EPF Form 31 – What It Is, Eligibility, Filing Procedure, and Instructions

Form 31, also known as the EPF Advance Form, is generally used to file a claim for partial withdrawal or advance from the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) account. Employees cannot withdraw money from their EPF accounts as and when required. There are set criteria for any sort of withdrawal. Likewise, withdrawal using Form 31 can be done only in specific situations.

Read more to know the details on the same.

When can you use Form 31?

What does Form 31 look like?

Form 31 is a 4-page document that looks like this:

Declaration in Form 31

Form 31 can be considered as proof that the reason for partial withdrawal is well within the specified criteria. The form must be signed by the employee before submission. There are a few fields to be filled by the employer and the EPF Commissioner. You must make sure to fill up the latest and factual information in the form. Also, attach the required documents with the form while submitting.

Form 31 requires you to fill in the following information:

• Member name, father/husband’s name
• Factory/establishment name and address
• PF account number
• Basic wage and dearness allowance
• Full postal address of the member
• Mode of remittance –
  • Account payee cheque (mandatory for site/house flat purchase or construction through agency, or repayment of housing loan)
  • Electronic mode
  • Money order only in the case of a withdrawal amount less than Rs.2,000
• Signature of the member and the employer
• Advance stamped receipt (Re.1 stamp)
• A section of the page to be filled in by the employer
• A section for use in the PF Commissioner’s office

How to download Form 31?

Form 31 is available on the EPFO’s official website. Or, you can download it from here.

How to submit Form 31 offline?

Step 1: Download Form 31 as specified above.

Step 2: Fill up the relevant details in the form.

Step 3: Upon filling, contact your employer and get a certification validating your employment with them. Ask them to fill in the designation, date, and signature fields in the form. Do not miss to get the enclosures attested.

Step 4: Submit the duly filled form to the respective jurisdictional EPFO office.

Documents required to submit Form 31

How to submit Form 31 online?

Step 1: Visit the official website of EPFO https://unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in/memberinterface/.

Step 2: Log in to your account by entering the UAN, password, and captcha, and clicking on ‘Sign in’.

Step 3: Select the option ‘Form-31, 19, 10C & 10D’ under the ‘Online Services’ menu item.

Step 4: An auto-filled form will be displayed. Enter the last four digits of your bank account number and verify it.

Step 5: Click on ‘Yes’ when the ‘Certificate of Undertaking’ pop-up window asks you to agree to the terms and conditions.

Step 6: Select the ‘Proceed for Online Claim’ option and choose the ‘PF Withdrawal’ option from the dropdown menu as shown in the image below.

Step 7: Choose the ‘PF Advance Form’ and enter the details such as the purpose of withdrawal, withdrawal amount, and other relevant details.

Step 8: Click ‘Submit’ to complete the online application process.

How to check Form 31 claim status?

Step 1: Visit the official website of EPFO at https://unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in/memberinterface/.

Step 2: Log into your account by entering the UAN, password, and captcha. Click ‘Sign in’.

Step 3: Click on ‘Track Claim Status’ under the ‘Online Services’ menu item.

Step 4: Select your respective PF office location from the dropdown menu.

Step 5: The following screen displays your region code and PF office code.

Step 6: Refer to your payslip and enter the establishment code.

Step 7: Now, enter your 7-digit account number and click ‘Submit’.

Step 8: The status of your claim will be displayed on the screen.

What you should remember while submitting Form 31?

• You have to attach a cancelled cheque with the form as a mandatory step for verifying your bank account details.
• In the case of offline application, certification from the last employer is mandatory.
• Online application is possible only if the member has linked his bank account, Aadhaar, and PAN with UAN.
• It takes about a couple of weeks’ time to process the application and transfer funds.

FAQs

Why is my EPF Form 31 rejected?

The EPF Claim Form 31 may be rejected for various reasons, including:

• Previous Claim: If you have already availed the claim in the past, your application may get rejected.
• Late Submission: Failure to submit the signed claim form within 15 days of making the online claim application can lead to rejection.
• Mismatched Details: If the details you entered do not match the records maintained by the EPF office, your claim may be rejected.
• Signature Discrepancy: If your signature does not match the records maintained by your office, it can result in the rejection of your claim.

It is important to ensure that you meet the necessary requirements and provide accurate information to avoid claim rejections.

What is the processing time for EPF Form 31 EPF?

The online application for the withdrawal process of the PF (Provident Fund) may typically take approximately 5-30 days for the PF amount to be credited to your registered bank account. The exact duration may vary depending on various factors and the efficiency of the processing system.

How much amount you can claim through Form 31?

The amount you can withdraw from your PF corpus or Form 31 EPF withdrawal limit is determined by various factors, including the reason for withdrawal and the length of your service period. The specific rules and limits for withdrawal are set by the Employees' Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) and may vary based on individual circumstances.

How to cancel your EPF Form 31?

Once you have submitted Form 31 for PF withdrawal, it is generally not possible to cancel your application. However, in case of urgent situations or exceptional circumstances, you may contact the EPFO Regional Office to seek their assistance or guidance. They can provide further information and support regarding your specific case.

What does under process mean?

When the status of your application shows as "Under process," it indicates that your claim is currently being reviewed and processed by the relevant authorities. During this stage, it is important to regularly monitor the status of your claim until it is approved and marked as "settled." Keeping track of the progress will help you stay informed about the status of your claim and ensure a smooth processing of your application.

How many times can you claim Form 31?

You can make non-refundable withdrawals from your PF (Provident Fund) account two to three times, with a minimum gap of six months between each withdrawal. However, you can only make one withdrawal for a specific reason. This means that while you can withdraw from your PF account multiple times, each withdrawal must be for a different reason.

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