakh new female subscribers added in January, a 6.01% increase year-on-year. Net female payroll additions reached 3.44 lakh, a 13.48% growth compared to January 2024.

Around 15.03 lakh members who exited EPFO rejoined in January, opting to transfer their accumulations rather than seeking final settlements.