Some of you out there may have spent a fair amount of time at a job and accumulated a sizeable Employee Provident Fund (EPF) chunk over that time. Now, to get hold of all that money, you need to get your EPF withdrawal form signed by your employer.
However, for reasons best known to you, your employer either doesn’t want to cooperate, or you just don’t want to set foot in those infernal premises ever again. In fact, there could be a variety of reasons that you want to withdraw your EPF without your previous employer’s signature, such as the closure of the company, withdrawal of your EPF without handing in your resignation or without serving your notice period etc.
Additional Reading: Proposed EPF Rules
So, what exactly can you do about it? Well, for starters you could head over to the EPFO (Employee’s Provident Fund Organisation) directly and try and get your money without getting your EPF form attested by your employer.
If you’re feeling a bit jittery about it, don’t be! Just know that you aren’t the only one who happens to be in such a predicament. There are tons and tons of people all over India just like you who want to withdraw their EPF amount without getting in touch with their employer.
While most people are either apprehensive or unaware about how to go about this process, you will be glad to know that it can be done as long as you know the rules and procedures involved.
Additional Reading: Now Withdraw From EPF Without Restrictions
In case you didn’t already know about the EPF withdrawal rules, let’s go over them once again so you don’t go about fumbling in the dark:
- Your EPF amount can be withdrawn if you haven’t started working elsewhere within two months from the date of your resignation from your previous job. This 2 months period could be waived off in case you get a job opportunity abroad or if you are a female member who has quit her job to take care of her new born child. You will need to submit proof in both cases.
- You will be able to withdraw your EPF in case of special circumstances such as for repaying a Home Loan, for your marriage and medical emergencies. There will be restriction on the amount of EPF that you can withdraw.
- Within a time frame of 30 days from the time of submission, the employer is required to submit the EPF withdrawal form with an attestation.
- Any PF amount withdrawn prior to the completion of at least 5 years of unbroken service will be taxable.
While the rules make no mention of whether an employer can withhold an employee’s EPF, there have been cases where employers force employees to serve their notice periods by denying approval of the EPF withdrawal form.
However, the EPFO has now made it easier for employees to withdraw their EPF without the approval of their employer through the use of the Universal Account Number (UAN).
Here’s how you can go about it:
1) With Aadhaar Number
With the EPFO linking Aadhaar with EPF withdrawal, it has made the entire process extremely easy. By submitting your Aadhaar number to the PF office, you will not need any sort of approval or authorisation from your employer to withdraw your PF. However, there are some conditions that need to be met before you can make your withdrawal:
- It is mandatory for you to have an UAN. However, you will need to ask your employer to create an UAN number. You can check if your employer has already registered you for UAN by visiting the EPFO website. You can activate the UAN number online.
- It is mandatory for you to submit your bank account as well as your Aadhaar number with the UAN database
- Your Aadhaar number should have been corroborated by your employer
Additional Reading: Aadhaar Number Mandatory For EPF
If you have fulfilled the criteria mentioned above, then withdrawing your EPF money should be a walk in the park since the EPFO will just corroborate your identity with your Aadhaar details and deposit the funds into the account that has been verified by your employer.
Make sure you follow the steps below:
- Go online and download the new EPF withdrawal form.
- Fill in the relevant details such as UAN, mobile number, date of leaving etc and make sure they match with the details present in the UAN database.
- If you want to withdraw your EPF then you will be required to fill in Form 19.
- Make sure a cancelled cheque, which contains the same account number as the one in the UAN database, is also attached to the duly filled in form.
- Submit the form at your regional EPF office.
Additional Reading: 5 Things You Need To Know About The Single Page EPFO Withdrawal Form
2) Without Aadhaar Number
While this may be an old way of withdrawing your EPF without the signature of your employer, it is still the only way you can get your money if you don’t have an Aadhaar number yet.
The drawback with this method however is that you will be required to corroborate your identity since your employer has not provided verification of the same. Due to this, you will need to get your EPF withdrawal form attested by any of the following authorities:
- A bank manager (preferably from the same branch where you have your account )
- A gazetted officer
- A magistrate/Post/Sub Post Master/President of Village Panchayat/Notary Public
Things To Keep In Mind
- Make sure that every sheet of the application form is stamped and signed.
- You will need to provide a letter stating why you’re applying directly for EPF withdrawal.
- If you have any written proof that your employer is not co-operating with you, then make sure you attach it when you submit your application.
- Make sure you attach copies of other documents such as your salary slip, offer letter, company ID etc to add weight to your claim.
Additional Reading: Withdraw From EPF Pension Account With Aadhaar
It is always advisable to adopt the first method when applying for EPF withdrawal since it is less time consuming and not as cumbersome as the second method. Also, the chances of rejection increase if you decide to adopt the second method.
In any case, it is still preferable to come to a consensus with your employer when it comes to EPF withdrawal. If you find yourself in a trying situation, you could try and adopt the following methods:
- Make your employer aware that you are well within your rights to request him or her to sign the EPF withdrawal form. In fact, your employer is bound by law to do so.
