PF Balance, Withdrawal & EPFO Complete Guide

Check PF balance, withdraw money, transfer between jobs, activate UAN — all via the official EPFO portal. Step-by-step for every service.

Most salaried Indians have PF money sitting in the EPFO system they've never once logged in to check — sometimes across two or three old employers. I've met people who didn't know they had over ₹2 lakh in old PF accounts until they finally looked. The UAN system is genuinely better now, but the catch is still your employer: if they haven't updated your exit date on the portal, your withdrawal claim will sit in limbo even though you did everything right.

— Sibin O, Founder, NagrikIQ · Last verified June 2026

EPFO Member Portal →Check PF Balance →EPFO Helpdesk →UMANG App →

All EPFO Services

💰▼ Steps

Check PF Balance

🏦▼ Steps

Withdraw PF Online (Full Settlement)

📤▼ Steps

Partial PF Withdrawal

🔄▼ Steps

Transfer PF to New Employer

🔓▼ Steps

Activate UAN (First Time)

📋▼ Steps

Update KYC (Bank/Aadhaar/PAN)

PF Partial Withdrawal — Reasons & Limits

Reason	Amount Limit	Condition
Medical Treatment	6× monthly basic + DA	Self or family, hospitalisation 1+ month
Marriage / Education	50% of employee's contribution	After 7 years of membership
Home Purchase / Construction	24× monthly wages	After 5 years, house in own/spouse name
Home Loan Repayment	36× monthly wages	After 10 years of membership
Retirement (58 years)	Full balance	Attained age 58 or stopped working
Job Loss (1 month)	75% of balance	After 1 month of unemployment
Job Loss (2 months)	100% balance (full settlement)	After 2 months of unemployment

Current PF Interest Rate

8.25% p.a.

Employee Contribution

12% of Basic+DA

Employer PF Contribution

3.67% of Basic+DA

Employer EPS Contribution

8.33% of Basic+DA (salary cap ₹15,000/mo — max ₹1,250/mo)

Frequently Asked Questions

I forgot my UAN — how do I find it?

Visit unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in → 'Know Your UAN Status'. Enter your registered mobile number or Aadhaar number to retrieve your UAN. You can also find it on your salary slip or ask your HR department.

My PF withdrawal claim was rejected — why?

Common reasons: Aadhaar-bank account name mismatch, KYC not approved, exit date not updated by employer, or bank IFSC mismatch. Check the rejection reason on the portal and fix accordingly. For Aadhaar name mismatch, update your bank account to match your Aadhaar name exactly.

Can I withdraw PF while still employed?

Partial withdrawal is allowed for specific reasons (medical, marriage, education, housing) while employed. Full settlement (Form 19) is only available after leaving the job and waiting 2 months.

What is the difference between PF and EPS?

PF (Employees' Provident Fund) is the main savings component — both you and employer contribute 12% of basic salary each. EPS (Employees' Pension Scheme) is the pension component — employer's 12% is split into 3.67% to PF and 8.33% to EPS, subject to a salary cap of ₹15,000/month (maximum employer EPS contribution is ₹1,250/month regardless of actual salary). You cannot withdraw EPS until retirement (age 58) unless you have less than 10 years of service.

What happens to my PF if I don't transfer it after changing jobs?

The PF stays in your old account and continues to earn interest (currently 8.25% per annum). The account continues to earn interest even without contributions — since the 2016 EPFO amendment, dormant/inoperative accounts earn interest until the member reaches age 58. However, you should transfer your PF promptly when changing jobs to consolidate your balance and avoid tracking issues across multiple accounts.

Common PF / EPFO Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

❌ Mistake: Withdrawing PF before 5 years of continuous service

✅ Fix: Withdrawing before 5 years of continuous service makes the entire withdrawal amount taxable. If your employment was with multiple employers but continuous, the 5-year period is cumulative. Wait if you're at 4 years — the tax impact is significant.

❌ Mistake: Not activating UAN before leaving the job

✅ Fix: Your Universal Account Number (UAN) must be activated and your Aadhaar, PAN, and bank account linked before you can submit a withdrawal claim online. Do this while you're still employed — after leaving, some verifications require employer cooperation.

❌ Mistake: Withdrawing full PF when partial withdrawal is allowed

✅ Fix: EPFO allows partial withdrawals for medical emergencies, home purchase, children's education, and marriage without penalties. Withdrawing full PF terminates your provident fund history — partial withdrawal preserves it and has lower tax implications.

❌ Mistake: Not checking if employer has deposited contributions

✅ Fix: Check your PF passbook on the EPFO member portal (epfindia.gov.in) regularly. Some employers deduct PF from salary but delay depositing it — this is illegal and reduces your withdrawal amount. Complaints can be filed on the EPFO grievance portal.

❌ Mistake: Submitting Form 19 without Form 10C when applicable

✅ Fix: Form 19 covers EPF withdrawal; Form 10C covers EPS (pension) withdrawal. If you have completed 10 years of service, you are eligible for a pension — file Form 10D instead of 10C. Many people withdraw EPS when they should be claiming pension.

📞 EPFO Helpline

EPFO Toll-Free: 1800-118-005
EPFO Helpdesk (Grievances): epfigms.gov.in
SMS Balance Check: Send EPFOHO UAN ENG to 7738299899 (from Aadhaar-linked mobile)
Missed Call Balance: 011-22901406