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Government Services

EPFO 3.0: What Has Changed in PF Withdrawals So Far

EPFO 3.0 is rolling out in phases: new withdrawal rules and ₹5 lakh auto-settlement are live, but UPI and ATM PF withdrawal has no launch notice.

RM

Written by Rohan Mehta

Updated on 19 September 2026·6 min read

On this page8 sections
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EPFO 3.0 is being rolled out in phases. The new withdrawal rules are in force under the EPF Scheme, 2026, notified on 29 June 2026, and EPFO has moved all member records to one central system. PF withdrawal through UPI and ATMs has been tested but had no official nationwide launch date on EPFO’s websites as of 16 September 2026.

Status at a glance

Change Status on 16 September 2026
Three-category partial withdrawal rules, 25% minimum balance In force under the EPF Scheme, 2026
12-month wait for full PF withdrawal after leaving a job In force under the EPF Scheme, 2026
Auto-settlement of advance claims up to ₹5 lakh Live since June 2025
UAN activation and allotment through face authentication on UMANG Live; portal activation discontinued
Centralised member database and unified portal (CITES) Migration completed, July 2026
Automated pre-validation of claims Reported live, July 2026
PF withdrawal through UPI Testing completed (May 2026); no official launch notice
PF withdrawal at ATMs No official launch notice
Wage ceiling of ₹25,000 Proposal awaiting Cabinet approval; not notified

What EPFO 3.0 is

EPFO 3.0 is the name for EPFO’s digital overhaul. On 13 October 2025 the Central Board of Trustees (CBT) approved a “member-centric digital transformation framework” built on a core banking system with cloud-based modules. The Board said implementation would proceed in phases. The same meeting approved the withdrawal reforms that later went into the EPF Scheme, 2026.

The scheme itself replaced the EPF Scheme, 1952 under the Code on Social Security, 2020. EY India notes that it was published in the Gazette on 1 July 2026 and applies from that date.

Changes reported as live

New withdrawal rules

Rule Before Under the EPF Scheme, 2026
Grounds for partial withdrawal 13 separate provisions 3 heads: essential needs, housing, special circumstances
Minimum membership for partial withdrawal Varied by purpose 12 months for all
Amount Varied by purpose Up to 100% of the eligible balance
Minimum balance No such rule 25% of total contributions and interest
Education and marriage 3 withdrawals in total for both Education 10 times; marriage 5 times
Reason for special circumstances Had to be stated Not required
Full PF withdrawal after leaving a job After 2 months After 12 months
Final pension withdrawal After 2 months After 36 months

Special-circumstance withdrawals are capped at two a financial year, and housing withdrawals at five during membership. Our EPF and VPF guide explains how the PF and pension accounts differ.

Central database and unified portal

In July 2026 EPFO completed moving member records from regional systems to a centralised database, All India Radio reported. Members now see membership details, PF balance, claim status and pensionable service on one portal. The system also runs automated pre-validation, which checks eligibility and flags a claim for more than the permissible amount before it reaches an EPFO office.

Faster interest credit

Interest of 8.25% for FY 2025-26 was credited into nearly 34 crore accounts by 15 July 2026. More than ₹1.44 lakh crore was credited through the new system.

Face authentication for UAN

Since 1 August 2025 new UANs are generated through Aadhaar face authentication on the UMANG app. The member portal now says UAN activation through the portal has been discontinued.

Features still being rolled out

Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said in May 2026 that EPFO had “completed the testing” of PF withdrawal through the UPI payment gateway, with money going directly to the member’s bank account. He gave no launch date. On 16 September 2026, neither the EPFO website nor the member portal carried a notice of UPI or ATM withdrawal going live.

Many websites describe UPI limits, QR codes and ATM cards in detail. Treat those as unconfirmed until EPFO publishes a circular or the option appears in your own member login. Anyone asking you to pay or share an OTP to “enable UPI withdrawal” is not from EPFO, which says it never asks members for bank details or deposits over the phone.

Also pending is a proposal to raise the EPF wage ceiling from ₹15,000 to ₹25,000 a month. Business Today reported on 3 August 2026 that the Finance Ministry had cleared it and it awaited Cabinet approval, with 1 April 2027 as the expected start.

Auto-settlement: which claims qualify

ItemDetails
Claim typeadvance (partial withdrawal) claims for illness, education, marriage and housing.
Amountup to ₹5 lakh, raised from ₹1 lakh in June 2025.
Speedprocessed by the system within three days, with no manual step.
Scale2.34 crore advance claims were auto-settled in 2024-25, 59% of all advance claims that year.

The CBT said dropping documents and reasons would “pave the way for 100% auto settlement” of partial withdrawals. That is a stated aim, not a current rule. Paragraph 54 of the new scheme also lets the Board authorise payments without a claim, up to a monetary ceiling it sets. No such ceiling has been announced. Claims that are not auto-settled must still be settled within 20 days of a complete application.

What members should do now

  1. Activate your UAN through face authentication on UMANG if you have not already.
  2. Log in to the member portal and check that Aadhaar, PAN and bank details show as verified.
  3. File or update your e-nomination; the member portal says nomination is mandatory under the EPF Scheme, 2026.
  4. Open your passbook and check that every month’s contribution and the FY 2025-26 interest are there.
  5. Before planning a withdrawal, work out your eligible balance after the 25% minimum balance.
  6. Wait for an EPFO circular before relying on UPI or ATM withdrawal.

The EPF calculator shows what the retained 25% could grow to by retirement. For tax on a withdrawal made before 5 years of service, see our TDS rates chart.

Frequently asked questions

Is EPFO 3.0 live?

Partly. The new withdrawal rules, central database and auto-settlement are live. UPI and ATM withdrawal had no official launch notice as of 16 September 2026.

Can I withdraw PF through UPI now?

Not through any route EPFO has announced as live. The minister said in May 2026 that testing was complete, but no go-live date has been published.

When did the new EPF withdrawal rules start?

With the EPF Scheme, 2026, notified on 29 June 2026. EY India dates its Gazette publication and commencement to 1 July 2026.

How much PF can I withdraw under the new rules?

Up to 100% of the eligible balance after 12 months of membership, keeping 25% of your total contributions and interest in the account.

What is the auto-settlement limit for EPF claims?

₹5 lakh for advance claims for illness, education, marriage and housing, processed within three days.

Has the full withdrawal waiting period changed?

Yes. You must now be out of covered employment for 12 months, up from 2 months. The final pension withdrawal wait is 36 months.

Sources

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