- Try and see if you can get a colleague of yours who you used to work with to act as a bridge between you and your employer.
- Make sure you get everything in writing instead of communicating with your employer verbally. This will keep him or her honest.
- If nothing works out, try taking legal action since it is against the law for your employer to keep you from withdrawing your EPF money.
- You could also file an online grievance through the EPFO portal. Make sure you attach any proof that will substantiate your claim.
Additional Reading: 10% Equity Investment By EPFO – What It Means For The Aam Aadmi
In closing, while these methods and pointers should provide you with a way out in case your previous employer refuses to sign your EPF withdrawal form, it is still advisable to try and come to an understanding with your previous employer so that you can withdraw your EPF without too much hassle.
Thanks for sharing this useful information regarding withdrawal of EPF with or without Aadhaar.
But recently I generated UAN no. and found that my name in EPF account is different than Aadhaar card while login through UAN no. So that I can withdrawal my EPF online. I asked to my employer to correct my name but they again generated new UAN no. and facing to update my data online . So what shud I do. How they can correct my name please suggest.
Hi Asmit, You can correct your UAN details in the EPF UAN unified online portal yourself. This will be less time-consuming than getting the details modified by your employer. Visit the EPFO ”Unified Member Portal”” and log in using your UAN number and password. Then under the tab “”Manage””, select the option “”Modify basic details””. You will then have to verify your Aadhaar details. This modification will not be possible if you’ve already verified your Aadhaar earlier. Cheers, Team BankBazaar.
Hi!!! I want to withdraw my money without sign of employer. What is the process for that?
Hi Nishant, You can directly go the EPFO office and fill the forms required. Also, if you have Aadhaar and you have linked it with your UAN, you can go online, download the EPF withdrawal form and fill it, then fill Form 19, and submit these along with the necessary documents at your regional EPF office. If you don;t have Aadhaar, you can follow the same process as mentioned before, but you will have to get the EPF withdrawal form attested by a gazetted officer or the like. Good luck! Cheers, Team BankBazaar
Hi Nishant, You can directly go the EPFO office and fill the forms required. Also, if you have Aadhaar and you have linked it with your UAN, you can go online, download the EPF withdrawal form and fill it, then fill Form 19, and submit these along with the necessary documents at your regional EPF office. If you don’t have Aadhaar, you can follow the same process as mentioned before, but you will have to get the EPF withdrawal form attested by a gazetted officer or the like. Good luck! Cheers, Team BankBazaar
I am struggling since last 6 months just to get PF. And now two time My application has been rejected. My Employer told me that the reason was “Name was not mentioned in the Cheque”. My account number being there and apart from that I have been also submitted the Front page of My Pass book. When i went through the PF Online portal the reason of rejection was not Cheque.Even I have been writing the email twice but never received any reply from management side.What is the procedure to get amount and file RTI against employer so that they will never cheat the another employee. EPF one of the wrost scheme ever formed by Inidan govt. This fucking scheme has no benefits. Because its universal account and we are paid some amount every month from our own earning. And at the time of withdraw it we are going here and there and not able to get the balance. If the amout is our and account is our then whats the role of govt and employer in it. I just hate indian system one of the wrost system som,e time it feel me guit that why i am an indian.
Hi Chander, We are truly sorry to hear that. You can directly go the EPFO office and fill the forms required. Also, if you have Aadhaar and you have linked it with your UAN, you can go online, download the EPF withdrawal form and fill it, then fill Form 19, and submit these along with the necessary documents at your regional EPF office. If you don’t have Aadhaar, you can follow the same process as mentioned before, but you will have to get the EPF withdrawal form attested by a gazetted officer or the like. Good luck! Cheers, Team BankBazaar
I was working with a company 4 yrs back, the owner wind up the company and removed all his employees.Now when I tried to withdraw my PF, my application got rejected. Reason owner signature not matching, however I ve given reason as company closer and got the form signed by SBI branch manager.
The company is still showing active as per PF office.
So how should I withdraw my hard earned money. Please guide.
Hi Shipra,
We are sorry about your predicament. Is there anyway you can reach out to the proprietor of your previous company to sort out the mismatched signature?
All the best.
Cheers,
Team BankBazaar
hope all information that you have written above is correct?? because i am trying from withdraw online there are showing some options in dropdown for withdraw reasons such as illness and all and i checked for that reasons we dont get full PF amount in those cases and even employer approval is mandatory….. Please help on this …..
Hi Mahesh Vilas Rasal,
You need to fill the withdrawal form and go to the nearest EPF office. The entire process, unfortunately, cannot be done online as of now.
