Form 19

What Is Form 19? A Guide to PF Withdrawal Process

Form 19 is a formal application document used for claiming the final settlement of accumulated balance from an Employee Provident Fund (EPF) account. This document facilitates the complete withdrawal of an employee’s EPF savings, including both the employer’s and employee’s contributions along with accumulated interest.

Specifically, Form 19 serves as the official claim form for EPF members who have left their employment or retired and wish to withdraw their provident fund balance. The form is particularly applicable in situations where an individual is not transferring their PF account to a new employer but instead seeking a complete closure of the account.

Form 19 can be utilized by EPF members in various circumstances:

• After retirement upon reaching 55 years of age
• Upon retirement due to permanent and total incapacity for work resulting from physical or mental infirmity
• When opting for voluntary retirement
• When migrating from India for permanent settlement abroad or taking up employment in another country
• After being retrenched from service
• When discharged from service with compensation under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947
• After resignation, provided the member is not employed in any establishment covered under the EPF scheme

Additionally, it’s important to note that for members who have resigned or been discharged with compensation under the Industrial Disputes Act, Form 19 should be submitted only after a two-month waiting period from the date of leaving employment. Furthermore, the member must certify that they are not employed in any establishment where they maintain another PF account.

When a member is already employed in another establishment covered under the EPF Act, they should instead apply through Form 13 for the transfer of their account rather than seeking final settlement via Form 19.

The form requires several essential details from the applicant, including their PF account number, bank account information (number and IFSC code), employment joining and exit dates, PAN details, and postal address. For processing the claim, members must also submit a blank canceled cheque for bank account verification.

Form 19 is accessible in both physical and online formats. The traditional paper form is two pages long and requires proper attestation. However, the Employees Provident Fund Organization has introduced online claim submission which eliminates the need for employer attestation, thereby simplifying the process considerably.

Notably, Form 19 is distinct from other PF-related forms. It is primarily meant for those seeking final settlement of their EPF account. Members with an active Universal Account Number (UAN) can submit their withdrawal claims online, while those without a UAN must use the physical Form 19 and mention their PF account number.

For successful processing of Form 19, the employer must update the member’s exit date in the EPFO records. Without this update, the provident fund department would assume continued employment, which could hinder the withdrawal process.

When should you use Form 19 for PF final settlement?

PF Form 19 must be utilized exclusively for withdrawing the final settlement amount from an Employee Provident Fund account under specific circumstances. This withdrawal form applies primarily to employees who have left their employment or retired and wish to close their EPF account completely.

Form 19 for PF final settlement can be submitted under the following circumstances:

• Retirement upon reaching or attaining 55 years of age
• Retirement due to permanent inability to work because of mental or bodily infirmity
• Voluntary retirement from service
• Migration from India to another country for employment or permanent settlement
• Terminationof employment from current organization
• Discharge from service after receiving compensation under the Industrial Dispute Act, 1947
• Resignation, provided the individual is not employed in any factory where the EPF scheme applies

Importantly, for individuals who have resigned or been discharged with compensation under the Industrial Disputes Act, the claim form should be submitted only after a mandatory two-month waiting period from the date of leaving employment. During this period, the member must remain unemployed and must sign a certificate confirming non-employment under any establishment where they maintain another PF account.

Form 19 is not applicable for members who immediately join another organization covered under the EPF Act. In such cases, the appropriate course of action is to apply through Form 13 for transferring the PF account from the previous employer to the current one. This distinction is crucial because Form 19 initiates a complete withdrawal process, whereas Form 13 facilitates account transfer.

For online submission of PF final settlement claims through Form 19, members must meet certain service requirements. First, both the joining date and exit date must be available in the EPFO database. Second, the member must not be currently working in any establishment covered under the PF Act. Third, as mentioned earlier, the claim must be submitted at least two months after leaving the establishment.

The EPF Form 19 serves as the gateway to accessing the employee’s accumulated PF savings, which include both the employer’s contribution and the interest earned on the corpus. Unless this form is properly filled and submitted, an individual cannot withdraw their EPF corpus after leaving employment.

Before initiating the Form 19 withdrawal process, employees should ensure their mobile number is linked to their EPF account as this is mandatory for final settlement. Moreover, for online processing, members must authenticate their claim submission using an OTP sent to their UIDAI-registered mobile number, thereby giving consent for UIDAI to share e-KYC (Aadhaar) credentials with EPFO.

For offline processing of Form 19, additional requirements exist. The form must bear the employer’s signature and organizational seal. Additionally, PAN details are mandatory for claiming final settlement, regardless of whether the submission is online or offline.

It is worth noting that Form 19 only facilitates withdrawal of the EPF amount. To withdraw the Employee Pension Scheme (EPS) corpus, individuals must separately complete and submit Form 10C.

