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EPFO Settles Record 8.31 Crore Claims in FY26, Boosts Automation

EPFO settled a record 8.31 crore claims in FY26, a 38% jump from the previous year. Over 71% of advance claims were processed automatically within three days, reducing manual intervention. Digital convenience improved with 6.68 crore members filing claims without uploading cheque leaf images. The EPFO also retained the 8.25% interest rate on EPF deposits for the second consecutive year.

Key Points: EPFO Record 8.31 Crore Claims Settled in FY26

  • Record 8.31 crore claims settled in FY26, up from 6.01 crore
  • 71.11% advance claims auto-processed within 3 days
  • 6.68 crore members filed without cheque leaf images
  • EPFO retains 8.25% interest rate for FY26
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EPFO settles record 8.31 crore claims in FY26

EPFO settles record 8.31 crore claims in FY26, up from 6.01 crore. Auto-mode processes 71% of claims. Interest rate retained at 8.25%.

"Around 71.11 per cent of advance claims were processed through the auto mode system -- where claims are settled within three days - EPFO Official Data"

New Delhi, April 29

In a major boost to ease of access and digital transformation, the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation has recorded its highest-ever claim settlements in the financial year 2025-26.

According to official data, EPFO settled 8.31 crore claims during 2025-26, a significant jump from 6.01 crore claims in FY 2024-25.

A large portion of these -- 5.51 crore claims -- were advance or partial withdrawals, indicating improved accessibility for members to use their provident fund savings for urgent financial needs.

The organisation has also strengthened its automation processes. Around 71.11 per cent of advance claims were processed through the auto mode system -- where claims are settled within three days -- up from 59.19 per cent in the previous year.

This has significantly reduced manual intervention and improved efficiency.

Digital convenience for members has seen notable improvements as 6.68 crore members filed claims without uploading cheque leaf images; 1.59 crore members linked their bank accounts without employer approval; 70.55 lakh transfer claims were auto-processed without member or employer involvement; 24.84 lakh transfer requests were initiated directly by members; and 29.34 lakh members independently corrected their profiles and accessed their PF accounts without visiting EPFO offices.

In April 2026 alone, EPFO settled 61.03 lakh claims, with nearly 74 per cent of advance claims processed automatically and 98.70 per cent of total claims settled within 20 days, reflecting faster service delivery.

Meanwhile, the EPFO in March approved an interest rate of 8.25 per cent on employees' provident fund (EPF) deposits for 2025-26, retaining the same rate for the second year in a row, according to an official statement.

The decision was taken at the 239th meeting of the Central Board of Trustees in the national capital, chaired by Union Labour and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. The meeting was attended by Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje, Secretary, Labour & Employment, Vandana Gurnani, and EPFO Chief Ramesh Krishnamurthi.

Following the CBT's decision, the proposed interest rate will be sent to the Ministry of Finance for approval. After it is formally ratified, the new rate will be credited to the accounts of over seven crore EPFO subscribers.

The interest on EPF deposits is calculated monthly but credited to the accounts of subscribers at the end of the financial year. However, accounts that remain inactive for 36 months do not earn any further interest as they are considered dormant.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Priya S
Good to see 98.70% claims settled within 20 days. But I still remember the horror stories from 5 years ago when people had to wait months. The auto-claim system is a game changer, but we need to ensure those who aren't tech-savvy still get proper support. Not everyone can navigate the online portal easily.
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Arjun K
8.25% interest rate retained for second year – not bad in this economic climate! Though I wonder how many of those 5.51 crore partial withdrawals were actually for genuine emergencies and not just people depleting their retirement savings early. We need more financial literacy about PF withdrawal pitfalls.
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Michael C
Impressive numbers! Having worked in HR in India for 7 years, I've seen the EPFO evolve massively. The 1.59 crore members linking bank accounts without employer approval is a huge leap forward in reducing paperwork. Though I do worry about data security with so much automation – hope they have robust cybersecurity in place. 🤔
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Sneha F
Happy to see the automation working, but what about crores of contract workers and gig economy employees who don't even have EPFO coverage? The system is great for those in formal employment, but we need to extend these benefits to the unorganised sector too. Otherwise it's just a pat on the back for the privileged few.
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Varun X
My claim got rejected twice because of a mismatch in my Aadhaar name and PF name. Even after the auto-claim system, some basic issues persist. Still, overall direction is positive. 24.84 lakh members initiating transfer requests directly is a big relief – earlier we had to chase employers for months for a simple transfer! 🎉

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