Struggling with a Year-Long PF Claim Delay: What Are Employers Legally Required to Do?

I have a friend who has left his organization for over a year now, but his PF claim has not been settled. Every time he calls his erstwhile organization, the HR department says that the EPFO is in the process of being computerized, hence the delay in the settlement of the PF claim. He has also been provided two different dates by the HR department for the submission of his PF withdrawal claim on 01/03/11 and 30/05/11. He has also tried to contact the EPFO but in vain. Last time when he checked his PF claim status online, it read as follows:

1. Claim Form 19 for PF Settlement against member account no * has been settled. Payment sent through cheque no. ** dated 19.11.2011. However, he has not received the PF amount in his savings account so far.

2. Claim Form 10C for Withdrawal Benefit against member account no. * has been settled. Payment sent through cheque no. ** dated 19.11.2011. Yet, he has not received the PF amount in his savings account as of now.

3. CLAIM FORM 10C FOR WITHDRAWAL BENEFIT/SCHEME CERTIFICATE FOR MEMBER ACCOUNT NO * HAS BEEN RECEIVED ON 01.06.2011 IS UNDER PROCESS.

4. CLAIM FORM 19 FOR PF SETTLEMENT FOR MEMBER ACCOUNT NO * HAS BEEN RECEIVED ON 01.06.2011 IS UNDER PROCESS.

The reasons for the delay in the settlement of the PF claim provided by the organization are not justified as it has resulted in an inordinate delay of over one year.

I would appreciate it if anyone could share the responsibilities (as per law) of the employer related to PF settlement for an ex-employee.

Regards,
Rajat

First, take out the latest xerox copy of the Statement of Account that you have mentioned in the PF Form. Please go to the PF office in the Account Department section and ask them in which account they have deposited the cheques. Show them your statement of account as proof that the PF claim has not been settled. You can also contact the person in the PF office section to whom your company account is allotted. Hope this will help you.

Regards.

I think your company has done its work, and there is no way to blame them. The issue may be either your account is inactive, or the cheque may not have been delivered to the address you provided in the PF form. You can follow the procedure as instructed by Mr. Ganesh.

Regards,
Rajat