Need Help With Withdrawing My PF from a Previous Employer – What's the Process and Timeline?

I worked with an organization from August '11 to March '12, during which they deducted ₹1560/- from my salary and deposited it into my PF account. I am now looking to withdraw my PF amount.

Procedure for PF Withdrawal

Could you please suggest the procedure for withdrawal and let me know the time limit for the withdrawal process?

Thanks in advance,

Regards,
Yogesh Kumar Gupta

There is no time limit to withdraw the PF amount. Whenever you want, you can fill out the withdrawal forms. You will receive PF interest for up to 36 months after resigning.

So, send your Form-19 and 10C to your previous employer to be signed and updated.

Get your Form 19 & 10C duly authorized from your last employer, along with authorization from 5/10. Form 3A is not required if your employer is submitting details online every month. Please let me know if you need any further assistance.

Procedure for PF Withdrawal

It's simple. You should duly fill in Form 19 and 10C with the signature of the authorized person from your last employer from whom you wish to withdraw. I suggest transferring the PF amount to your current employer if you are currently employed elsewhere and have a PF number. This transfer will help you secure your pension after 10 years of continuous service.

Regards,
Ramesh

I need your help with the withdrawal of PF. I worked with a company for approximately 3 years, after which the company ceased operations. Now, I want to withdraw my PF. Could you please advise me on how to proceed with the withdrawal since the company is no longer operational? My PF account is in Chennai.

Thanks & Regards,
Thakur

I am providing below some copied matter which I got from one of my friends in Chennai.

Yes! You Can Withdraw Your EPF Without Employer Signature

Do you know how to withdraw your EPF without an employer's signature? Do you think it's possible at all? Is your previous employer not signing your EPF withdrawal documents? Have you left your company long ago, and now you cannot take your past employer's signatures? Or is your EPF withdrawal stuck because your employer is not supporting you or helping you in the withdrawal procedure? Or it might happen that your employer's relations with you have soured for some reason, and now they are not ready to cooperate in the EPF withdrawal procedure and are threatening you. Here are two real-life examples of this kind of situation:

Case 1: Company Which Was Shut Down and Her PF Was Stuck

Case 2: Employer Was Not Supporting the Employee for EPF Withdrawal

Now the question is, can one withdraw their EPF without the support of their past employer's signatures or support? Yes! There is a solution!

Employer Cannot Control EPF Money

Each month, the employer takes the EPF part out of your salary and, along with their contribution, deposits it into your EPF account with the EPFO organization. Once they deposit it with the EPF office, then it's just your money and no one else's. Your employer cannot control it. However, note that your employer's signatures are required on the EPF withdrawal form to certify that you are not employed with them anymore and now you can withdraw the EPF.

3 Steps to Withdraw Your EPF Without Employer Signature

Here are three steps you need to do to successfully withdraw your EPF without previous employer signatures.

Step 1

First, download and fill up Form 10C (for EPF Withdrawal) and Form 19 (for EPS withdrawal).

Step 2

Get it attested by any one of the following:

• Manager of a bank (PSU preferred)

• Any gazetted officer

• Magistrate / Post / Sub Post Master / Notary

Step 3

Write a letter addressing the regional PF commissioner, stating the reason why you have to get it attested and how you are facing issues with your employer. In case you have any proof of unsupportive behavior from your employer, better attach it. (This step is optional and not mandatory)

Step 4

If you are unemployed, you will have to make an affidavit that proves you are unemployed, get it printed on a Rs. 100 stamp paper with a notary or any gazetted officer's signature on it. If you are employed, you can transfer your EPF to your new employer.

Step 5

Send these forms to your regional EPF office and wait for a few months for some kind of action.

Step 6

Once your application is processed, the EPF withdrawal request will be honored, and you will be paid. If you still don't see any action or response, then it's time to file an RTI application to the EPF Department to find out the exact status.

Legal Action Against Your Past Employer

Note that Employee Provident Fund money is totally yours, and no matter what the situation, your past employer should be helping you in withdrawing it. It can be some issue your employer or you might have, but your employer cannot say that they will not give signatures and create issues in your EPF withdrawal.

If that's the case, it might be time to teach them a lesson.

If you are 100% sure that you are correct and it's a case of harassment, just collect all the documents that prove the harassment and then inform your regional Provident Fund officer about this. He will carry out an inquiry, contact the employer, and if he finds them guilty, there can be legal action against the company, which might even amount to imprisonment. It's the employer's duty to keep records as per the law and also maintain the terms and conditions, failing which the employer can get a notice under section 7A, which lays the guidelines for strict actions against the employer. I got this from one of the RTI-related websites.

