EPFO Latest News: For employees working in government, private, or any other organization, the Universal Account Number (UAN) has become the most important identification number today. This 12-digit number, issued by the EPFO, was implemented in 2014 to prevent employees’ PF accounts from being scattered across different companies when they change jobs. Before UAN, each company issued its own PF number, resulting in employees having multiple PF accounts.
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Even now, a large number of employees who worked before 2014 neither remember their old PF number nor is the company they worked for still operational. One such reader, Arun Kumar, asked how to find a 15-year-old PF account and withdraw the money deposited in it.
Why the UAN-based system creates problems
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Most of EPFO’s online tools are based on UAN. If an employee’s UAN has not been created or their old PF account is not linked to it, it is not possible to directly search for a 15-year-old account through the website using their name or Aadhaar number. This is why the online process is limited in the case of old accounts.
Ways to find a 15-year-old PF account
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If you remember the name of your old company or have an idea of it, you can use the Establishment Search option on the EPFO website. If the record is found using the company name or its old code, there is a possibility of accessing the PF account.
If the employee has worked in another company after 2014, their UAN may have already been created. In such a situation, you can get your UAN information from the EPFO portal’s “Know Your UAN” option based on your registered mobile number, name, date of birth, Aadhaar, or PAN.
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The most reliable method is to visit the nearest EPFO office. By carrying your Aadhaar, PAN, old company name, joining and leaving dates, or any other old document, the officials can help you find your old PF number from their records.
Additionally, you can also seek assistance by filing a complaint related to an inoperative or old PF account on the EPFO grievance system at epfigms.gov.in.
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Rules for withdrawing money from a 15-year-old PF account
According to EPFO rules, a PF account is considered active for three years after leaving a job. Even if the account becomes inoperative after this period, interest continues to accrue. Interest continues to be added until the employee reaches the age of 58 or withdraws the entire amount.
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Even if the company has closed down, the PF amount remains safe in one of the EPFO’s regional offices. After identifying the old account number, it can be linked to the UAN (Universal Account Number).
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Methods of PF withdrawal
After linking the old PF account to the UAN, money can be withdrawn through both online and offline methods. In the online process, a claim is filed on the EPFO portal, and the amount is transferred directly to the bank account. In the offline method, the form is submitted to the relevant EPFO office, and payment is made after verification.