New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) subscribers can now access key provident fund services through WhatsApp, including checking their PF balance, viewing their latest five transactions and accessing passbook information.
Union Labour and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya launched the WhatsApp-based services on Sunday during the EPFO’s 74th Foundation Day celebrations, according to a statement from the Labour Ministry.
The initiative aims to make routine services more accessible through a familiar mobile platform, reducing the need for subscribers to visit EPFO offices for basic assistance.
What EPFO Services Can Subscribers Access On WhatsApp?
Under the new facility, EPF subscribers will be able to use EPFO’s verified WhatsApp service to access:
- PF balance: Check the balance in their provident fund account.
- Latest five transactions: View their most recent five account transactions.
- Passbook information: Access details related to their EPF passbook.
- PMVBRY assistance: Receive personalised guidance and help with requirements related to the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PMVBRY).
The ministry said the service is intended to simplify access to routine information and provide subscribers with assistance through a widely used messaging platform.
Subscribers should use only EPFO’s officially verified WhatsApp service and avoid sharing account credentials or sensitive information with unverified numbers.
EPFO To Automatically Settle Eligible Inoperative Accounts
Alongside the WhatsApp service, Mandaviya launched the automatic settlement of eligible inoperative EPF accounts.
Under the initiative, subscribers with Aadhaar-verified inoperative EPF accounts containing balances of up to Rs 1,000 will not need to file individual claims to receive their eligible dues.
EPFO will initiate the settlement process after the prescribed identity and bank-account verification procedures. The money will then be transferred to the rightful beneficiaries.
According to the ministry, approximately one lakh accounts containing a combined amount of Rs 5 crore are expected to benefit from the initiative.
The move is intended to make it easier for eligible subscribers to recover small balances that have remained in inactive accounts without having to initiate separate claims.
EPFO Manages A Corpus Of Rs 32 Lakh Crore
Speaking at the foundation day event, Mandaviya said EPFO had evolved into a trusted institution for India’s workforce over its 74-year history.
He noted that the organisation had accumulated a corpus of around Rs 32 lakh crore through contributions from more than eight crore members, crediting EPFO employees for their dedication and commitment.
The minister urged officials to prioritise worker-focused innovations as the organisation approaches its 75th year. He called for processes to evolve with changing needs and for the institution to strengthen its resilience and service delivery.
Seven publications were also released during the celebrations, focusing on knowledge creation, institutional learning, legal awareness and compassionate governance.
