RTI for EPFO Claim Rejection: PF, Pension, UAN and Transfer Records

Use this guide if (a) your final PF settlement (Form 19 or 31) was rejected; (b) EPS-95 pension Form 10D is stuck; © PF transfer (Form 13) on UAN merger has not happened; (d) UAN KYC seeding has been pending for months; (e) employer is not depositing your share; (f) higher-pension option is unresolved.

• EPF & MP Act 1952 and the EPF Scheme 1952, Pension Scheme 1995, EDLI Scheme 1976.
• RTI Act 2005, Sections 6, 7(1), 8(1)(j) and 10.
• EPFO Manual of Accounting Procedure and EPFO Compendium of Instructions.
• Supreme Court ruling in EPFO v Sunil Kumar B (2022), pension on higher wages framework.
• CIC orders consistently allowing members to access their own claim files.

EPFO's own Citizen's Charter promises 7 to 20 days for most claims; failure beyond that is grounds for an EPFiGMS grievance plus an RTI.

1. Identify the right PIO. PIO of the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner (RPFC) under whose jurisdiction your account is held. UAN is portable but the file lives with the office where the last contribution was received unless transferred.
2. Pin the claim. UAN, PF account number, claim ID, date submitted, employer establishment code, scheme.
3. Use EPFiGMS first. EPF integrated grievance management system at epfigms.gov.in. Many delays clear within 7 to 15 days through EPFiGMS.
4. Draft the RTI asking for scrutiny sheet, dealing assistant noting, supervisor approval, KYC trail, employer compliance log, and present file location.
5. Pay ₹10 fee through online RTI or IPO.
6. Wait 30 days then escalate.

To,
The Public Information Officer,
Regional Provident Fund Office, [Region]
[Full address]

Subject: RTI under Section 6 regarding [Form 19 / 10C / 10D / 31 / 13] claim for UAN [number], PF account [number], claim ID [number]

Sir / Madam,

I, [Full name], a citizen of India, member UAN [number], PF account [number], request the following under the RTI Act 2005. Fee of Rs. 10 paid online / by IPO.

In respect of my claim of [type] dated [DD/MM/YYYY], claim ID [number], for the establishment [name and code]:

1. Date of receipt of the claim in your office.
2. Present status and present custodian (dealing assistant, SO, RPFC).
3. Scrutiny sheet, including all observations recorded by the dealing assistant.
4. Reason recorded in writing for any rejection, deferment or query.
5. KYC seeding log for my UAN, including bank validation, Aadhaar seeding, PAN seeding and date of each.
6. Employer compliance trail: month-wise contribution received, defaults if any, and any ongoing inquiry against the employer.
7. Date and number of any communication issued to me from your office.
8. Calculation sheet for the eligible amount (final settlement / advance / pension), including TDS workings and Form 15G / 15H acceptance.
9. Date by which the claim is expected to be settled per the EPFO Citizen Charter.
10. Standard Operating Procedure for the claim type in 2026.

I invoke Section 10 (severability) and Section 6(3) (transfer to right office). I undertake to pay further fee under Section 7(3).

Yours faithfully,
[Signature, name, date]

• Not filing EPFiGMS first. EPFiGMS often fixes the issue in days at zero cost. Do it first.
• Filing with PF Head Office. Most claim files live with the regional office. The HQ is the wrong PIO.
• Forgetting employer compliance. Many rejections trace back to non-deposit by employer. Ask for the employer compliance log.
• Missing Form 10C vs 10D. 10C is for pension fund withdrawal benefit (less than 10 years); 10D is for the actual pension. Use the right form name.
• Higher-pension confusion. The 2022-2024 framework on EPS-95 higher pension has its own circulars. Quote the latest circular by reference number.

• No reply in 30 days → First Appeal under Section 19(1).
• Departmental → EPFiGMS escalation to Additional CPFC.
• CGIT (Central Government Industrial Tribunal) for some EPF disputes against employer.
• Writ in High Court for prolonged rejection despite valid claim or arbitrary denial of higher pension where eligible.

Common reasons: KYC mismatch, signature mismatch, joint declaration not received, employer not having attested, date of joining / leaving mismatch, PAN not seeded for taxable withdrawals. The RTI scrutiny sheet identifies which.

Yes. The month-wise contribution received under your UAN against the employer's establishment code is part of your record.

No, Section 8(1)(j). Ask only for your own data and aggregated employer compliance.

EPS-95 pension requires 10 years of pensionable service. With less than 10 years, only Form 10C scheme certificate or withdrawal benefit is available.

Yes, partial withdrawal under Form 31 for specified purposes (illness, education, marriage, house, COVID, unemployment). The reasons must match the rule book; ask for the rule reference if rejected.

The transfer is logged under the destination office. RTI to the destination RPFC's PIO with claim ID and source establishment.

Yes, through rtionline.gov.in.

• EPFO: epfindia.gov.in
• EPFiGMS: epfigms.gov.in
• EPF Member portal: unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in
• Ministry of Labour and Employment: labour.gov.in
• RTI Online: rtionline.gov.in

Last reviewed: 9 May 2026.

• AI RTI Drafter
• Guide hub
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• RTI for delayed pension
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• RTI for missing government file
• First Appeal procedure