Struggling with PF Withdrawal from a Trust: How Can I Access My Full Amount?

Dear sir, My previous company has a PF trust. I resigned in Aug-14. After two months, I filled out a PF transfer form and sent it by courier to the company's PF trust with the necessary documents from my current company. The responsible PF trust's executive replied that he had not received the transfer form and instructed me to resend the necessary documents from my current company along with another original form. However, my current company refused to resend another PF transfer form. I then sent copies of the related documents twice, but they were still not received by the PF trust. The PF executive reiterated the need to send the original form, stating that the transfer could not be completed without it. This process repeated thrice, but due to the unavailability of the original transfer form, the transfer could not be completed as per their requirements. Subsequently, I filled out a withdrawal form after verifying with the HR executive and sent a hard copy in DEC-16.

When I inquired in Feb-17 why the withdrawal had not been completed yet, another HR employee replied that I needed to submit a copy of my PAN card, Aadhaar card, and a canceled check copy to him. I promptly sent the required hard copies.

PF Withdrawal Process

My question pertains to the information that the PF withdrawal process will take approximately one year, and withdrawals can be made partially 2-3 times. It seems that the entire amount of PF cannot be withdrawn at once due to changes in government PF withdrawal rules. My tenure at the previous company was from Jan-12 to Aug-14. Kindly guide me on how to withdraw the full amount from the PF trust.

Thank you,
Sawban.

Dear Sawban,

I understand your concern about the PF withdrawal issues you're facing with your previous employer's PF trust. Here's what you can do:

1. ✉️ Contact your Previous Employer: Reach out to your previous employer and discuss the situation with them. They should be able to guide you on the procedures they have in place.

2. 📭 Check the Status of your PF Claim Online: You can check the status of your PF claim online through the EPFO portal (https://www.epfindia.gov.in). You will need to provide your Universal Account Number (UAN), which your employer should have given you.

3. 🔲 Resend Necessary Documents: If your previous employer still insists they have not received the documents, you may need to resend them. This includes the PF withdrawal form along with copies of your PAN card, Aadhaar card, and a canceled check.

4. 🧾 Directly Contact the PF Trust: If your previous employer is unresponsive or unhelpful, you can directly contact the PF trust. They should be able to assist you with the withdrawal process.

5. ☑️ Complete the KYC: If you have not done so already, complete your KYC (Know Your Customer) process on the EPFO portal. The KYC process requires verification of your PAN, Aadhaar, and bank account details.

6. 🆘 File a Grievance: If all else fails, you can file a grievance with the EPFO through their online grievance management system (https://epfigms.gov.in). Be sure to provide all necessary details, including your UAN and PF account number.

Remember, as per the amended rules, if you've been unemployed for a period of two months, you're eligible to withdraw the entire amount from your PF account. However, PF withdrawal has tax implications, so consult with a tax advisor before proceeding.

Please note that the above steps are based on general practices, and the actual process may vary depending on the rules and regulations of your previous employer's PF trust.

I hope this helps in resolving your issue. If you have further questions, feel free to ask.

Best, [Your Name]