FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
ON EPF ADVANCE TO FIGHT COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Q1: Who is eligible for the advance from EPF
to fight COVID-19 Pandemic?
Ans: Any member of EPF Scheme, 1952 with UAN
(Universal account number) employed in any establishment or factory covered
under EPF & MP Act, 1952.
Q2: Under which provision of the EPF Scheme, In 1952, a member is entitled to benefit?
Ans: That a new sub-para (3) has been
inserted in Paragraph 68L of the EPF Scheme, 1952 through GSR No.225(E)
published in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary), Part II- Section 3- sub
section (1) on 28.03.2020 to provide for benefit.
Q3: What is the new beneficial provision?
Ans: It is to provide for non-refundable
advance from their EPF account to EPF members, employed in factory or
establishment located in an area, which is declared to be affected by the outbreak
of epidemic or pandemic by the Appropriate Govt.
Q4: How can I know whether
establishment/factory in which I am employed is in an area declared to be
affected by the COVID-19 pandemic?
Ans: Since COVID-19 has been declared a
Pandemic by the Appropriate Government for the entire country and therefore the
employees working in establishments and factories across entire India, who are
members of the EPF Scheme, 1952, are eligible.
Q5: Is EPF member required to produce any
certificate or document for availing this advance?
Ans: No certificate or documents are to be
submitted by a member or his/her employer for availing the benefit.
Q6: How much money can I get from my EPF
account under this new provision to fight COVID-19 and do I have to refund it?
Ans: You can get non-refundable withdrawal to
the extent of the basic wages and dearness allowances for three months or up to
75% of the amount standing to your credit in the EPF account, whichever is
less.
Since withdrawal is
non-refundable, there is no requirement to refund the amount.
Q7: Please illustrate the calculation of
benefits
Ans: If the balance in member’s EPF account
as on date is Rs.50,000/- and monthly basic wage and dearness allowance is
Rs.15,000/- 75% of balance of Rs.50000/- is Rs.37,500/- & amount of three
month's wage is Rs.45000/-. So member is eligible to get Rs.37,500/- the least
of two amounts.
Q8: How can I claim this amount? Do I need
to submit a claim form to EPFO Office?
Ans: Like claim for all other types of
advances, the claim for this advance also can be filed Online if your UAN is
validated with Aadhaar and KYC of Bank account and a Mobile number is seeded
with UAN.
Q9: Where and how can I file Online Claim?
Ans: On the home page of the website-
www.epfindia.gov.in, under the TAB “COVID-19” on the top right-hand corner,
instructions for filing an online advance claim are hosted.
The process is also noted below:
a. Login to Member Interface of Unified
Portal
(https://unifiedportalmem.epfindia.gov.in/memberinterface)
b. Go to Online Services>>Claim
(Form-31,19,10C & 10D)
c. Enter last 4 digits of your Bank Account
and verify
d. Click on “Proceed for Online Claim”
e. Select PF Advance (Form 31) from the
dropdown
f. Select purpose as “Outbreak of pandemic
(COVID-19)” from the drop-down.
g. Enter amount required and Upload scanned
copy of the cheque and enter your address
h. Click on “Get Aadhaar OTP”
i. Enter the OTP received on Aadhaar linked
mobile.
j. Claim is submitted
Q10: Can I file a claim through my mobile
phone?
Ans: Yes, on your mobile phone you can
either
i) log in to
(https://unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in/memberinterface) and follow the steps.
to j as in Ans to Q9 to file claim OR
ii) Through UMANG (Unified Mobile
Application for New-age Governance) Mobile APP Home> EPFO> Employee
Centric Services> Raise Claim> Login with your UAN and OTP received on
your mobile number registered with UAN to file a claim
Q11: Can an employee working in an exempted
establishment get the advance to fight COVID-19 pandemic from PF Trust?
Ans: The “Terms and conditions of exemption”
in Para 27AA of EPF Scheme, 1952, provides that any amendment to EPF Scheme,
1952, which is more beneficial to the employees becomes applicable to exempted
establishments pending formal amendment of Trust Rules.
So, an employee of an exempted the establishment can withdraw from his PF account maintained with the PF Trust of
the establishment by making an application to the PF Trust.
