EPFO Introduces WhatsApp Services and Auto-Settlement for Small Accounts

The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has introduced new digital services to simplify access to provident fund (PF) information and streamline account settlements. On Sunday, during its 74th Foundation Day event held at the Dr Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi, EPFO rolled out an interactive WhatsApp service allowing subscribers to retrieve PF details with ease. Alongside this, an automatic settlement mechanism for inoperative accounts holding balances up to ₹1,000 was also unveiled.

Through the WhatsApp platform, subscribers can now check their PF balance, review the latest five transactions, and view their passbook data. The service also offers personalised assistance for fulfilling requirements related to the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PMVBRY). According to the Ministry of Labour and Employment, this initiative reduces the need for physical visits to EPFO offices by providing routine account-related information via a verified WhatsApp channel.

This development expands EPFO’s digital reach beyond its existing online portals and the earlier WhatsApp information channel, offering more interactive and user-friendly features.

In addition to the WhatsApp service, EPFO announced an automatic settlement process for Aadhaar-verified inoperative accounts with balances up to ₹1,000. This settlement will be carried out without requiring individual claims from subscribers, provided they meet the identity and bank account verification criteria. It is estimated that about 100,000 accounts, involving roughly ₹5 crore, will benefit from this facility.

The move follows the approval of a pilot project by the EPFO Central Board of Trustees in its 239th meeting held in March 2026. The pilot aimed to auto-initiate settlements for approximately 133,000 dormant accounts having balances up to ₹1,000, involving close to ₹5.68 crore. The funds are transferred directly to members’ Aadhaar-linked bank accounts, eliminating the need for fresh documentation or claims.

Under EPFO regulations, an account is classified as inoperative if no contribution is received for three consecutive years after a member either attains 55 years of age or retires, whichever happens later. This classification helps identify accounts eligible for automatic settlement.

The Ministry also highlighted enhancements in EPFO’s claim processing times, attributing improvements to the Centralised IT-Enabled System (CITES 2.01). The average claim settlement duration dropped to 2.57 days as of October 2026, reflecting the organisation’s commitment to faster service delivery.

Currently, EPFO manages the retirement funds of around 80 million active members and 8.5 million pensioners, overseeing a corpus nearing ₹32 trillion. This places EPFO among the world’s largest social security organisations.

During the event, Central Provident Fund Commissioner Ramesh Krishnamurthi announced the disbursement of the fourth tranche of incentives under the PMVBRY scheme on the same day. According to ministry data, the first instalment of incentives, amounting to ₹163.39 crore, was received by 286,290 employees. The second instalment, worth ₹96.01 crore, reached 144,831 employees. Additionally, ₹702.39 crore was distributed to 83,242 employers under the scheme.

Launched in August 2025 with a budget of ₹99,446 crore, the PMVBRY aims to support the creation of 35 million jobs over two years, including 19.2 million first-time formal sector workers. The scheme offers incentives up to ₹15,000 for first-time employees earning up to ₹1 lakh monthly, paid in two instalments. Employers recruiting additional workers beyond their baseline workforce receive monthly incentives ranging from ₹1,000 to ₹3,000 per eligible employee for two years. Manufacturing units qualify for an extra two years of support.

Union Labour and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya urged EPFO staff to actively participate in reform efforts and continuously update their operations to meet evolving demands.

On the foundation day, the Ministry also released several publications including "EPFO State Profile 2026," "Compendium of Judgements 2026," "Kendra Nidhi," "Beyond the Desk, Beyond the Ordinary," "Reimagining Governance Discourse for Excellence," "Shasan Vidhi Mein Karuna," and "The Indian Journal of Social Security." These resources aim to provide insights into EPFO’s functioning and governance.

These initiatives represent EPFO’s ongoing efforts to improve member services through technological integration and policy reforms, ensuring better accessibility and timely settlements for millions of contributors across India.