Unable to Withdraw EPF Amount - Query & Discussion

[the_collector]

Hi All,

I have an issue I am facing and I wanted to know what can I do for this.

I left my role at my previous company about 4 months ago.

I want to now withdraw the old pf amount however I had to complete my bank kyc for the same.

Now I went ahead and did it from my end although the status says waiting for digital signature from employer.

I reached out to my previous employer and they said they had to get some approvals from their end and are waiting on the epfo office for the same.

I raised a complaint on epfgms and the response just came that we understood the grievance and will be resolved soon.

This has been the same thing for over 2 months now.

I have sent follow up emails to the epfo email ID but not a single response.

Can you let me know what I can do? Is there anyway to complain?

Such a simple process has become so complicated.

FYI- I am doing business now and not working for another company so cannot ask them to tranfer the epfo amount.

 

[Yugi]

Sadly EPFO is the worst. You have no option but to wait. Alternatively, you can go tothe EPFO office and talk to any agent there, suddenly all the requirements vanish and you will get the money but agent will charge heavy fee.

 

[Sinatra]

@the_collector , unfortunately this is the sad state of PF office. The department has ran out of funds, and creating create every short of drama to delay the payment for few years now. the complain complaint-game can go for months, or even years. lets not go in that right now. first see if this can be resolved mutually.

Please visit your nearest office and meet the officer in-charge ( and not the reception person).
Go prepared with all the printout of mail, followups, etc. submit them in-person and get acknowledgement of submission, for your proof that you visited the office. Don't beg, but also don't show any aggression.
Ask them reason why its taking such long and get a definitive date , if possible in written. At minimum get direct email address of the officer/office not that group email, after you visit send a mail summarizing your visit.

technically they are bound to give you the money within 45 days.
Edit: withdrawal request has to be raised, after 90days of relieving day, and ensure the employer has updated last working day to PF department, before applying for withdrawal.

 

[KGSIPO]

Sadly EPFO is the worst. You have no option but to wait. Alternatively, you can go tothe EPFO office and talk to any agent there, suddenly all the requirements vanish and you will get the money but agent will charge heavy fee.

How much agent will charge. Any idea

 

[Sinatra]

How much agent will charge. Any idea

this is not at all recommended, at all.
it is like creating extra layer of frustration for ourselves.

agent might have helped like 25-30yrs back, not present day when everything is online.
Please understand - this very department don't have funds to clear dues. there is nothing any external party can do.

one can do these only:
1. request withdrawal
2. if not entertained in timely manner, Setp-2 is to file a grievance on the EPFO portal.
3. If grievance doesn't work, file RTI ( after 45 days). and officially seek the reason of delay.

 

[the_collector]

@the_collector , unfortunately this is the sad state of PF office. The department has ran out of funds, and creating create every short of drama to delay the payment for few years now. the complain complaint-game can go for months, or even years. lets not go in that right now. first see if this can be resolved mutually.

Please visit your nearest office and meet the officer in-charge ( and not the reception person).
Go prepared with all the printout of mail, followups, etc. submit them in-person and get acknowledgement of submission, for your proof that you visited the office. Don't beg, but also don't show any aggression.
Ask them reason why its taking such long and get a definitive date , if possible in written. At minimum get direct email address of the officer/office not that group email, after you visit send a mail summarizing your visit.

technically they are bound to give you the money within 45 days.
Edit: withdrawal request has to be raised, after 90days of relieving day, and ensure the employer has updated last working day to PF department, before applying for withdrawal.

This is just sad. So much effort for somthing so straight forward.

Is there any way to complain / raise another request online?

I would like to keep visiting the office as the last option tbh

 

[Sinatra]

I would like to keep visiting the office as the last option tbh

it is what it is. we cant do much. And in my lofty guess, - i don't think you have much experience dealing with Indian babus.
If you don't have any urgency & can wait for your turn to come, keep trying online, but then you are relying very much on your luck.

sooner or later a visit might be required. So why not do it now? if you are unlucky-type person -- be mentally prepared to do multiple visits. 😀

Fun aside, in my observation the officers are well-educated and are helpful. In online you are just a random PF number, visiting the office will attach the face to it, and they will try to help you as human.

 

[the_collector]

it is what it is. we cant do much. And in my lofty guess, - i don't think you have much experience dealing with Indian babus.
If you don't have any urgency & can wait for your turn to come, keep trying online, but then you are relying very much on your luck.

sooner or later a visit might be required. So why not do it now? if you are unlucky-type person -- be mentally prepared to do multiple visits. 😀

Fun aside, in my observation the officers are well-educated and are helpful. In online you are just a random PF number, visiting the office will attach the face to it, and they will try to help you as human.

Thank you! I'll try to find sometime to visit and I'll update what happens here.

Also your lofty guess is right unless we count psu banks