EPFO: The importance of Provident Fund i.e. PF in the life of a working person is not hidden from anyone. Every month a part of our salary is deducted and deposited in this account, which is considered a safe capital for the future. Usually, this money becomes a support in old age after retirement, but sometimes due to needs like marriage, illness or construction of a house, we need to withdraw it before time. Trouble arises when you apply for PF withdrawal with full hopes and it gets rejected again and again by EPFO. This situation can cause mental stress for any common man. If this is happening to you too, then instead of getting disappointed, it is very important to understand the technical reasons behind it. Often our small mistakes become the major reason for claim rejection.
Are you also making these mistakes?
The biggest and most common reason for rejection of PF claim is irregularities in documents (KYC). According to EPFO rules, if Aadhaar card, PAN card and bank account details are not completely updated in your PF account, then your claim will not be approved.
Many times it has been seen that the bank account of the employee changes or the IFSC Code changes due to the merger of the bank, but the old code remains recorded in the PF records. If there is even a slight difference in the account number or IFSC code, the system will not accept it. Apart from this, if the ID proofs you have given are very old or blurred, then problems can also arise. In today’s time, it is mandatory to link Aadhaar number with PAN card. Even if this link is not available, your money may get stuck.
screw of form 10c
Another technical aspect of claim rejection is related to ‘Form 10C’. This form is usually filled for withdrawal of pension. Under EPFO rules, if an employee has worked in an organization for less than 6 months, his pension withdrawal claim (10C) often gets rejected.
Apart from this, sometimes the mistake is not on your part but on the part of the employer. If the company has entered your joining date or exit date incorrectly, or has left your information incomplete, then the system will not be able to verify your claim. Therefore, before making a claim, definitely check your service history.
Ignoring rejection messages can prove costly
Whenever your claim is rejected, EPFO not only writes ‘rejected’ but also gives a reason along with it. You get this information through message or portal. Often people repeat the same mistake and apply again without reading the reason. It would be wise to read that rejection message carefully, correct the shortcomings and only then apply again.
Correct and step-by-step way to withdraw money sitting at home
If all your documents are correct, you can easily withdraw money online.
- Login: First of all go to the official website of EPFO. Login there by entering your UAN number, password and captcha code.
- Online Service: After login, the option of ‘Online Services’ will appear on the home page, click on it.
- Select claim form: Here you will get the option of ‘Claim (Form-31, 19, 10C & 10D)’. Select the right form as per your requirement. (Like Form 31 for PF advance).
- Verification: After this you will have to verify by entering the last 4 digits of your bank account. Then click on ‘Proceed for Online Claim’.
- Fill in the details: Now you have to choose from the dropdown menu the reason for which you want to withdraw the money (like illness, house construction etc.) and the amount required. Also enter your current address.
- Final Submit: Finally, submit the form through Aadhaar OTP. This OTP will come on the mobile number linked to your Aadhaar.
Also read- EPFO: When will you be able to withdraw PF money from ATM, what will be the limit?