Can I Keep Contributing to My Old PF Account After Switching to a Consultant Role?

Hi, I worked in a company for 2 years. Now I have resigned and joined a new company as a consultant. As a consultant, I don't have a PF account for this job. Now I want to continue the old PF account by making some contributions every month. Is it possible, and how can I do it?

If it is possible, and I decide to withdraw money after some time, do I need to obtain a permission letter from the old company?

You can't continue PF contribution as in the present job there is no PF deduction. You can withdraw your PF amount after two months from the Date of Leaving the organization. You need to fill out Form 19 & 10 C for withdrawal and should approach the previous company for the authorized signature, as the PF account and contribution were maintained and remitted by them.

Regards,

The other similar option you have is to open a Public Provident Fund (PPF) account with any branch of SBI (State Bank of India).

Kind regards,
Dayanand L. Guddin

Since you have left the organization and the present job does not have a PF deduction provision, you cannot continue to contribute towards the old PF account. Contribution towards the PF account has to be made by the employer and deposited with the concerned authorities. In case you still want to have a PF account on your own, go for a PPF account as suggested by one of the learned writers above. When you wish to withdraw the contribution made earlier to the PF account, you will need to approach the earlier employer organization authorities to testify your identity and certify your claim.

Regards,
AK Jain
HR Personnel
NCL, CIL

You have enough time to withdraw the PF, and presently you have joined a consultancy. In the future, you may continue with the same PF number. If you wish to withdraw the PF amount, you can do so.

Thanks,
Mounesh G

If you are working in any company, you can continue your PF membership. As an individual, you cannot contribute to PF.

Regards,
D. Gurumurthy
HR & IR Consultant
Hyderabad.

I understand that from July 1, 2013, you can withdraw the PF amount by filing for it online. The signature and approval of the employer you were working with are no longer necessary. However, the employer must have filed the return of employees' leave service to show your status of having left the organization.

No, you cannot link a PPF to an EPF account. They are independent of each other.

Most people I know are happier not getting the pension and instead getting the entire money back from PF, which they can invest to get better returns. Please consider that path since continuing with PF at this point is not possible for you.