From Withdrawal To Settlement, 7 Key EPFO Changes In 2025

The Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) introduced several significant changes in 2025 aimed at improving accessibility and efficiency for its subscribers. These changes encompass various aspects of the provident fund scheme, from withdrawal processes to account management. Key updates include merging 13 partial withdrawal provisions into three categories – essential, housing, and special needs – and increasing the permissible frequency of withdrawals for education and marriage. The auto-settlement limit for claims was raised from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh to expedite claim processing and reduce manual verification. Furthermore, EPFO launched the 'Passbook Lite' facility for easy access to account details and introduced face authentication technology (FAT) via the UMANG app for simplified UAN activation, eliminating reliance on employers. The organization also removed the requirement for bank passbook copies for partial withdrawal claims and empanelled 15 additional banks for direct fund transfers, aiming for faster and more efficient contribution deposits. These changes, approved by the Central Board of Trustees headed by Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, are expected to provide a more convenient and complaint-free experience for EPF subscribers.

(Source：Outlook Money)