What are the prerequisites before filling Form 19?

Several key prerequisites must be fulfilled before filing Form 19 for PF withdrawal. These requirements ensure smooth processing of the final settlement claim and prevent delays in receiving your provident fund amount.

UAN activation and KYC linking

UAN activation stands as the primary requirement for filing Form 19. The Universal Account Number must be active on the EPF Member portal since it serves as the foundation for all EPFO online services. First and foremost, without an activated UAN, members cannot access the member interface necessary for online claim submission.

Along with UAN activation, proper KYC (Know Your Customer) verification is essential. The EPFO mandates that:

• Aadhaar details must be seeded in the EPFO database
• Members must have the OTP-based facility for verifying eKYC from UIDAI while submitting the claim
• The mobile number used for activating UAN must remain in working condition

For KYC verification, the mobile number linked to Aadhaar is particularly crucial as it receives the One-Time Password during the authentication process. Consequently, this mobile number must be accessible throughout the claim submission process.

In fact, providing a mobile number is not merely recommended but mandatory for final settlement processing. Subsequently, this linked mobile number will receive all notifications regarding the status of your claim.

Bank and PAN linkage

Proper financial documentation constitutes the second major prerequisite for Form 19 submission. The member’s bank account details along with the IFSC code must be seeded in the EPFO database. This information ensures that the final settlement amount is correctly transferred to the intended account.

Furthermore, Permanent Account Number (PAN) linkage is mandatory in specific cases. For PF final settlement claims where the member’s service period is less than 5 years, PAN must be seeded in the EPFO database. This requirement aligns with income tax regulations governing provident fund withdrawals before the completion of five years of continuous service.

Both bank account details and PAN must be linked directly to the UAN rather than merely being mentioned in the form. This linkage enables automated verification and expedites the processing time for Form 19 claims.

Members should verify that their bank account is active and the details provided are accurate. Even minor discrepancies in the bank account number or IFSC code can lead to rejection of the claim or delays in fund disbursement.

Exit date update by employer

The third critical prerequisite involves the employer’s role in updating the member’s employment status. The employer must update the exit date on the EPFO portal before a member can successfully apply for final settlement through Form 19.

If the employer fails to update the exit date, the EPFO will continue to consider the member as an active employee, thereby preventing the processing of Form 19 claims. In such cases, the member would only be eligible for partial withdrawal through Form 31.

The exit date update serves as official confirmation that the employment relationship has ended. The EPFO system uses this information to determine eligibility for final settlement. Without this update, the system automatically assumes continued employment, which contradicts the purpose of Form 19.

Notably, the eligibility requirements for Form 19 processing include:

• Both date of joining (DOJ) and date of exit (DOE) must be available in the system
• Current date minus date of exit must be at least two months
• For service periods less than 5 years, PAN must be available

These prerequisites ensure that only eligible members can access their PF corpus through Form 19, maintaining the integrity of the provident fund system while protecting members’ savings.

How to fill Form 19 for PF withdrawal online

The online submission process for Form 19 enables EPF members to initiate PF withdrawal claims directly through the EPFO portal without employer attestation. This digital method streamlines the final settlement process through a series of authenticated steps.

Login to EPFO portal

The first step in the online Form 19 submission process requires accessing the EPF Member portal. Members must visit the official Unified Portal. Initially, members need to enter their UAN, password, and the security captcha displayed on the screen to authenticate their identity. For successful login, the UAN must be activated and the mobile number used for UAN activation should remain in working condition. Upon successful authentication, members gain access to the full range of online services available on the portal.

Select claim form

Once logged in, members need to navigate to the claim submission section. Under the “Online Services” tab on the dashboard, select the option labeled “Claim (Form-31, 19 & 10C)”. This action redirects to a page displaying the member’s information, including name, father’s/husband’s name, date of birth, and contact details. The system automatically fetches and displays the KYC details and service information from the EPFO database. At this stage, members must verify that all pre-populated information is correct before proceeding. For the field labeled “I want to apply for,” select “Only PF Withdrawal (Form 19)” from the dropdown menu to initiate the final settlement process.

Verify bank details and submit OTP

The system then prompts for bank account verification. Members must enter the last four digits of their bank account number in the provided field and click on the “Verify” button. This verification confirms the account ownership and ensures the withdrawal amount will be credited to the correct account. After successful verification, members need to enter details such as the date of ending EPF and EPS accounts, along with the reason for leaving employment.

Next, select “Yes” for the “Certificate of Undertaking” field and click on “Proceed for Online Claim”. The system will then request address confirmation where members must enter their full postal address. After accepting the disclaimer, click on “Get Aadhaar OTP”. An OTP will be sent to the mobile number registered with Aadhaar. Enter this OTP in the appropriate field to authenticate the claim submission. Finally, click on “Validate OTP and Submit Claim Form” to complete the submission process.

