What is an EPF Loan?
- A loan against your own Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF).
- Officially called an advance, not a loan—no repayment or interest required.
Who can apply and for what?
- Any EPF member whose UAN is active and KYC (Aadhaar, bank, PAN) details are updated.
- Allowed for specific needs:
- Home purchase/construction/renovation
- Home loan repayment
- Medical emergencies
- Education (post-matric) for self or child
- Marriage (self, child, sibling)
- Natural calamity
- Company lockout
- Unemployment
Service period & withdrawal limits
| Purpose | Min Service | Max You Can Withdraw |
|---|---|---|
| Home purchase/construction | 5 years | Up to 24× basic+DA (purchase) or 36× (construct) |
| Home loan repayment | 3 years | Up to 90% of total EPF corpus |
| Medical emergencies | None | Employee share + interest, or 6× basic+DA (lower) |
| Education | 7 years | Up to 50% of employee’s contribution, 3 times max |
| Marriage | 7 years | Up to 50% of employee’s contribution, 3 times max |
| Renovation/Addition | 5 years | Up to 12× basic+DA |
| Purchase of land | 5 years | Up to 24× basic+DA |
| Calamity (natural disaster) | None | Up to 50% of employee’s share |
| Lockout/unemployment | Varies | As per salary loss or 75–100% after 1–2 months |
| Retirement | 1 year before or age ≥ 54 | Up to 90% of EPF one year before retirement |
How to apply (online via UAN portal)
- Log in to EPFO Unified Member Portal with UAN and password.
- Ensure KYC (Aadhaar, bank, PAN) is linked.
- Go to Online Services → Claim (Form 31).
- Verify bank account using last 4 digits.
- Choose purpose, enter amount, address, upload documents if needed.
- Confirm through Aadhaar OTP, submit.
- Approved by employer → transferred in 15–20 working days.
Offline: Submit Form 31 or composite claim form, with documents, at EPFO office.
What docs are needed?
- No heavy paperwork: Form 31 (or composite) is key.
- Some cases require proof: e.g., medical certificate, marriage card, home documents.
How much you’ll get & how long it takes
- Withdraw within limits based on purpose.
- Funds credited in 15–20 days when done online.
New Update: Higher auto‑settlement limit
- EPFO can now auto-settle advances up to ₹5 lakh without manual approval, up from ₹1 lakh.
Why it’s good but use wisely
- It’s your own money—no interest or repayment.
- But it reduces your retirement corpus and interest earnings.
Key Takeaways
- EPF loan = advance from your own PF, no repayment or interest.
- Eligibility depends on reason, service period, and amount limits.
- Easy online process through UAN portal, with Aadhaar OTP.
- Funds typically arrive in 2–3 weeks.
- No heavy docs—Form 31 and reason-specific proof.
- Up to ₹5 lakh can be auto-settled now.
