Can My Friend Withdraw PF from Previous Jobs Without a UAN Transfer? How Does It Work?

Hi all,

One of my friends wants to withdraw his PF. He was working in one company from Feb 2010 to Sept 2012 and another company from Oct 2012 to Mar 2014. In both companies, he did not generate a UAN number as at that time UAN was not facilitated. Now, he is working in a company where he has generated a UAN number, but he doesn't want to transfer his previous PF contribution to the current company. So, my question is, can he withdraw his previous companies' PF amount? If yes, please explain the process.

While being in employment and while contributing to EPF, withdrawal cannot be permitted. There are a lot of advantages in opting for a transfer. PF is not a crisis fund, but a retirement fund. Please advise your friend to opt for a transfer.