RTI Against EPFO: EPF Claimants Find Relief Through Transparency

RTI Against EPFO: The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), tasked with managing the retirement savings of millions of Indians, is supposed to be a guardian of worker security. But for many, it has turned into a wall of silence. People applying to withdraw their own funds often encounter faceless rejections, unexplained delays, and grievance mechanisms that function more like digital black holes than help desks.

Deepak Bhatter, an independent consultant, is one of many who have faced this dead end. After 17 years of continuous service with a single employer, Bhatter expected a routine EPF withdrawal. Instead, he faced rejection after rejection with no clarity.

"Grievances raised on the EPF portal were dismissed silently. Emails, social media escalations, and even raising it with the Ministry of Labour and the office of Labour minister all met with radio silence. I couldn't visit the EPFO office in person and was running out of options," he wrote in a LinkedIn post.

His frustration led him to file an RTI, a move that forced the system to engage.

Can You File RTI Against EPFO?

RTI, or Right to Information, is more than just a legal tool it's leverage. Bhatter drafted pointed questions to make it difficult for EPFO to dodge responsibility:

- Which officer handled my case?

- What internal notes were recorded?

- Why was it rejected without communication?

The intent, as he put it, was to make dodging the answer harder than processing the claim. It worked. Within 10 working days, his money was credited. The RTI response that followed was telling: EPFO answered "N/A" to most of the queries.

"That's when I truly realised how powerful the Right to Information can be, especially when you are constantly frustrated with the lack of information," Bhatter said.

He also warned others to avoid third-party service providers offering to fix EPFO issues, citing privacy risks. "The EPFO portal contains all your sensitive details like Aadhaar, PAN, service history, claim amount, bank accounts, nominees and even addresses. Best not to share unless very trustworthy," he added.

Other Similar Cases On How RTI Helped With EPF Withdrawal

Bhatter's story isn't an outlier. A Reddit user recently posted about a 32-day wait for a 75% EPF withdrawal, stuck in limbo with a claim status reading only: "Sent to field office."

"I raised grievance which they just closed with no resolutions. CPGRAMS portal as well which is in pending. Tried reaching out to them over Twitter which is of no use. And raised RTI request which again is pending," the user wrote.

What made the situation more difficult was geography. The user was in Bangalore. Their EPFO office? Dadar, Mumbai. Travel was the next option an absurd demand in a digital era.

RTI Helped With EPF Claim

Another detailed account came from a different Reddit user who, after having their EPF claim rejected without reason, fought back using RTI and CPGRAMS.

This person had submitted a Form-31 claim on March 3, 2025, for house construction. With nearly 10 years of continuous service, eligibility was not in question. Yet on March 17, the claim was rejected citing "Insufficient Service – Not Eligible."

Refusing to accept that explanation, they re-applied immediately. They contacted the EPFO office, raised a grievance via the UMANG app, and filed a targeted RTI asking for detailed breakdowns of service history, eligibility policy, and officer responsibility. Days later, the claim was suddenly processed.

"The irony is that EPFO did not answer my specific RTI questions… Instead, they just stated that my claim was now 'settled.' However, the pressure of RTI itself seemed to have forced them to process my claim," they wrote.

By March 26, the amount had been credited to their bank account. Without pressure, this might have taken months or never happened at all.

The contrast is stark. EPF grievance portals often yield generic or delayed responses. CPGRAMS adds pressure, but its effectiveness depends on how the EPFO regional offices act on it. RTI, however, is legally binding. Government departments are required to respond within 30 days.

That legal obligation transforms it from a formality into a lever. When framed with precise, pointed questions, it forces public officials to react. The threat of transparency often spurs resolution where silence once prevailed.

How to file RTI for PF withdrawal?

If your EPF claim is stalled and the EPFO is giving you the silent treatment, filing a Right to Information (RTI) application is your legal weapon. This forces EPFO to respond within 30 days. Here's exactly how you do it.

Step 1: Try the Grievance Portal First

Before filing an RTI, you must have already tried the official EPF Grievance portal. Why? Because you need to mention the grievance number in your RTI application.

Go to: https://epfigms.gov.in

File a complaint about your EPF issue

Note down the Grievance Registration Number

Step 2: Go to the RTI Online Portal

Now head over to https://rtionline.gov.in. This is the Government of India's official portal for filing RTIs online.

Click on "Submit Request"

Accept the terms and continue

Step 3: Fill in Applicant Details

You'll be asked to fill in your personal details:

Name

Address

Country

Phone number (optional but better to provide)

Email ID (for updates)

At the bottom, tick "Yes" to "Is the applicant below poverty line?" only if it applies. Otherwise, leave it as "No" and you'll be charged Rs 10.

Step 4: Department Selection

Under Select Ministry/Department/Apex body, choose:

Ministry/Department: Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO)

Under Public Authority, it'll usually auto-fill once you select EPFO. If not, select the one relevant to your region.

Step 5: Write Your RTI Query (This Is Important)

Here's where you get to the meat of it. Your questions should be clear, pointed, and uncomfortable to ignore. Don't rant. Ask what you want answers to. Example format:

Subject: EPFO Claim Rejection – Request for Information under RTI Act 2005

Text of Application:

Dear CPIO,

This RTI is in reference to my EPF Claim (UAN: xxxxxxxxxxxxx) submitted on [Date]. The claim was [Rejected/Not Processed], and despite multiple grievances (Grievance No: xxxxxxx), no information has been provided. Kindly provide the following information:

(Declare your citizenship) *"I do hereby declare that I am a citizen of India. All the information provided above is correct to the best of my knowledge. I request that you ensure that the requested information is provided before the 30-day period after you have received the application."

• Name and designation of the officer(s) who processed or rejected my claim.

• A certified copy of the internal note or file movement regarding my claim is needed.

• Reasons cited internally for rejection (if applicable).

• Current status of my resubmitted/re-processed claim.

• EPFO's official rule/document citing eligibility for [e.g., Form-31 withdrawal for house construction].

• Date on which the claim file was last acted upon.

I request that the information be provided within the 30-day timeline as per the RTI Act.

Regards,

[Your Name]

[Your Address]

[Mobile Number]

Email: [your email]

Step 6: Pay Rs 10 Filing Fee

You can pay using Net Banking, Debit Card, or UPI. The fee is Rs 10 (unless you're below poverty line and declared it earlier).

Step 7: Submit and Save the Acknowledgment

Once submitted, you'll get a Registration Number. This is your RTI tracking ID.

Save the acknowledgment as PDF or print it

You can check status later at: https://rtionline.gov.in/request/status.php

Step 8: Wait for Response (Up to 30 Days)

Legally, EPFO must respond within 30 days. If they don't, or if you're not satisfied, you can file a First Appeal through the same portal.

If they ignore that too, you escalate it to the Central Information Commission (CIC).

Bonus Tips:

• Be specific. Vague RTIs get vague replies.

• Always ask who handled the claim. Names make people accountable.

• Save everything: grievance ID, claim ID, RTI number.

• Refile RTI if necessary, refining the questions based on the previous reply (or lack of it).

In Bhatter's words: "Every case is different, and some may be stuck due to valid reasons. But what shouldn't be acceptable is disposal without any communication."