EPF Claim is Getting Rejected: Are You Making These Mistakes? The Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) is an important savings scheme for salaried people in India. It helps employees build a retirement fund by saving a small part of their salary every month, along with an equal contribution from the employer. When a person retires, resigns, or faces a financial emergency, they can claim money from their EPF account.
However, many employees face a common problem – their EPF claim gets rejected. This can be very frustrating, especially when you urgently need the money. The good news is that most rejections happen because of small mistakes that can be avoided. In this article, we will explain the common reasons for EPF claim rejection and how you can fix them.
1. Incorrect Bank Account Details
One of the main reasons for EPF claim rejection is wrong bank details. If the account number or IFSC code is incorrect, the claim cannot be processed. Even small errors like missing digits or wrong spelling of the account holder’s name can create issues.
How to avoid this mistake?
- Always double-check your bank account number and IFSC code before submitting.
- Make sure your bank account is active and linked with your Aadhaar and UAN (Universal Account Number).
- Ensure the name in the bank account matches the name registered in your EPF records.
2. Mismatch in Personal Details
Another common mistake is when personal details like name, date of birth, father’s name, or Aadhaar number do not match in the EPF database and official documents. For example, if your name is “Rohit Kumar” in Aadhaar but “Rohit K.” in EPF, your claim may get rejected.
How to avoid this mistake?
- Log in to the EPFO portal and check if your personal details match with Aadhaar, PAN, and bank records.
- If there are mistakes, raise a correction request online and get them updated before applying for a claim.
3. Not Linking Aadhaar with UAN
The EPFO has made it mandatory to link Aadhaar with UAN for smooth claim processing. If your Aadhaar is not linked or not verified, your claim may be rejected.
How to avoid this mistake?
- Go to the EPFO portal and check if Aadhaar is seeded with your UAN.
- Complete the e-KYC process by verifying Aadhaar with OTP.
- Ensure your Aadhaar details (name, date of birth, gender) are correct.
4. Employer Not Updating Exit Date
When you leave a company, your employer must update your date of exit in the EPF system. If this is not done, the system will not allow you to withdraw your PF balance. Many claims get rejected for this reason.
How to avoid this mistake?
- After leaving a job, request your employer to update your exit date in the EPF records.
- You can also check your service history on the EPFO portal to confirm if it is updated.
5. Not Meeting Eligibility Rules
EPF withdrawal is allowed only in certain cases – retirement, unemployment for more than two months, or specific needs like marriage, home purchase, or medical emergency. If you try to claim before meeting these conditions, your request may be rejected.
How to avoid this mistake?
- Understand the rules before applying. For example:
- Full withdrawal is allowed only after two months of unemployment.
- Partial withdrawal is allowed for marriage, education, home loan repayment, or medical needs.
- Apply only when you are eligible.
6. Multiple UANs Not Merged
Sometimes employees have multiple UANs if they changed jobs and their new employer created a new one. If all PF accounts are not merged under one UAN, the claim may face problems.
How to avoid this mistake?
- Check if you have more than one UAN.
- Use the EPFO portal to merge old UANs into the active one.
- Transfer your old PF balance to the current UAN before claiming.
7. Incomplete KYC
KYC (Know Your Customer) is mandatory for EPF. If your KYC is not complete (Aadhaar, PAN, and bank account not verified), the claim may be rejected.
How to avoid this mistake?
- Log in to the EPF portal and update your KYC documents.
- Get them verified by your employer.
- Make sure all documents are active and valid.
8. Incorrect Form or Wrong Details in Claim
Using the wrong form or filling incorrect details while applying for a claim is another common mistake. For example, if you use Form 19 for partial withdrawal instead of Form 31, your claim may get rejected.
How to avoid this mistake?
- Know which form you need:
- Form 19 – Final settlement.
- Form 10C – Pension withdrawal.
- Form 31 – Partial withdrawal.
- Fill all details carefully and review before submitting.
Final Words
Most EPF claim rejections happen because of avoidable errors like wrong bank details, mismatch in personal information, incomplete KYC, or not linking Aadhaar with UAN. The best way to ensure a smooth claim process is to keep your EPF account updated, check all details carefully, and follow the rules set by the EPFO.
