PF Form 19 - Benefits & Limitations | How to Fill Form 19 for PF Withdrawal?

When you leave a job and want to withdraw your accumulated provident fund, you’ll encounter one of the key documents: PF Form 19 (for the final settlement of your provident fund account under the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation or EPFO).

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What is PF Form 19?

Form 19 is the claim form used under the EPF Scheme (Employees’ Provident Fund Scheme, 1952) for the final settlement of your EPF account when you resign, retire, or leave service and are not transferring your account.It allows you to withdraw the entire accumulated EPF corpus (employee + employer contributions plus interest) subject to eligibility conditions.

Benefits of Using Form 19

• It provides a clear process for final withdrawal of your EPF savings.
• If submitted online (via UAN portal with KYC completed), employer’s attestation is not required, making the process faster.
• The amount is credited directly into your bank account, making it more convenient and traceable.
• It supports both online submission (via member portal) and offline mode (filling the physical PDF).

Limitations & Things to Watch

• You are eligible for Form 19 only if you have left your job and are not continuing in another establishment covered under EPF (or you wish not to transfer). If your exit date is not recorded, you may not see the option online.
• If your employer has not updated your exit date or service end date in EPFO records, your application may be delayed or rejected because the system assumes you are still employed.
• If you submit offline, you may need to affix a revenue stamp (typically ₹1) for cheque payments and ensure all documents are correct.
• Though the process is streamlined online, errors or missing KYC/bank details can cause delays or rejection.
• The PF account will become inoperative after a certain period (e.g., 36 months) if you do nothing, interest may stop accruing.

Who Should Use Form 19 & When

Use Form 19 when:

• You have left service (resigned, retired, terminated) and do not plan to join another EPF‐covered employer (or wish to withdraw rather than transfer).
• Your Universal Account Number (UAN) is active, your KYC (bank account, Aadhaar, PAN) is updated, and your employer has updated exit/service end date.
• You want full settlement rather than a partial withdrawal. (For partial, Form 31 or composite claim is used).

How to Fill Form 19 for PF Withdrawal

Here’s a simple step-by-step guide, both for online and offline submission:

Online Submission

1. Ensure your UAN is activated, Aadhaar, PAN and bank account are linked & verified.
2. Log in to the EPFO Member Portal: unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in.
3. Under Online Services, select Claim (Form 31, 19, 10C & 10D).
4. Enter the last 4 digits of your bank account number and click “Verify”.
5. Select “Only PF Withdrawal (Form-19)” in the “I want to apply for” dropdown.
6. Provide your address, tick the disclaimer, click “Get Aadhaar OTP”, and enter the OTP received on your registered mobile.
7. Submit the form. A reference number will be generated and you can track the status. Typically, funds reach your bank account in 15–20 days, depending on verifications.

Offline Submission

1. Download Form 19 PDF from EPFO website.

2. Fill in:

   1. Member’s name, father/husband’s name
   2. Date of birth
   3. Name & address of establishment
   4. PF account number and UAN
   5. Date of joining & leaving service
   6. Reason for leaving service (e.g., retirement, termination)
   7. PAN, full postal address, bank account details (cancelled cheque copy)

3. If you opt for cheque payment, affix a revenue stamp (₹1), sign across the stamp. For electronic mode, no stamp needed online.

4. Get employer’s attestation/signature & seal if required (especially if job exit data not updated).

5. Submit to EPF Regional Office or through your employer. Ensure all details are correct.

6. Track status later via EPFO portal → “Track Claim Status”.

Key Points to Check Before Submission

• Confirm that your UAN is active and linked to your bank account, Aadhaar and PAN.
• Verify service end date/exit date is updated by your employer. If not, the form may not appear or may get rejected.
• Use correct PF account number (with region & office code) as per your EPFO records.
• Choose the correct reason for leaving service in the form.
• Keep a copy of the reference number and note the estimated timeline.
• If you left job but plan to join another EPF-covered employer soon, consider transfer instead of final withdrawal.

Summary

PF Form 19 is your gateway to withdrawing your EPF savings when you leave service and are eligible for final settlement. Submitted correctly (online or offline), it helps you receive your corpus into your bank account. While the process is simplified, ensuring KYC, service exit update, correct details and submission timing is key to avoid delays. If handled properly, you can complete the final settlement smoothly and move ahead with your finances.