PF Guide — EPF Balance, Withdrawal & Transfer
PF balance कैसे चेक करें, PF withdrawal कैसे करें, job बदलने पर PF transfer — पूरी जानकारी
Everything you need to know about your Employee Provident Fund — check balance, make claims, transfer, and understand your rights.
Calculate your PF deduction and maturity amount
अपना monthly PF deduction और retirement amount निकालें
What is EPF and How Does It Work?
EPF (Employee Provident Fund) is a mandatory retirement savings scheme managed by the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), Government of India. It was established under the EPF Act 1952. Every salaried employee in an organisation with 20 or more employees must contribute to EPF.
Every month, 12% of your Basic + DA salary is deducted as your EPF contribution. Your employer contributes another 12% — but this is split between EPF (3.67%) and EPS (Employee Pension Scheme) (8.33%). The money accumulates with interest (currently 8.25% per annum) and can be withdrawn on retirement or when leaving employment.
EPF एक government-backed retirement savings scheme है। आपकी basic salary का 12% हर महीने PF account में जाता है। Employer भी 12% contribute करता है। यह पैसा EPFO के पास जमा रहता है और हर साल 8.25% ब्याज मिलता है। Retirement पर या नौकरी छोड़ने पर निकाल सकते हैं। यह पूरी तरह tax-free है (5 साल की service के बाद)।
How to Check PF Balance — 5 Ways
PF balance कैसे चेक करें — 5 आसान तरीके
1. UMANG App
- Download UMANG app (Android/iOS)
- Register with your mobile number
- Go to EPFO → For Employees
- Click "View Passbook" or "Check Balance"
- Enter UAN number and OTP
2. SMS
- Send SMS from registered mobile
- To: 7738299899
- Message: EPFOHO UAN ENG
- (replace ENG with HIN for Hindi)
- Balance sent instantly via SMS
3. Missed Call
- Give a missed call from registered mobile
- Number: 011-22901406
- Call disconnects automatically
- Receive SMS with PF balance
- UAN must be KYC-seeded
4. EPFO Portal
- Visit epfindia.gov.in
- Go to "For Employees" → Member Passbook
- Or: unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in
- Login with UAN and password
- View full passbook with contributions
5. DigiLocker
Link your DigiLocker account with UAN to automatically get EPF passbook documents. Visit digilocker.gov.in → Search for EPFO → Link your UAN to view and download official EPF documents.
UAN — Universal Account Number Explained
UAN (Universal Account Number) is a 12-digit permanent identification number assigned to every EPF member. Unlike your PF Member ID (which changes with every employer), your UAN remains the same throughout your working life. When you change jobs, your new employer simply links their PF account to your existing UAN.
Where to find UAN
On your salary slip, or ask your HR department. Also visible in Form 16 and EPF passbook.
How to activate UAN
Visit unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in → Activate UAN → Enter UAN, Aadhaar, mobile number → OTP verification.
Link Aadhaar to UAN
Mandatory for PF withdrawal. Go to UAN portal → KYC → Aadhaar → Enter details → Verify via OTP.
Update mobile number
EPFO office or employer can update mobile. You need registered mobile for SMS balance and OTP for withdrawals.
PF Withdrawal Rules — When and How to Withdraw
PF कब और कैसे निकालें — पूरे नियम
Types of PF Withdrawal
| Withdrawal Type | When Allowed | Max Amount | Tax? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Settlement | Retirement (58 yrs) or 2+ months unemployed | 100% of EPF | Tax-free if 5+ years service |
| House Purchase Advance | After 5 years service | 90% of EPF balance | No tax |
| Home Construction Advance | After 5 years service | 90% of EPF balance | No tax |
| Home Loan Repayment | After 10 years service | 90% of EPF balance | No tax |
| Medical Emergency Advance | Any time | 6 months basic+DA or EPF balance (lower) | No tax |
| Marriage / Education | After 7 years service | Up to 50% of employee contribution | No tax |
| Natural Calamity Advance | When government notifies | Up to 3 months basic salary | No tax |
How to Apply for PF Withdrawal Online
- Ensure Aadhaar-UAN linking is complete — go to UAN portal → KYC → verify Aadhaar
- Bank account must be KYC-verified — bank account should be approved by employer on UAN portal
- Login to EPFO Member Portal — unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in or use UMANG app
- Go to Online Services → Claim (Form-31, 19, 10C, 10D)
- Enter last 4 digits of bank account to verify and proceed
- Select claim type — PF Advance (partial), PF Final Settlement, or Pension Withdrawal
- Enter reason and upload documents if required (bank cheque copy, employer certificate)
- Submit with Aadhaar OTP verification
- Track claim status at epfindia.gov.in → For Employees → Know Your Claim Status
Transferring PF When Changing Jobs
When you change jobs, you should always transfer your PF — never withdraw it. Withdrawing PF early means losing the accumulated interest, breaking the compounding cycle, and paying tax if service is under 5 years. A PF transfer ensures your savings continue growing uninterrupted.
नौकरी बदलने पर PF withdraw न करें — transfer करें। Withdrawal से compounding टूट जाती है, 5 साल से पहले TDS कटता है, और लंबे समय में बड़ा नुकसान होता है। Transfer करने से आपका पुराना PF balance नई job के PF account में जुड़ जाता है और ब्याज मिलता रहता है।
Steps to Transfer PF Online (Form 13):
- Join new employer and get new PF Member ID (same UAN)
- Wait for new employer to approve your KYC on UAN portal (usually takes 2-4 weeks)
- Login to UAN Member Portal
- Go to Online Services → Transfer Request
- Select previous employer from dropdown (or enter PF account details)
- Choose who will attest: previous or current employer
- Submit request — employer approves online
- EPFO processes transfer — usually 15-30 days
EPS — Employee Pension Scheme Explained
EPS (Employee Pension Scheme) is a pension fund within the EPF structure. Your employer contributes 8.33% of your basic salary (up to a maximum of ₹15,000 basic) to EPS every month — this money does NOT go into your EPF balance but into a separate pension fund.
Eligibility for EPS Pension
Minimum 10 years of contributory service. Pension begins at age 58 (early at 50 with reduced amount).
EPS Pension Formula
Monthly Pension = (Pensionable Salary × Years of Service) ÷ 70. Maximum pensionable salary = ₹15,000.
Example Calculation
30 years service, ₹15,000 pensionable salary: Pension = (15,000 × 30) ÷ 70 = ₹6,428 per month.
EPS Certificate (Form 10C)
If service is less than 10 years, you can take a Scheme Certificate instead of pension — keeps service record alive.
PF से जुड़ी महत्वपूर्ण बातें जो हर employee को पता होनी चाहिए
- UAN एक बार मिलता है, जीवन भर काम आता है। इसे याद रखें और safe रखें।
- Aadhaar-UAN linking जरूरी है — बिना इसके online withdrawal नहीं होगी।
- PF passbook हर महीने update होती है — monthly contribution check करते रहें।
- नौकरी बदलने पर PF withdraw मत करें — transfer करें। ₹25,000 basic पर 30 साल की नौकरी में PF ₹1 crore से ज्यादा बन सकता है।
- PF पर 8.25% tax-free return — FD से बेहतर है यह guaranteed return।
- Dormant accounts (3 साल बिना contribution के) — account बंद नहीं होता, लेकिन interest मिलना बंद हो जाता है।
- Nominee जरूर register करें — UAN portal → Manage → e-Nomination पर nominee add करें।
Frequently Asked Questions
अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल
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