EPFO restores passbook portal with strengthened security
New Delhi, July 11
The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation has restored its passbook portal after completing scheduled maintenance, allowing members to access their provident fund statements again.
The migration process aimed at enhancing processing efficiency, security and reliability of EPFO's online platform.
The portal was taken offline until June 26 for a major database consolidation and software upgrade. A notice on the site says transactions for recently processed accounting years are currently available and that records for earlier years are being migrated and they will appear within the next few days.
"This is an automated process, and no action is required from the member," a notice on the portal said.
EPFO said that even as member and employer services have been restored in phases, provident fund claims and other service requests may face delays for up to two weeks while additional verification and validation checks are completed.
The portal came back online ahead of the scheduled credit of 8.25 per cent annual interest for FY2025-26, which EPFO is expected to begin depositing into subscribers' accounts from July 15.
EPFO has also changed process of activation of Universal Account Number by members. UAN activation is no longer available through the Unified Member Portal and members must use the UMANG mobile application with Aadhaar-based Face Authentication Technology (FAT).
The newly notified Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) Scheme, 2026, introduced new provisions on partial withdrawals effective June 29.
Under the revised scheme, members of the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation must retain a minimum balance of 25 per cent of their eligible member balance in their EPF account before making any partial withdrawal. Any amount calculation for a minimum withdrawal will be done only after setting this balance aside.
The minimum balance requirement applies to both employee and employer contributions.
For example, an account with an eligible balance of Rs 1 lakh must retain Rs 25,000, leaving Rs 75,000 available for withdrawal subject to the scheme's rules.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Finally! Was stuck since last week trying to check my passbook. The UMANG app with face authentication actually works smoothly on my phone. Thank you EPFO for the upgrade! 🙏
It's good that they are improving security, but the 2-week delay in claims processing is painful. Many of us depend on EPF for emergencies. Hope they don't take too long with interest credit on July 15.
The 25% minimum balance rule seems harsh. What about people who need to withdraw for medical emergencies or marriage? EPFO should have exceptions for genuine cases. 🤔
I work in a small company and UAN activation through UMANG with Aadhaar face lock is actually easier than the old process. No more OTP issues! Good move by EPFO. ✨
As someone who transferred here from the US, this is a much-needed modernization. But the partial withdrawal rules feel restrictive compared to 401(k) flexibility. Hope India adapts more user-friendly policies soon.
Happy the portal is back! The 8.25% interest for FY2025-26 is decent but with inflation, we need more. At least they're keeping it above bank FD rates
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