Table of Contents
How to check EPF balance + claim status (2026 — 5 official methods)
Direct answer. Open passbook.epfindia.gov.in, log in with your UAN + password, click View Passbook for the relevant PF number — your balance + employer-month-wise contributions appear. For claim status: same UAN portal → Online Services → Track Claim Status. Or give a missed call to 9966044425 from your UAN-registered mobile. EPFO's service-level agreement (SLA) is 20 working days for claim disposal.
Quick facts
| What you need | UAN (Universal Account Number) + Aadhaar-linked mobile |
| Official portal | passbook.epfindia.gov.in |
| Mobile app | Umang app (Google Play / App Store) → EPFO services |
| Missed call | 9966044425 (free, instant SMS reply) |
| SMS | EPFOHO UAN ENG to 7738299899 (English; replace ENG with HIN/MAR/etc.) |
| Claim SLA | 20 working days from submission |
| Helpline | 1800-118-005 (toll-free) · employeefeedback@epfindia.gov.in |
| Statutory base | Employees' Provident Fund Scheme 1952 + EPF & MP Act 1952 |
Step-by-step
- Get your UAN from your salary slip OR ask HR. UAN is 12 digits.
- Visit unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in and click Activate UAN (one-time, requires Aadhaar OTP).
- Log in to passbook.epfindia.gov.in with UAN + password.
- Click View Passbook for your PF account (multiple if you switched jobs). Each entry shows month, employer contribution, employee contribution, balance.
- For claim status: go back to main portal → Online Services → Track Claim Status. You see Form-19 (final settlement), Form-10C (pension withdrawal), Form-31 (advance) status.
- Download passbook PDF for records (top right of passbook view).
Real story from a citizen
What we hear from RTI Wiki users: Ramesh, a 39-year-old IT employee from Bengaluru, switched jobs in 2024 and noticed his old PF account was not transferring. His Form-13 transfer claim sat at “Under Process” for 47 days. He filed an RTI under §6 to the EPFO Regional Office Bengaluru asking (a) date of receipt of Form-13, (b) officer-in-charge, © reason for delay beyond 20-day SLA, (d) projected disposal date. Reply in 28 days revealed the file was held up by missing employer attestation. He chased his old HR; transfer completed in 11 days.
7 reasons your status may be stuck
- UAN not Aadhaar-seeded — most common; without seeding, EPFO holds claims indefinitely. Fix: log in → Manage → KYC → upload Aadhaar.
- Bank account name mismatch with EPFO records (e.g., Aadhaar has full name, bank has initials). Fix: Manage → KYC → Bank → re-upload + re-verify.
- Employer not attested Form-13/Form-19 — EPFO can't process without employer signature. Fix: chase HR; if employer is defunct, file Form-19 directly with affidavit.
- Mobile not registered with UAN — OTPs fail, claim cannot be submitted. Fix: Manage → Contact Details → update.
- Old claim is “Available for online claim” but blocked by missing exit date — employer hasn't marked your exit. Fix: ask HR to update via Employer Portal; if no response, file RTI.
- PAN not linked when claim amount > Rs. 50,000 — TDS deduction kicks in but PAN missing. Fix: link PAN under Manage → KYC.
- Wrong claim form filed — used Form-19 when Form-31 (advance) was needed. Fix: cancel + re-file correct form.
Pro tips most don't know
- Missed call to 9966044425 is the fastest way to know your latest balance — no login needed, instant SMS reply.
- Use the Umang app for Aadhaar-OTP-based claims (no employer signature needed for UAN-Aadhaar-Bank-PAN-linked accounts).
- If your old employer is uncooperative, file Form-19 with Form-19 (UAN) + cancelled cheque + Aadhaar + PAN + 1-page declaration directly with EPFO regional office. Aadhaar OTP authenticates.
- Check passbook weekly during the 1st year of a new job — many employers deposit PF irregularly; catching short-credits early is easier.
- For pension (Form-10C) after 10 years of service, you can either withdraw or convert to scheme certificate (preserves continuity) — most don't know the certificate option.
Helpline + contact
EPFO toll-free: 1800-118-005 (English/Hindi/regional) · email: employeefeedback@epfindia.gov.in · Twitter: @socialepfo · Umang app helpdesk: 1800-11-1166
If status is delayed beyond SLA — file an RTI
The official SLA on this service is published. If your status is stuck beyond it, you have a statutory right under §6 RTI Act 2005 to demand information from the public authority. Reply mandatory in 30 days.
File an RTI to: EPFO Regional PIO (your jurisdiction)
Ask these 5 questions:
- date Form-XX was received
- officer currently holding the file
- reason for delay beyond 20-day SLA
- whether KYC issues flagged
- projected disposal date
→ Use our free AI RTI Drafter to generate a complete §6(1) application in 60 seconds. The Drafter pre-fills your name, address, fee statement, and the 5 questions above.
→ Or speak it in हिन्दी / English / 9 other Indian languages via AwaazRTI.
→ For deeper case-law on this scenario: Read the full RTI guide for pension delay.
Frequently asked questions
- Q: How long does an EPF claim take? — 20 working days per EPFO SLA. In practice, fully-Aadhaar-linked claims via Umang process in 7-10 days; non-linked claims take 30-60 days.
- Q: What if my UAN is not active? — Activate at unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in with mobile OTP. If you don't know your UAN, ask HR or check any salary slip — it's 12 digits.
- Q: Can I withdraw EPF without resigning? — Yes, partial advances under specific heads — illness, education, marriage, home purchase, etc. Use Form-31 via Umang. Limits vary by reason.
- Q: Why is TDS deducted on my EPF claim? — TDS @10% (with PAN) or 30% (without PAN) applies if continuous service is < 5 years and amount > Rs. 50,000.
- Q: My pension contribution is showing zero, why? — EPS pension contribution caps at Rs. 1,250/month (8.33% of Rs. 15,000 ceiling). For higher-wage employees, employer contributes only this fixed amount unless joint option is exercised.
Summary + what to do next
To check status: use the official portal listed above with your reference number. SLA is published; if stuck beyond it, file a free RTI.
- If status is normal → wait the published SLA, then download/use your document
- If status is delayed → click 🪄 AI RTI Drafter now; complete §6 application in 60 seconds
- If status is rejected → demand reasons under §4(1)(d) RTI Act; appeal/represent
- For state-specific guidance → see state-by-state guide
All RTI Wiki tools (free, no login)
- 🪄 AI RTI Drafter — type problem, get §6 application
- 🎤 AwaazRTI — voice-to-RTI in 11 Indian languages
- 🔮 Outcome Predictor — score your draft's win-likelihood
- ⚖️ First Appeal Generator — §19(1) draft on Day 31
- 📬 PIO Reply Checker — analyse evasive replies
- 📅 Timeline Calculator — track 30-day window
- 💰 Fee Calculator — state-wise fees
- 🔍 RTI Research — AI Q&A from this site
Related on RTI Wiki
- Master guide: Full RTI for pension delay
- State-by-state: Pick your state
- Citizen RTI playbook: All 100+ scenarios
- The RTI Act 2005: Complete guide
- All status-check guides: All 25 status-check pages
Sources
- RTI Act 2005 §§6, 7, 19
- Official portal (linked in Quick Facts)
- Statute referenced in Quick Facts
Last reviewed: 25 April 2026.
