PF Account Holders Can Now Auto-Withdraw Rs. 5 Lakh; EPFO Increases Auto-Claim Limit

Here's some good news for salaried employees! The government has increased the automatic withdrawal limit from your Employees' Provident Fund account from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. Union Labour and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced the move.

What are the New Changes?

Earlier, EPFO allowed automatic approval of advance claims only up to Rs 1 lakh. Now, that limit has been raised to Rs 5 lakh. So if you apply online for a PF advance under eligible reasons, the money can reach your bank faster than ever before.
This means if you're facing an urgent need like a medical emergency, education expenses, or home repair, you can now get up to Rs 5 lakh from your PF account instantly, without waiting for approval.

The auto-settlement system was first started in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, to help people in urgent need. Now, with the increased limit, employees can get more financial relief when it matters the most.

EPFO Sees Big Jump in New Members

According to data released by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), EPFO saw a net addition of 19.14 lakh members in April 2025, a 31.31% increase over March 2025.

The 18-25 age group dominated new additions. In April alone, 4.89 lakh new subscribers in this age range joined EPFO, accounting for 57.67% of all new members. Most of them are first-time job seekers, showing a growing awareness among young Indians about the importance of social security. Net payroll additions for this age group reached 7.58 lakh, a 13.60% increase from March.

Female Membership Surges

Women are also joining the workforce in greater numbers. In April 2025, around 2.45 lakh new female subscribers joined EPFO, a 17.63% rise over March. Net female payroll additions stood at 3.95 lakh, which is a 35.24% jump month-on-month.

Among all Indian states, Maharashtra added the highest number of new EPFO members in April. Other strong performers included Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Telangana, each contributing more than 5% of total net additions. Also, 15.77 lakh people who had earlier exited EPFO came back and rejoined.

Step-by-Step Guide to Withdraw Your Provident Fund Online:

• Ensure your Universal Account Number (UAN) is active and linked to your Aadhaar, PAN, and bank account.
• Go to the official EPFO Member e-Sewa portal.
• Use your UAN and password to log in.
• Click on the "Online Services" tab and choose 'Claim (Form-31, 19, 10C)'.
• Confirm that your Aadhaar, bank, and PAN details are correct.
• Re-enter the last four digits of your linked bank account for verification.
• Choose the claim you wish to make: Form 19 for full withdrawal (after retirement or resignation), Form 10C for pension withdrawal, or Form 31 for partial withdrawal (medical, home loan, etc.).
• Upload a scanned copy of a cancelled cheque or bank passbook (if required).
• Submit the claim after verifying with the OTP sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile number.
• Once submitted, you can track the claim status under the "Track Claim Status" tab. The amount is usually credited within 7-15 working days.