Normally, the EPFO which maintained your EPF account should have settled the claim based on the signature of the Bank Manager since you find it difficult to get the form attested by your previous employer. They should not have sent it back to you, telling you to get the signature of the previous employer. The fact appears to be that the employer is not willing to sign the form for some reason or the other. (I presume the establishment is not closed but is still working). It is the duty of the employer to sign the settlement form. If he fails to do so, the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner (RPFC) concerned can take action against him. You can make a complaint to the RPFC pointing this out and urging him to either settle the claim as it is or to get the claim signed by the employer, and in case the employer declines to sign, to take appropriate action against him instead of harassing you by not settling the claim. Please send this complaint by registered post and keep a copy. After about a month, if no action is taken, file an application under RTI and ask what action has been taken on your complaint, people responsible for not taking action, etc. Your claim will automatically be settled.

Conclusion

It's possible to withdraw your EPF money without the help of your past employer. You just need to know the right steps and should also have the energy and motivation to follow up on the matter. Let us know what you learned from this article. Do you think this is something useful for you? From this article, did you understand properly how you can withdraw your EPF without an employer's signature?

Regards,
RAMAKANT

If you are considering taking up another job, I would suggest that you do not opt for the closure of your old PF account. Instead, you may please consider transferring your old account to the new account. If you have not yet opened a new account, you may continue with the old account in your new company. If you close your old PF account before completion of 5 years, the income received is taxable. Additionally, you will permanently lose your pension contributions. Therefore, please consider my suggestion.

Thanks & regards,

Many thanks for your guidance. I was working with this company from 2005 till 2008. Now, for the past 5 years, I am with a single employer. Can I withdraw my PF, or do I have to transfer my PF? Kindly help.

Thanks & Regards,
Thakur

Dear all, can anyone suggest if I have written a letter to my last employer to support in withdrawing PF money but have not received any reply or help? If not, can anyone advise if we can go through the court to file a case? If yes, what is the procedure to file a case against my last employer?

I have applied for a PF transfer with my previous company, and they have sent the check to the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner (EPFO No.37, Royapettah High Road, Opp. Swagat Hotel, Chennai). However, I now have a personal emergency for which I need to withdraw the amount. I am unsure whom to contact as my previous employer has already sent the check, and the new employer is saying it will take about three years for this transfer to happen.

Thanks,

Sananda.

I worked in an organization 5 years ago where I had a PF account with a significant amount in it. I left the organization and have changed companies three times since then, where I did not have a PF account. Now, please tell me, can I withdraw money from my old PF account?

Thanks

Please tell me the details to apply for my PF. Are there any documents needed? Please provide the specifics, for example, PF form, revenue stamp, canceled cheque, or anything else required.

Thank you in advance.

Hi HR Team, Two years ago, I left my previous company without obtaining clearance. Now, they are refusing to sign my PF form. Can I withdraw my PF without approval from my previous company? Please advise on the complete procedure.

Regards, Ugar Sharma [Phone Number Removed For Privacy Reasons]

Dear Sir,

I wish to resign at the age of 48 after completing 13 years of service. Could you please clarify if I am eligible to receive the full amount of PF withdrawal, and if so, what percentage will be granted? Alternatively, if I decide to withdraw from the PF before resigning, what percentage of the PF amount will I be able to access?

Thank you.

Dear Sir,

I left my previous job 1.5 years ago, but due to changes in the PF withdrawal rules in February 2016, I am unsure if I can withdraw my PF amount at this time.

Thank you.

Sir, I left my last job where I worked for 10 years, and I received my PF amount. They mentioned that I would be eligible for a pension after turning 58 years old, and I would receive a certificate for that. However, I have not received any documents from the PF office yet. Please assist me in tracking it.

I suggest transferring the PF amount to your current employer if you are engaged with another employer and have a PF number.

To withdraw your PF with employer intervention, you have to submit Forms 19, 10C, 15G with an authorized signatory and company stamp. Along with these forms, you need your PAN card copy, canceled check, and member UAN number.

Here is an article that I have referred to, which has a downloadable PF withdrawal form template that you can use. Here is the link - https://quikchex.in/withdraw-provident-fund-balance/

Respected Sir,

I am working in a Surat, Gujarat-based company from 1999 to 2003. After leaving the company, I filled out some forms to withdraw the PF money, but I didn't receive any response from the PF office or the employer.

I am currently living in West Bengal. How can I withdraw the PF amount?

Regards,
B. Chakraborty