How Can My Friend Access His Forgotten PF Account Funds During a Financial Crisis?

Hi, I am writing this for my friend. He was working in a foreign MNC in Bangalore. Two years ago, he had some personal issues due to which he had to resign from this company. He received his relieving letter and other related documents from the company. However, he completely forgot about his PF account, and now he is asking me if there is any way to retrieve the PF money from this old account. He doesn't know his PF account number with this company. He had worked for around two years in this company. Currently, he is employed in another company and has a separate PF account. Please help as my friend is currently facing a financial crisis and is in dire need of this money.

Steps to Retrieve PF Money

Ask your friend to get an application form from the book agents for the settlement of the PF amount. Have your friend fill up the form and go to his previous employer to request them to forward the application form to the PF authorities, duly filled with all the columns. Ensure that it reaches the PF Commissioner's office. Automatically, he will get the amount settled along with the contribution from the employer.

Thank you for the prompt reply. I will ask him to do so and let you know the result. Few clarifications:

Clarifications Needed

- What do you mean by 'book agents'?
- How will the employer be able to track the details of my friend? He doesn’t remember his employee ID or PF account number. I am hoping this can be done just through Name and DOB.
- Will there be any resistance from the employer's side as there is a 2-year delay in making the claim?

Regards.

I hope your friend has provided his correct name to the previous employer. In the salary details, the PF number and employee ID should be mentioned. If not, please ask the HR department to provide the PF number. Ultimately, he should submit Form 10C and Form 19 to the previous company only. Every company is required to maintain data for three years (it depends). Kindly ask him to contact the HR department of the previous company.

Regards,
Rakesh

Transferring PF Funds and Withdrawal Process

Better get the funds transferred from the Previous Employer's Record (P ER) to the Current Employer's Record (C ER) using Form 13R. Ask your P ER-HR for the PF Number by providing your father's name. Enclose an Affidavit with Forms 19 & 10C if you want to withdraw.

It seems your friend left the company due to differences, but this doesn’t affect the PF process. He can still obtain his PF Number and necessary signatures for withdrawals. Let your friend post the query for a better understanding.

As you mentioned that your friend has the relieving letter, the relieving letter should include the employee ID. The previous employer should be able to track the details with the correct name and/or employee ID and provide the PF account number.

Ask him to download Form 19 & Form 10C from the EPF website, fill them out, and then take them to the employer (along with a cancelled cheque). Request them to submit the forms to the PF commissioner's office. Once the forms are submitted, he should receive his money in his account within 30 days or less.

Regards,
Haider

Is Form 10C Required?

My friend has only worked for 2 years at the mentioned company. My understanding is that a pension will only be applicable after 5 years of service. So, why fill out Form 10C needlessly?

Seniors, please reply. It is urgent as he is in serious trouble. Please let me know if Form 10C will be required.

When an employee completes 6 months of work in the same organization, they become eligible for Pension Plan 10C. If an employee completes 10 years of PF contributions, they will be eligible for a PF Certificate. They can't withdraw PF 10C once they cross 10 years. Therefore, your friend has to submit the Pension Scheme (10C) for withdrawal.

Regards,
Rakesh Shivarudra
Team HR

You need to fill out Form 10C and Form 19 for PF withdrawal.

Yes, he needs to fill in Form 10C as he worked for 2 years. EPS can be claimed if the services are more than 6 months.

Regards,
Haider