Now Withdraw PF Money at ATMs Using UPI; EPFO's New Rule

Q: How much PF money can I withdraw through UPI or an ATM?

Under the EPFO 3.0 rules, members can withdraw up to 75% of their total PF corpus, including employee and employer contributions along with interest. The remaining 25% must stay in the account for retirement security.

Q: Will I need my employer's permission for a UPI withdrawal?

No. If your UAN is linked with Aadhaar and your KYC is fully updated, you can initiate the PF withdrawal directly through the BHIM app without requiring employer approval.

Q: What is the minimum service required for these new rules?

EPFO has standardised eligibility. Members can now apply for partial withdrawals after completing 12 months of service, compared to earlier rules that required 5 to 7 years for certain cases.

Q: Can I withdraw 100% of my PF balance?

Full PF withdrawal is allowed only in specific situations such as retirement after age 55, permanent disability, or continuous unemployment for 12 months.

Waiting days for your Provident Fund (PF) claim to settle is now becoming a thing of the past as the Indian government prepares to integrate UPI and ATM facilities for instant PF withdrawals.

In a revolutionary move under the EPFO 3.0 reforms, Union Labour and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has confirmed that the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is set to allow subscribers to withdraw their savings as easily as a bank transaction. The new system, expected to be fully operational by March 2026, aims to eliminate procedural delays and provide immediate liquidity to over 30 crore account holders.

PF Withdrawal Through ATM and UPI: How It Works

The government is partnering with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to bridge the gap between social security funds and digital banking. Under this new rule, your Aadhaar-linked Universal Account Number (UAN) will serve as the primary key.

BHIM App Integration: In the initial phase (expected within the next 2–3 months), subscribers can apply for advance claims directly through the BHIM app.
Instant Credit: Unlike the current auto-mode claims that take 3–4 days, UPI-based withdrawals will credit the sanctioned amount to your linked bank account within minutes or hours.
ATM Access: EPFO plans to introduce a facility where members can withdraw cash directly from ATMs using a dedicated PF card or UPI-linked QR codes.

EPFO 75 Percent Withdrawal Rule 2026

A significant highlight of the EPFO 3.0 withdrawal rules is the “75% instant access” policy. To balance immediate financial needs with long-term retirement security, the ministry has introduced a specific structure:

Partial Withdrawal: Members can withdraw up to 75% of their total PF balance (including employer and employee contributions plus interest) for immediate needs without extensive documentation.
Mandatory Retention: To ensure the 10-year service continuity required for a pension, 25% of the corpus must remain in the account. This prevents the total depletion of the retirement fund.
Unemployment Rule: If a member loses their job, they can withdraw 75% after one month. The remaining 25% can be accessed after 12 months of continued unemployment.

Simplified Withdrawal Categories Under EPFO 3.0

To make the system “paperless and hassle-free,” the government has collapsed the previous 13 complex withdrawal categories into three broad, easy-to-understand groups:

Essential Needs: Covers medical emergencies, education, and marriage. (Education claims are now allowed up to 10 times).
Housing Needs: For the purchase, construction, or renovation of a home, as well as home loan repayments.
Special Circumstances: Includes natural calamities or other unforeseen financial distress.

New Eligibility and Waiting Periods

The EPF withdrawal rules 2026 have also standardised the eligibility criteria. The minimum service period for most advance withdrawals has been fixed at 12 months, replacing the earlier staggered requirements of 5 to 7 years for certain categories.

Security Measures and Limits

While the “Withdrawal PF money through UPI” feature offers convenience, it comes with safeguards:

RBI Limits: UPI transactions will be subject to standard RBI limits (generally ₹1 lakh, but up to ₹5 lakh for medical/education purposes).
Verification: All claims filed via the BHIM app will undergo a rapid backend verification by EPFO before SBI settles the amount instantly.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Online PF Withdrawal

1. Is the PF UPI withdrawal facility available right now?

No, the facility is not live yet. Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has stated that the technical integration is underway, with a target rollout date of March 2026.

2. How much PF money can I withdraw through UPI or an ATM?

Under the new EPFO 3.0 rules, you can withdraw up to 75% of your total corpus (including both employee and employer contributions plus interest) for immediate needs. The remaining 25% must stay in your account to ensure retirement security.

3. Will I need my employer’s permission for a UPI withdrawal?

One of the main goals of this digital shift is to reduce dependency on employers. If your UAN is linked with Aadhaar and your KYC is fully updated, you will be able to initiate the withdrawal directly through the BHIM app without manual intervention from your employer.

4. What is the minimum service required for these new rules?

EPFO has standardised the eligibility. You can now access partial withdrawals after completing just 12 months (1 year) of service, whereas earlier rules required up to 5 or 7 years for specific categories.

5. Can I withdraw 100% of my PF balance?

Full withdrawal is permitted only under specific circumstances such as retirement after age 55, permanent disability, or if you remain unemployed for a continuous period of 12 months.