PF withdrawal: Step-by-step guide to withdraw PF amount online

The Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) is a statutory benefit scheme for salaried employees. Managed by the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), it aims to help salaried workers build a retirement corpus by contributing a portion of their salary every month.

The government finalises the interest rate for EPF deposits every year. The current EPF interest rate is 8.25%.

As per the EPFO rules, every month, an employee contributes 12% of the basic salary and dearness allowance to the provident fund account. The employer contributes an equal amount, 8.33% of which goes to the Pension Fund and 3.67% to the EPF.

Generally, employees withdraw the entire sum accumulated in their EPF post-retirement. However, premature withdrawals can also be made from the EPF account under certain conditions.

• Your Universal Account Number (UAN) should be activated and the mobile number used for activating the UAN should be in active use.
• Your UAN account is linked via KYC with your Aadhaar, PAN, bank details, and the IFSC code.

• Go to the UAN portal
• Log in to the portal with your UAN and password and click on the ‘Sign In’ button.
• Select the ‘Manage’ tab and select ‘KYC’ to check whether your KYC details, such as Aadhaar, PAN, and bank details, are verified.
• Once you have verified your KYC details, go to the ‘Online Services’ tab and select the option ‘Claim (Form-31,19,10C and 10D)’ from the drop-down menu.
• Type in your bank account number and click on ‘Verify’.
• Click ‘Yes’ to sign the certificate of undertaking and then click on ‘proceed’.
• In the claim form, under the tab ‘I Want To Apply For’, select the claim you require from options such as full EPF settlement, EPF part withdrawal (loan/advance) or pension withdrawal.
• Select the ‘PF Advance (Form 31)’ for partial withdrawal. Additionally, you need to provide the purpose of such advance, the amount required and the employee’s (your) address.
• Click on the certificate and submit your application.

Individuals can choose between a full or partial withdrawal from their EPF. However, the rules for partial and full withdrawal are different. Here’s a look at the rules for PF withdrawal:

• Retirement: EPF account holders can withdraw the complete amount they have invested along with the interest earned on the amount upon retirement.
• Unemployment: If an individual who has an EPF account is unemployed for over a month, they’re allowed to withdraw 75% of their total EPF accumulation. In case the period of unemployment stretches beyond two months, they can withdraw the remaining 25% amount left in their EPF account.

• Medical Needs: Partial withdrawal from PF account is allowed to meet medical expenses for certain serious diseases or terminal illness. EPF account holders can withdraw either six times the monthly basic salary or the total amount which constitutes the employee’s share of EPF with interest. There’s no minimum service period requirement for this withdrawal.
• Marriage: Individuals are allowed to withdraw up to 50% of the employee’s contribution for marriage. Employees need to serve a minimum of 7 years to avail of this withdrawal. This withdrawal is allowed for the marriage of the EPF subscriber or the marriage expenses of children.
• Higher Education: As much as 50% of the employee’s contribution can be withdrawn for the account holder to fund the account holder's or children's higher education. Employees need to serve a minimum of 7 years to be eligible for this withdrawal.
• Land or House Purchase/Construction: Subject to the total cost, employees can withdraw up to 24 times the monthly basic salary plus dearness allowance for purchasing land and up to 36 times for constructing houses. Employees need to serve for a minimum of 5 years to be eligible for this withdrawal.
• Home Loan Repayment: EPF account holders can withdraw 36 times the monthly basic salary plus dearness allowance or the total PF balance or the total outstanding principal and interest to repay their home loan. To be eligible for this withdrawal, employees need to serve for a minimum of 10 years.
• House Renovation: Either 12 times the monthly salary and dearness allowance or the employee’s contribution with interest or the total cost of house renovation can be withdrawn from the PF deposits. This withdrawal can be made after 5 years of service. It can be made twice, once after 5 and again after 10 years of house completion.
• Before Retirement: Before retirement, 90% of the total balance with interest can be withdrawn by the employee after he/she reaches the age of 58 years old.