EPF Withdrawal via UPI to Be Available from April

In a major relief for EPF subscribers, the facility to withdraw provident fund amounts through UPI is set to be introduced from April this year. According to official sources, subscribers will be able to transfer eligible PF amounts directly to their linked bank accounts using UPI.

At present, PF withdrawals require submitting claim forms and waiting for several days. Under the new system, funds can be transferred instantly by entering the UPI PIN, significantly reducing processing time.

Only the eligible portion of the PF balance will be available for withdrawal. Subscribers can check the permissible amount through their bank accounts linked to EPF and transfer it directly. Once credited, the money can be used for UPI payments or withdrawn via ATM using a debit card.

To ensure smooth implementation, EPFO is addressing technical and software-related challenges. In recent reforms, the auto-settlement limit was increased from ₹1 lakh to ₹5 lakh, enabling faster processing within three days. Partial withdrawal rules have also been simplified by grouping them into three categories emergency needs, housing-related requirements, and special situations allowing withdrawals of up to 100 percent of the eligible balance, subject to minimum retention norms.