Claiming Provident Fund for the Working Period 2001-2004 - No Current Company Records

Can anyone provide a solution for claiming the Provident Fund that was deducted at a private limited company in Pondicherry during 2001-2004? The company paid the Provident Fund remittance late, so I couldn't claim the Provident Fund at the time of my departure. Currently, the company has no record of this. During 2001-2004, there was no Universal Account Number (UAN). How can I claim this fund?

Claiming your Provident Fund (PF) from the period of 2001-2004 when there was no Universal Account Number (UAN) can be a bit challenging, but it's not impossible. Here are the steps you can follow:

1. Contact the Company: Reach out to your previous employer and request them to provide the PF account number. This is the most crucial step as the PF account number is required to proceed further.

2. File a Complaint: If the company is unable to provide the PF account number, you can file a complaint with the regional EPFO office. You can do this online through the EPFO grievance portal https://epfigms.gov.in/.

3. Submit a Claim: Once you have the PF account number, you can submit a claim at the regional EPFO office. You will need to fill out Form 19, which is used to claim your PF.

4. Follow Up: After submitting the claim, make sure to follow up regularly with the EPFO office to check the status of your claim.

Please note that this process can take time, so patience is key. Also, remember that the EPFO office might ask for additional documents to verify your claim, so be prepared to provide them.

Remember, it's your hard-earned money and you have every right to claim it, even if it's from a period when there was no UAN. Good luck!