Form 31, commonly called the EPF Advance Form, serves as the means to request a partial withdrawal or advance from an individual’s Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) account. It’s important to note that EPF account holders cannot freely withdraw funds whenever they wish; specific criteria must be met for any withdrawal. Form 31 is designed explicitly for withdrawals in designated situations, such as medical treatment, housing-related expenses, loan repayments, and other specified circumstances.
Understanding the details of these criteria is crucial for those seeking to utilise Form 31 for EPF withdrawals.
This article serves as your comprehensive guide to unlocking the benefits of EPF Form 31 with professionalism and ease.
EPF withdrawal using Form 31 is subject to specific circumstances, and individuals can only withdraw their entire savings in the EPF under certain conditions, such as retirement or prolonged unemployment certified by a gazetted officer for more than 2 months.
If individuals do not meet these criteria, withdrawing the entire fund from the EPF goes against Provident Fund rules. Partial withdrawals can be made under special circumstances, and the eligibility conditions are detailed in the table below:
| Circumstance | Withdrawal Limit | Minimum Service Required | Other Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education | Up to 50% of EPF contribution | 7 years | Withdrawal for financing further studies or education of children post 10th standard. |
| Marriage | Up to 50% of EPF contribution | 7 years | Withdrawal allowed for the marriage of self, brother or sister, son or daughter. |
| Land Purchase/Construction | For land purchase: Up to 24 times monthly wages and dearness allowance. For houses: Up to 36 times monthly wages and dearness allowance. | 5 years | Property to be purchased under the individual’s name, spouse’s name, or jointly. |
| Home Renovation | Up to 12 times monthly wages | 5 years | The home to be renovated should be registered under the employee’s or spouse’s name, or jointly owned. |
| Home Loan Repayment | Up to 90% of both employee and employer contributions | 1 year | Property must be registered under the individual’s, spouse’s, or jointly owned name. Required documents for loan repayment. Account corpus must be above Rs. 20,000. |
| Before Retirement | Up to 90% of the accumulated corpus with interest | After 57 years | To cover financial expenses. |
Individuals can apply for premature withdrawal online or offline under these specified circumstances.
Form 31 serves as a crucial declaration for partial withdrawal from the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF), confirming that the withdrawal reason aligns with specified criteria. To ensure accuracy, the form necessitates the employee’s signature before submission. The employer and EPF Commissioner are also required to fill in specific details. It is essential to provide the latest and factual information in the form and include the necessary documents during submission.
Key details to be filled in Form 31 include:
Ensuring the accuracy and completeness of these details, along with the required documentation, is crucial for the smooth processing of the EPF withdrawal request.
This table provides a clear overview of the required documents for each specific purpose of Form 31 submission.
| Purpose of Form 31 Submission | Documents Required |
|---|---|
| Medical Reasons | Certificate by the employer |
To download EPF Form 31 and submit an online advance claim, follow these steps:
The provided steps guide you through the process of downloading EPF Form 31 and submitting an online advance claim. Here’s a summarised version:
With the advent of the EPF Form 31 online submission process facilitated by the Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO), withdrawing funds from EPF has become notably more straightforward. However, individuals need to ensure compliance with certain criteria before initiating the online application:
Active UAN (Universal Account Number) with a functional linked mobile number.
UAN linked to KYC documents, including Aadhaar, PAN card, and other necessary details.
Steps to Submit EPF Form 31 Online
Post-Application Steps
Checking Claim Status
This streamlined online process simplifies the withdrawal of EPF funds, offering greater convenience to individuals.
Here are the steps to check the status of your Form 31 claim:
There can be multiple reasons why your EPF Form 31 got rejected:
The online withdrawal process for PF (Provident Fund) may take approximately 5-30 days for the PF amount to be credited to your registered bank account. The duration may vary based on factors and processing system efficiency.
The withdrawal amount through Form 31 is determined by factors like the reason for withdrawal and the length of service. Rules and limits are set by the Employees' Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) and vary based on individual circumstances.
Generally, once submitted, Form 31 for PF withdrawal cannot be cancelled. In exceptional circumstances, you may contact the EPFO Regional Office for assistance or guidance.
"Under process" indicates that your claim is being reviewed and processed. Regularly monitoring the status until it's marked as "settled" helps stay informed about the progress.
Non-refundable withdrawals from your PF account can be made two to three times with a minimum six-month gap between each withdrawal. Each withdrawal must be for a different reason.
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