A Provident fund works as a hedge against financial distress as it acts like a corpus for retirement. In case of financial stress, you can withdraw money from the PF corpus. If you are looking for ways to withdraw Provident Fund from the corpus, then look no further. Allow us to tell you under specific conditions, employees can claim for partial withdrawals by submitting the EPF Form 31 which is also known as Employee Provident Fund Advance Form. You can fill the EPF Form 31 online or offline totally depending on your suitability.
Table of contents
- What is Form 31 in EPF
- Circumstances Under Which Employee can Withdraw EPF Funds
- What Is The Procedure for Filling EPF Form 31?
- What Are the Points to Remember While Filing EPF Form 31?
- Documents Required For Filling EPF Form 31
- Step-By-Step Guide to Download EPF Form 31
- What Is an EPF Advance Form 31 Declaration?
- How To Check the EPF Form 31 Claim Status?
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
What is Form 31 in EPF
Form 31 is an effective and accommodating form that is used to file a claim for withdrawal of partial funds from Employees’ Provident Fund account. EPFO has brought a groundbreaking change as it helps the salaried employees to create a noteworthy corpus of funds in order to facilitate their financial requirements even after post-retirement.
In this government-backed savings option, employees contribute a monthly portion of their basic salary and to escalate its usefulness even employers contribute a certain amount of funds to this corpus. When the PF amount is pooled in by employee and employer, the government as the cherry on the top gives interest on the total provident fund amount. Isn’t it so cool?
In case, any emergency crisis ascends, an employee has all the rights to withdraw a partial amount from the saved money in their EPF account. And for this EPF Form 31 comes into the picture. Clueless about how you can withdraw money with the help of it? Fret No More! Square Yards has got you covered! To know more, keep scrolling.
Furthermore, the most important question that strikes our mind is – When can an employee withdraw EPF Funds? Right?
Circumstances Under Which Employee can Withdraw EPF Funds
Under certain circumstances, employees possess full freedom to use EPF Withdrawal Form for pulling out the partial or full amount. But there is some limitation on the withdrawal of full savings. The full amount can be pulled out only if –
- For more than 2 months or so, a person is unemployed. The authenticity of unemployment will be given by a proficient gazette officer.
- Can withdraw the full and final amount when an individual is retired.
For the withdrawal of the entire amount from the PF account, an individual should be covered under the aforementioned criteria.
If an employee desires to pull out PF funds partially, then they are obligated to suffice conditions. The below-mentioned table demonstrates the conditions, circumstances, and eligibility criteria under which an employee can make a partial withdrawal from the provident fund saving account by using EPF 31 form.
| Withdrawal Reasons | Limit of Withdrawal From EPF Account | Employment Years | Other Valuable Conditions |
| Marriage | In the case of marriage, individuals can pull out up to 50% of their contribution made towards EPF savings | 7 Years criteria | Employees can only withdraw partial funds if there is a marriage between them or their brother, sister, daughter and son. |
| Repayment of Home Loan | For repayment of home loan an individual can withdraw up to 90% from their as well as employer’s contribution | 1 Year | Can withdraw up to 90% only if the property purchased is in their name or spouse’s name or in case if have a joint ownership
Can only withdraw when an individual submits all the documents that are demanded by Employees’ Provident Fund Organization for repayment of home loan The EPF amount in a persons’ account or joint account of his/her spouse should be above ₹20,000 |
| Education | For studies, EPF members can withdraw 50% of their total contribution made towards the PF account | 7 Years | Individuals can withdraw 50% only to fund their higher studies expenses or for the education of their offspring after 10th standard |
| For the purchase of a new home or land | For purchasing the land, the PF amount up to 24 times of the monthly wages and dearness allowance can be taken out from individuals EPF saving account and for the home purchase it implies 36 times | 5 years | For a withdrawal, the criteria are the land or home should be in the name of an individual, spouse or can be in their name jointly. |
| For the intent of the home renovation | The withdrawal amount from the EPF should be 12 times of member’s monthly wages | 5 Years | Registration of home that is to be renovated should be under the employees’ name or spouse’s name |
| After employees 57 years of age and before retirement | 90% amount can be withdrawn with interest | After employees’ 57 years of age | 90% withdrawal to cover the financial expenses of an employee who has crossed the age of 57 |
Under the above-mentioned circumstances, an EPF member can use the EPF withdrawal form for making premature withdrawal either through an online or offline medium.
What Is The Procedure for Filling EPF Form 31?
Depending on the suitability and convenience, an individual can choose from two methods to extract funds from their EPF corpus account.
- An individual can either submit a physical application by downloading Form 31 from the Internet and filling it manually after getting the printout of it.
- Additionally, an individual can also fill and submit the EPF withdrawal form 31 online.
Method 1: EPF From 31 Offline Apply
An individual is required to download Form 31 online from the government’s official website. After downloading, fill the form with accurate details without making mistakes and later submit the form in the jurisdictional EPFO office only after getting it evaluated and attested from their current employer.
The details that are required to be inputted by the employee in Form 31 are –
- Phone Number
- Mention of the intent of advance withdrawal
- Mention the withdrawal amount that is required in advance
- Identity Proof Details
- Universal Account Number Details
- Mention of the monthly basic pay and in addition dearness allowance
- Mention the mode of transfer expected
- Accurate bank account and financial details
For offline submission of form, an employer is required to fill in the following details:
- Employer’s designation and signature
- They are required to mention enclosures
- Fill the certification form
For offline EPF form submissions, the EPF commissioner is required to submit the following details:
- Mention the amount that is to be reimbursed
- Mention the mode of transfer – how they will transfer money to the EPF member
- EPF commissioner’s signature is required
Method 2: EPF Form 31 Online Apply
With the introduction of an online medium for the submission of form, the process of claiming withdrawal money has become easy-peasy.
