Stuck with PF Contributions in a Closed Account: How Can We Transfer or Withdraw the Funds?

Hi everyone,

My friend left his job and withdrew all the PF money in April 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic (through the self-close option) and rejoined the same company in February 2021. Instead of opening a new PF account, the company continued to make contributions to the closed account up to December 2021.

Currently, the company's HR team is not assisting with the transfer or withdrawal of the amount paid into that closed PF account. How can we transfer or withdraw this amount, and what documents are required for submission?

What is the self-close option?

If the company is contributing to the old account, it should be presumed that the old account is still active. You can transfer the funds to any new PF account opened subsequently. Visit the member portal and use the online transfer (one member one PF option) and submit it to the previous employer. If the previous employer is not cooperating, submit it for approval by the present employer.

The self-close option means "updating the last working date through the employee login portal instead of submitting a resignation letter to the employer."

Employee Exit and PF Account Closure

That means the company had not approved the exit made by the employee, enabling the company to continue with the same UAN and PF member ID. If the employee has left the company again, let him perform the 'self-closing' process through the member portal. After that, write to EPF authorities stating that the employer is not approving the exit.