To withdraw funds from your Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) account, you can follow these general steps:
1. Check eligibility: Ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria for withdrawing funds from your EPF account. Generally, you can withdraw the EPF balance under the following circumstances:
1a. Retirement (attaining the age of 58 years)
1b. Unemployment for two consecutive months
1c. Migration abroad permanently
1d. In case of permanent and total disability
1e. Death (to be claimed by the nominee/legal heir)
2. Complete necessary forms: Obtain and fill out the appropriate forms required for EPF withdrawal. The specific form to be filled depends on the reason for withdrawal. The most commonly used forms are:
2a. Form 19: For final EPF settlement (retirement, resignation, or unemployment for more than two months)
2b. Form 10C: For claiming the pension amount (if applicable)
2c. Form 31: For partial EPF withdrawal (in case of specific financial needs)
3. Attach supporting documents: Along with the filled-out forms, attach the necessary supporting documents based on the reason for withdrawal. This may include:
3a. Copy of PAN card
3b. Copy of Aadhaar card
3c. Cancelled cheque (for bank account details)
3d. Copy of the passbook (first page and the page mentioning the latest contribution)
4. Submit the forms: Submit the filled-out forms and supporting documents to the concerned EPFO (Employees’ Provident Fund Organization) office. You can either do this in person or through your employer.
5. Track the status: After submitting the forms, you can track the status of your EPF withdrawal application through the EPFO portal or by contacting the EPFO office. This will help you stay updated on the progress and any further requirements, if any.
6. Receive the amount: Once the EPF withdrawal request is processed and approved, the amount will be transferred to your registered bank account. The timeline for receiving the funds may vary, but it usually takes a few weeks to process the withdrawal.