To apply and claim for fund withdrawal via the EPF portal, members should adhere to the following criteria:
- EPF Members’ Universal Account Number should be active and the registered mobile number that is linked with the PF account should be functional.
- Universal Account Number should be adequately linked to the KYC documents, PAN card, Aadhaar card, etc.
After complying with the above-mentioned conditions, EPF members are required to follow the steps that are mentioned below in order to submit their EPF withdrawal form 31 online:
- Through the official government website, sign in to the UAN Portal.
- Scrutinize whether the KYC details are accurate and updated.
- After the KYC details are verified, click on the online service tab and select EPF claim form 31.
- Subsequently, fill in the required details like service details, KYC and then on the claim screen complete the verification process.
- To proceed further, click on the accept option of a certificate of the undertaking.
- After that, proceed ahead for an online claim and click on the PF withdrawal form.
- Now, click on the ‘PF Advance Form’ option and input the details like the purpose of withdrawal, the amount required and other requisite details.
- Finally, to apply click on the submit option.
Once you have successfully applied, wait for the employer to approve your claim request.
What Are the Points to Remember While Filing EPF Form 31?
Important points that you ought to follow while filling form are:
- If you want funds in your online bank account on time, then be wary and never forget to attach a canceled cheque with EPF 31.
- If the amount for withdrawal is below ₹2,000, then as the payout alternative select money order.
- Don’t forget to submit Form 31 offline that is aptly attested by the current employer.
- Link your UAN with a PAN card, bank account, Aadhaar and mobile for submitting EPF withdrawal form 31.
- Be patient as it may take weeks for processing the disbursal of funds and EPF claims.
Documents Required For Filling EPF Form 31
| The Intent of EPF Fund Withdrawal | Authentic Documents Required |
| For buying a home | Registration and declaration certificate of property is required |
| For Medical Ailment | Attested certificate required by employer and doctor |
| For physically handicapped people | Certificate required from the doctor |
| For withdrawal before retirement | Declaration certificate by the member |
| For Marriage Purpose | You can do the declaration in Form 31 only |
Step-By-Step Guide to Download EPF Form 31
Follow the below-mentioned steps for EPF form 31 download:
- First and foremost, visit the EPFO official portal.
- Enter your UAN number to sign in to the online portal and then enter your accurate details like the password and UAN.
- After that, select the services section and then choose the option claim.
- You will be redirected to a new page where you can enter your details like PAN Card, birth date, Aadhaar Card number, name, mobile number and joining date of the company.
- After that, select the proceed for online claim option
- On the next page that you will be redirected to from that dropdown menu, click on Provident Fund Advance Form 31 option.
- Now, choose the option for which you are taking the advance and after that fill in the withdrawal amount and your residing address.
- Now, self-attest the disclosure that is visible and then check the box that says get OTP of the Aadhaar.
- Next, input the one-time password that you will receive on the Aadhaar linked mobile number and then select the validate OTP and claim form option.
Related EPF Form
| EPF Form 2 | EPF Form 15G |
| EPF Form 5 | EPF Form 19 |
| EPF Form 10D | EPF Form 20 |
| EPF Form 11 | PF Transfer Form 13 |
What Is an EPF Advance Form 31 Declaration?
The declaration is nothing but PF Advance Form 31 that an employee requires to pull out funds from an EPF account before retirement.
- Existing EPF member employees can only submit EPF claim form 31 for a particular intent such as wedding, purchase, construction of the home, repayment of home loan, education of self/sibling/child and medical emergencies.
- EPF Form works as solid proof that the withdrawal of EPF amount is only made for the above-mentioned purposes.
- This ensures that the form is appropriately filled and signed by the employee and no one else.
- It ensures that the specific section is filled by the EPFO commissioner and employer.
- Form 31 is big-time helpful as it ensures that the Employees’ Provident Fund Organization authorizes the application for the ETF claim.
- Through EPF advance form declaration, existing employees can easily apply for withdrawal of funds by opening the EPFO portal or via offline mode.
How To Check the EPF Form 31 Claim Status?
Once you submit the EPF advance form via offline or online mode, then you can scrutinize EPF Form 31 claim status through the below-mentioned steps:
- First and foremost, open the main EPFO portal through this link https://unifiedportal-emp.epfindia.gov.in/epfo/.
- After that, sign in to the portal by writing your password, captcha code and UAN.
- Subsequently, under the services tab click on the tracking claim status option.
- Next, click on the PF office location from the drop-down tab.
- Now, enter your office code and region and also the establishment code.
- In the final step, input your seven-digit account number and then submit your EPF form to check the EPF claim status under process form 31.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
What is the Form 31 in EPF?
Form 31 is well-known as EPF Advance Form, and it is basically used for filing a claim for withdrawal or acquiring prepayment from the provident fund account.
When is EPF Form 31 rejected?
The prominent reasons for the rejection of EPF Form 31 are inaccurate mention of member details, non-Updation of bank details, incomplete KYC when there is an unclear signature and cheque book copy.
How much time does it take for the withdrawal process of EPF Form 31?
The withdrawal process usually takes around 5 to 30 days to attain the PF amount in a registered bank account.
How much money can one claim via Form 31?
The amount one can claim and withdraw from the PF amount relies upon the reason for withdrawal and also on the time period of your employment.
How many times does an EPF member make a claim for Form 31?
On a non-refundable basis, you can withdraw your PF a maximum of up to 2 to 3 times, but at least there should be a gap of six months. However, for one certain reason only you can withdraw the PF.
