Inoperative EPF account

Employees contribute to Provident Fund for post retirement benefits. But when they change jobs, some open a new EPF account and do not operate their old EPF account. As a result, that account becomes inoperative after 3 years.

Data suggests that there is more than Rs 27,000 crore lying in these inoperative accounts. The interest earned on the deposits with EPFO is exempted from Income Tax. This is also acting as an incentive for leaving the amount with the EPFO.

Here is how you can claim your EPF amount from the inoperative account. Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has launched a portal namely ‘Inoperative Accounts Online Help Desk’ to assist the members to identify their inoperative accounts.

By logging onto this helpdesk, one can make a claim for the amount. First time users can go through the user manual. Given below is a step by step process of identifying your inoperative EPF account and using the Helpdesk.

Step 1: Once you click the first time user button, you will be presented with a screen where you have to describe your problem in not more than 1000 characters.

Step 2: Once you click next, you will be presented with another form where you have to enter details of your previous employer/employment. To assist you with the identification of your employer’s Establishment Code, the portal also has a search option.

Step 3: After this, you are asked to enter your personal details.

Step 4: Mobile number of the member will be verified through the PIN sent on his mobile. After the mobile verification, an SMS would be sent to the member communicating his/her reference ID for future reference.

After submitting these details, the EPFO helpdesk will contact the individual and take it forward from there. You could also login and check the status of your issue.

Get your UAN

To ensure that these issues do not recur in future, it is advised that employees take a UAN (Universal Account Number). The UAN will act as an umbrella for the multiple Member IDs allotted to an individual by different establishments.

The idea is to link multiple Member Identification Numbers (Member Id) allotted to a single member under single Universal Account Number. This will help the member to view details of all the Member Identification Numbers (Member ID) linked to it.