Track claim status

After submission, the system generates a reference number that members should note for future tracking. The EPFO provides multiple methods to check claim status. First, members can log in to the UAN Member Portal, navigate to the “Online Services” tab, and select “Track Claim Status”. Alternatively, members can give a missed call to 9966044425 from their registered mobile number or call the 24×7 EPFO helpline at 1800 118 005.

Additionally, the UMANG mobile application offers claim tracking functionality for both iOS and Android users. Furthermore, the EPFO sends SMS alerts at two critical stages: when the claim application is received and when funds are transferred to the member’s bank account. Usually, the PF settlement process takes approximately 15-20 days for the funds to be credited to the bank account after successful claim submission.

What are the limitations of using Form 19?

Despite its utility for PF withdrawals, Form 19 comes with several important limitations that members should be aware of before initiating the claim process.

One significant constraint involves the employer’s role in the withdrawal process. EPF members can only avail of Form 19 benefits if their employer has updated the exit date on the EPFO portal. Without this update, the EPFO will continue to assume that the employee remains in service, effectively blocking the final settlement process. Under such circumstances, members can only apply for partial withdrawal through Form 10C.

The timing restrictions present another considerable limitation. According to EPFO guidelines, the claim should be submitted not before two months after leaving the establishment. Moreover, although employer attestation is no longer mandatory, members cannot update their exit date on the UAN portal without employer intervention until two months after employment termination.

PAN requirements pose additional constraints for certain members. Permanent Account Number must be seeded in the EPFO database for final settlement claims when the member’s service is less than five years. This requirement cannot be waived under any circumstances.

Form 19 is unavailable to those currently employed in establishments covered under the PF Act. Essentially, the form will not appear as an option for members who don’t meet the eligibility criteria for final settlement.

For pension withdrawal benefit claims, members face specific service requirements – total service should be more than 6 months and less than 9.5 years.

Banking limitations exist as well. Members can receive payment only into the bank account registered with EPFO and displayed under the UAN member interface. If the registered account is closed or the member wishes to use another account, online claims cannot be processed until bank details are updated through the current employer.

Additionally, members applying online must authenticate their claim submission using OTP sent to their UIDAI-registered mobile number, giving consent for UIDAI to share their e-KYC credentials with EPFO.

What is the difference between Form 19 and Form 10C?

Form 19 and Form 10C serve distinctly different purposes within the Employee Provident Fund framework, though both are essential for fund withdrawals under specific circumstances.

Purpose of each form

Form 19 primarily functions as the application for final settlement of the Provident Fund account, enabling employees to withdraw their entire accumulated EPF balance upon leaving employment. Comparatively, Form 10C is specifically designed for claiming pension benefits under the Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS), allowing eligible members to withdraw their pension fund.

Eligibility criteria

The eligibility requirements for these forms differ fundamentally. Form 19 applies to employees who resign, retire, or face termination after completing at least two months of service. In contrast, Form 10C is meant for those who have completed a minimum of 6 months but less than 10 years of service.

Beyond that, Form 10C eligibility extends to:

• Members who left employment before completing 10 years of service
• Individuals who attained 58 years of age prior to completing 10 years of service
• Members who completed 10 years of service but haven’t reached 50 years of age when filing

Documents required

Each form necessitates specific documentation. For Form 10C, applicants must submit:

• A copy of a blank or canceled cheque
• Revenue stamp of Rs.1 attached to the form
• Death certificate (for deceased member claims)
• Succession certificate (if application is made by legal heirs)

Both forms can be submitted either through physical applications or via the UAN-Member Interface online portal.

Key Takeaways

Form 19 is your gateway to withdrawing your complete EPF savings when leaving employment permanently. Here are the essential insights to navigate this process successfully:

• Form 19 enables complete EPF withdrawal after resignation, retirement, or termination – but only if you’re not joining another PF-covered organization immediately.

• Wait 2 months after leaving employment before submitting Form 19, and ensure your employer updates your exit date in EPFO records first.

• Complete UAN activation and KYC linking beforehand – your Aadhaar, PAN, and bank details must be seeded in EPFO database for smooth processing.

• Submit online through EPFO portal using OTP verification to avoid employer attestation requirements and track your claim status digitally.

• Form 19 covers only EPF withdrawal – use Form 10C separately for pension benefits if you have 6 months to 10 years of service.

• Processing takes 15-20 days once submitted with all prerequisites met, making it faster than traditional paper-based applications.

The key to successful Form 19 processing lies in preparation – ensure all your documentation is linked to your UAN before initiating the withdrawal process.

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