The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has achieved a record settlement of over 8.3 crore claims during FY 2025-26, marking a significant increase from 60.16 crore claims settled in FY 2024-25. As per the Ministry of State for Labour and Employment's written reply to the Rajya Sabha, this represents a substantial improvement in claim processing efficiency. The government has informed Parliament that this enhanced settlement rate demonstrates EPFO's commitment to faster claim processing and improved member services.
Starting from April 2025, EPFO has completely eliminated the requirement to upload images of cancelled cheques or attested bank passbooks when filing online claims. According to the Ministry of Labour and Employment, this reform has already benefited approximately 7 crore members by simplifying the online claim process. The removal of this documentation requirement has helped eliminate claim rejections due to poor-quality or unreadable uploads and reduce grievances related to online claim processing. With bank account information now being verified through EPFO's digital systems, members no longer need to upload these documents to verify their bank account details.
EPFO subscribers can track their provident fund, pension and transfer claims through multiple channels including the EPFO member portal, UMANG mobile app, SMS and missed call services linked to their Universal Account Number (UAN). The portal displays detailed information such as claim type, tracking ID and current processing status, helping members understand the progress of their applications. Recent changes to EPFO's claim settlement process have introduced faster timelines for eligible claims, making it crucial for members to understand each status update.
When a claim shows 'Under Process' status, it indicates that EPFO officials are actively verifying the application, KYC details and supporting records before approving the claim. This status means the application is being processed and reviewed by EPFO officials for accuracy and completeness. Once the claim is approved, the status changes to 'Settled', meaning EPFO has processed the claim and initiated payment to the member's registered bank account. Under EPFO's latest reforms, eligible claims with complete KYC details may be settled within three days through the auto-settlement system, while claims requiring manual verification or additional checks can take longer.
If a claim shows 'Rejected' status, members should check the remarks section on the portal to understand the reason for rejection before submitting a fresh application. Members can raise a grievance through EPFO's grievance redressal system for further assistance if the delay continues or payment is not received after the claim is marked as settled. The Employees' Provident Funds Scheme, 2026 prescribes a 20-day deadline for settlement of provident fund, pension and insurance claims, with officials responsible for unjustified delays beyond this period facing penal interest of 12% per annum.
