Chhath Puja 2026: A Guide To EPFO, UAN, And PF Withdrawal For Workers

This Chhath Puja, there might be many salaried workers who would be looking to use their Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) savings. But a rejection of the withdrawal claim can disrupt these plans, especially when the fund is needed at short notice.

There can be several reasons for a claim rejection, such as incorrect bank account details, mismatch in personal information, or incomplete employment records. But a rejection does not mean that the worker cannot access their savings at all.

The first step is to identify the reason of rejection and take corrective measures before filing another withdrawal application.

Why EPFO May Reject A PF Withdrawal Claim

The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) uses information linked to the Universal Account Number (UAN) to check withdrawal applications. If details in the UAN profile do not match the Aadhaar, Permanent Account Number (PAN), bank account or employment records, the claim may be rejected.

 Saurabh Bansal, founder, Finatwork Investment Advisor, a Securities and Exchange Board of India-registered investment advisor (Sebi-RIA), has explained that rejection does not always mean a worker has lost the right to withdraw money.

 “A rejected PF claim should not automatically be interpreted as a loss of eligibility. In many cases, the problem is a mismatch between the member’s personal information, bank details, Aadhaar, PAN or employment records,” he said.

 He also advised workers not to submit the same application again without checking the reason for rejection. 

“Members should first identify the specific rejection or the reason displayed on the EPFO portal and correct the underlying discrepancy rather than repeatedly submitting the same claim,” Bansal added.

Check UAN, Aadhaar And Bank Account Details

After a claim is rejected, members should check whether their UAN profile, Aadhaar, PAN and bank account details are correct. They should also check their date of exit, which records when they left their previous job. 

If the mistake is related to employment records, workers should contact their employer’s HR or payroll department.

Bansal added: “Where an employer-related discrepancy exists, members should approach the employer’s HR or payroll team to resolve the issue.”

EPFiGMS Provides An Option To File Complaints

If the employer cannot be contacted or the problem is not fixed, workers can visit their concerned EPFO office for help. They can also raise a complaint through the EPF Integrated Grievance Management System (EPFiGMS), which allows members to submit complaints, upload documents and check the progress of their cases.

Bansal added: “EPFiGMS, the official EPFO grievance management portal, is another important recourse. Members can...upload supporting documents and track their grievance using the registration number.” Workers should keep the registration number for future follow-ups.

Keep Documents For Future Complaints

If the problem is still not resolved, employees can take it up with the EPFO through their grievance processes. They should keep copies of their withdrawal applications, rejection messages and emails or letters exchanged with their employers.

Bansal said employees must try to find the actual reason for rejection. “The key is to distinguish between a genuine eligibility issue and an administrative or technical problem, because the resolution process differs in each case,” he added.