Can I Claim My EPF from 2004 Without Involving My Former Employer?

EPF Claim Without Employer Intervention

I didn't claim my EPF from my first employer. I left the company in 2004 and didn't make any attempt to claim or transfer my EPF account. When I found some old documents, I remembered that the EPF account was neither transferred nor withdrawn. My tenure in that company was about 4 years. Now, I heard that the company's corporate office has been shifted elsewhere. Even though I can find the company's address, my question is, can a beneficiary claim their EPF directly without employer intervention by providing necessary documents?

Kindly clarify.

Thanks in advance,

Saravanan.T

Yes, you can do so by obtaining signatures from officials such as the Bank Manager, Gazetted Officer, etc. Additionally, you need to acquire a notary statement explaining why you have not claimed these funds for all these years. You are the designated person to claim the funds.

Currently, where you are working, if you have a PF account in the present company, you can transfer the previous company's PF account to the current company's PF account.

Regards,
Murthy

You may submit Form 13, duly filled in, to your present employer, who in turn will get the accumulations transferred to your present account. It is always better to transfer to the present account than to withdraw. Attestation by the old employer is applicable only in the case of withdrawal without transfer. So, get it transferred through the present employer. Best of luck.

Would the employee be entitled to interest then?

Best wishes,
Bala

Transferring or Settling Your PF Account

If you have the details of your PF account and the name of the company, you may apply for the transfer of PF through your present employer by submitting Form 13. This process is easy.

If you are currently unemployed, you can request a settlement. After that, have the details authenticated by a Notary and send them to the Regional office of the PF where the account is maintained.

Regards,

You can directly submit your withdrawal forms to the PF office. However, I understand that the PF office contacts the ex-employer and asks for certain details. Please let me know if you need further assistance.

I had chosen my present employer for the attestation of the online PF transfer. My claim has also been approved by my present employer.

1- What happens next?
2- Will it require attestation from my previous employer?
3- Can my previous employer reject it? (All details in Form 13 are correct and the same in the database of both present and previous employers.)
4- How much time does it take to get transferred?