Cheers,
Team BankBazaar
HOW TO GET UAN, I HAVE DOWNLOADED PF BALANCE , AND HOW TO WITHDRAW PF MONEY FROM PF OFFICE ONLINE WITHOUT EMPLOYER SIGNATURE ONLINE WHETHER IT IS POSSIBLE TO WITHDRAW WITHOUT EMPLOYERS APPROVAL ONLINE
Hi B THIPPESWAMY,
Thank you for reaching out to us. You can withdraw your EPF without your employer’s signature. For this, you need to visit your regional EPF office.
Cheers,
TeamBankBazaar
HI… I WAS EMPLOYEE OF A COMPANY WHICH HAS CLOSED BEFORE TWO MONTH, I WORKED THERE 2 YEARS 2 MONTH AND NOW I WANT TO WITHDRAW MY PF TOTAL AMOUNT, CAN I ? OR CAN IT TRANSFER IN OTHER COMPANY’S PF ACCOUNT, I HAVE JOINED? WHAT IS PROFITABLE FOR ME WITHDRAW OR TRANSFER THE PF AMOUNT?
Hi NITU SINGH
Sorry to hear about your predicament. Here’s what you can do. Head over to the EPFO (Employee’s Provident Fund Organisation) directly and try and get your money without getting your EPF form attested by your employer. Check out the link for more information.
Cheers,
Team BankBazaar
Hi… Employer is not approving KYC details, I am trying from last 2 years. How to draw the amount?
Hi Saritha,
We suggest lodging a complaint on the EPFO grievance portal for this. You should be able to get your employer to take your request seriously after this.
Cheers,
Team BankBazaar
Hi,
My previous company is closed and adhaar is approved by that company but kYC do change in bank account was not approved by previous company and the company shut. Now all my funds are transferred in current company passbook but I am not able to withdraw because when I select the ” Online services> claim(form 15, 9) ” it is my kyc is pending and im unable to apply online or even I cant get the form online. I called PF department so many times but no one is answering the calls. I am trying to withdraw my funds from past 10 months. How can I withdraw the money ?
Hi Harleen,
We’re sorry to hear this. Given the circumstances, we’ll advise you to lodge a grievance in the EPF grievance portal.
Cheers,
Team BankBazaar
The company is closed years back i tried to contact but no responce, they have not updated my kyc and i my self had tried to do online last time still its asking aproval of employer status pending at employer is showing since months now, what should i do. ?
Hi Amit,
We’re sorry to hear this. Given the circumstances, we’ll advise you to lodge a grievance in the EPF grievance portal.
Cheers,
Team BankBazaar
How can i withdraw from inoperative pf account offline
Hi Anu,
To reactivate a dormant PPF account, you have to visit the bank branch or post office where your account is held, and submit a written request. For each financial year that your account has been dormant, a penalty of ₹ 50 is levied, which must be paid to initiate the reactivation process. Thereafter, you will need to file a claim form by visiting the EPFO website or the local EPFO office to be able to withdraw funds from your PF account.
Cheers,
Team BankBazaar
WHEN I ASKED MY EMPLOYER TO MAKE DONE MY KYC (PAN, ADHAR, BANK ACC. NO.) THEY READY TO LINK MY ADHAR AND PAN BUT NOT FOR BANK DETAILS , I ASKED THEM BUT THEY DIDNT GAVE ME SATISFIED ANS.
WHAT TO DO??? ITS AGAINST THE LAW.
Hi Swapnil,
You can lodge a complaint with the EPF grievance portal to get this redressed.
Cheers,
Team BankBazaar
This is the first time I am writing to need help.
applied 3 times for my withdrawal but always it’s say PDF file for cheque is not found..
Then again I applied but now it shows Bank details is digitally not approved by employer.
When contact to my employer they says claim will not go forward without approval.
Now I am in situation what to do to get my money.
Please suggest
Hi Shaikh,
Please attach a proper scan of your cheque if possible. If the problem persists, please file a complaint on the EPF grievance portal.
Cheers,
Team BankBazaar
Hi.
How can i edit my personal details without my ex employers approval. As the company made a mistake in my name in pf account compared to aadhar.
I applied for change in my name and provided my adhar details but the status of application shows approval pending from employer.
They are not responding to my request also how can I solve this issue. How can my kvc b done without employer s approval..
Hi Agnel,
You can lodge a grievance with the EPF grievance portal to get this issue addressed.
Cheers,
Team BankBazaar
Hello Team BankBazaar
I have to withdrawal the my old Company PF , when I left the company on that time my PF passbook is not updated and company also not deposit the PF amount on my account so I haven’t withdrawal that amount , now i have checked my passbook is updated so now i have to withdrawal the amount but my previous employer is not existing.
In this case how i can withdrawal or transfer the amount to other PF account.
And in my wife PF account i have to update KYC ,how I can update the KYC because previous employer is not existing.
Regards
Bhushan
Hi Bhushan,
Please write to your previous employer asking them to clear your dues at the earliest. Else, you can raise a complaint on the EPF grievance portal quoting your previous employer’s PF number.
Cheers,
Team BankBazaar
Hi Khalid,
You can check with your present organisation to check if they can help you with this issue.
Cheers,
Team BankBazaar