The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is planning to extend its auto-settlement process to include final provident fund withdrawal claims, according to reports from PTI. As reported by PTI, Central Provident Fund Commissioner Ramesh Krishnamurthi stated that the organisation will fast-track money transfer to bank accounts of applicant members through this expansion. The current auto-settlement system, which has processed more than 3.52 crore claims for amounts up to ₹5 lakh as of 25 February 2026, will now include final withdrawal claims beyond the present partial or advance withdrawals up to ₹5 lakh through auto mode.
The EPFO will also allow auto-transfer of provident fund accounts when members change employers, as reported by PTI. According to Krishnamurthi, there will be no need for forms to complete the transfer process. As reported by PTI, the body will auto-migrate accounts to the latest member account, eliminating the need for manual intervention. This represents a major shift from the previous system where job changes necessitated manual PF account transfers.
The EPFO's auto-settlement mode has demonstrated significant operational efficiency, with over 70 lakh transfer claims completed without requiring staff or employer intervention as of 25 February, according to PTI reports. The system currently operates with a three-day deadline for auto-settlement completion from the date of filing. The organisation had increased the auto-settlement threshold from ₹1 lakh to ₹5 lakh in June last year to minimize manual oversight and shorten processing windows.
The EPFO has issued a crucial security advisory emphasizing that members should never share their UAN, password, OTP, or bank details with anyone. As reported by PTI, EPFO does not ask for any confidential information from members. The organisation stresses that safety lies in precaution and urges members to keep their hard-earned money safe by maintaining strict confidentiality of their PF-related credentials.
According to PTI reports, the EPFO is looking to publish rules under the four new labour codes and is undertaking efforts to simplify, codify, standardize definitions and terms. As reported by PTI, the next set of notifications specifically pertaining to the EPFO will be published shortly. The organisation will also renotify three schemes under the new legal framework: the EPF Scheme 1952, Employees' Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme 1976, and Employees' Pension Scheme 1995. Krishnamurthi noted that major changes have not been implemented, with the focus on integrating past learnings and recent central board of trustees approved decisions.
