The Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) is an important savings scheme for salaried individuals in India. It has been designed for creating a secure retirement corpus. However, there may be times when you need partial access to your EPF savings before retirement. It may be for medical emergencies, housing, or education expenses. In such cases, EPF Form 31 allows you to withdraw or claim a part of your EPF balance. Understanding how Form 31 in EPFO (Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation) works is essential for a smooth and hassle-free withdrawal process.
What is Form 31 in EPF?
It is an application form that allows employees to make a partial withdrawal or ‘advance’ from their Provident Fund account before retirement. This withdrawal is permitted only under specific circumstances, such as medical emergencies, home construction, marriage, or education.
The EPF withdrawal Form 31 enables members to access funds from their EPF account without closing it completely. The amount you can withdraw depends on the purpose mentioned and your years of service. It is important to note that these withdrawals are treated as advances, not final settlements of your PF account.
When Can You Use Form 31?
You can use Form 31 for PF withdrawal under certain circumstances permitted by EPFO. These include:
- Medical emergencies – You can withdraw up to six times your monthly salary or your total PF balance, whichever is less.
- House Renovation – Withdraw up to 12 times your salary for renovating your house.
- Repayment of a home loan – You may withdraw up to 90% of your total PF balance to clear your home loan dues.
- Marriage or education – You can use Form 31 in PF to withdraw 50% of your contributions for your own, your children’s, or siblings’ wedding or education.
- Unemployment – If you are wondering how to withdraw EPF funds after leaving your job, note that you can withdraw 75% of your balance after one month of unemployment and the remaining 25% after two months. The process remains the same.
- Retirement/after crossing 55 – On turning 55, you can use the EPF withdrawal Form 31 to withdraw your entire corpus.
These provisions allow you to use PF Form 31 to get an advance from your saved funds and get flexible financial support during key life stages.
How to Download Form 31?
Downloading EPF Form 31 is simple and can be done through the EPFO Member Portal.
Step 1. Visit https://unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in/memberinterface/.
Step 2. Log in with your UAN (Universal Account Number) and password.
Step 3. Select ‘Online Services” → ‘Claim (Form-31, 19, 10C & 10D)’.
Step 4. Choose the withdrawal type and reason (medical, housing, marriage, etc.).
Step 5. Verify your bank details and Aadhaar-linked mobile number.
Step 6. Submit the request by validating your Aadhaar OTP.
You can also download Form 31 in PF manually from the official EPFO website and submit it offline to your regional PF office.
What Does Form 31 Include?
The Form 31 in EPFO contains the following essential details:
- Name of the EPF member and marital status
- Purpose of advance or withdrawal
- PF account number and UAN
- Monthly basic salary and Dearness Allowance (DA)
- Advance amount requested
- Bank details (account number, IFSC code, branch address)
- Full postal address and contact number
- Employer’s signature
Additionally, if the claim is related to a wedding or housing, details such as the name of the family member, event date, or property address may also be required.
These details help the authorities verify your online EPFO claim via Form 31 and process the claim in an efficient manner.
Documents Required for Form 31 Submission
When applying for PF Form 31, you must submit supporting documents based on your withdrawal reason:
Purpose
| Documents Required
|
Medical Treatment
| Doctor’s certificate and hospital bills
|
House Repair
| Proof of the same (the need for repair)
|
Repayment of Home Loan
| Housing loan declaration
|
Wedding
| Marriage invitation or certificate
|
Education
| Bonafide certificate from educational institution
|
Natural Calamity
| Certificate from local authority
|
Equipment for Physically Challenged
| Medical certificate
|
Always ensure your UAN, Aadhaar, and bank account details are correctly linked before submission to avoid delays.
Submitting Form 31 Online and Offline
Here is the procedure for submitting Form 31 online and offline:
Online Submission
You can easily submit EPF withdrawal Form 31 online through the EPFO Member e-Sewa portal:
Step 1. Visit the official website and log in with your UAN and password.
Step 2. Navigate to ‘Online Services’ and select the EPFO claim online Form 31 option.
Step 3. Verify your bank details using the last four digits of your account number.
Step 4. Enter the required amount, upload relevant documents, and submit.
Step 5. You can track your EPF claim status via Form 31 and check whether it is under process on the portal.
Offline Submission
If you prefer manual submission, follow these steps:
Step 1. Download Form 31 for PF withdrawal from the EPFO website or collect it from the nearest EPF office.
Step 2. Fill in all required fields carefully.
Step 3. Attach the necessary documents (PAN, Aadhaar, and bank proof).
Step 4. Get your employer’s signature and seal.
Step 5. Submit the completed form to your regional EPF office and obtain an acknowledgement receipt.
Additional Tips and Related Information
- The PF advance Form 31 should be used only for genuine needs. Frequent withdrawals may reduce your long-term retirement savings.
- If you are planning to delete your account completely, you can visit the EPFO portal to understand how to close your PF account. Reaching out to your employer is also recommended.
- For long-term wealth creation, you can also explore schemes like PPF (Public Provident Fund), which offers tax-free returns. You can compare EPF and PPF returns easily using a PPF calculator.
- Remember that once your claim is processed successfully, the amount is directly credited to your linked bank account.
The EPF Form 31 is an important document. It allows employees to withdraw funds for specific purposes without disturbing their long-term retirement savings. Whether you are filing Form 31 in PF online or offline, remember to be accurate with details and documentation. It will help your claim get processed smoothly.
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