EPFO launches official WhatsApp channel for PF, pension and insurance updates
The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation's new channel has crossed two lakh followers, but it is for information only and cannot be used for PF services.
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Salaried workers can now get key information on PF, pension and insurance more easily. The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has launched its official WhatsApp channel. Employees can receive EPFO's new announcements, schemes, important dates and other useful information directly on their mobile phones. The number of people who have joined the channel has crossed two lakh.
The channel does not only share details of rules and schemes. It also shares links to videos and tutorials explaining them. This may reduce the need for workers to open different websites repeatedly to understand PF rules.
The channel mainly carries information on three schemes. The first is the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF), covering PF contributions, the process of withdrawing an advance from the account and related updates. The second is the Employees' Pension Scheme (EPS), with information on pension rules and schemes. The third is the Employees' Deposit Linked Insurance (EDLI) scheme, which explains the insurance benefits available to employees and the rules for them. Beyond these, the channel may also carry information on new EPFO initiatives, important dates, decisions and employee grievance redressal camps.
The videos and tutorials cover the process of withdrawing an advance from the PF account, the rules on PF contributions when a person resumes employment, and the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana. They may help employees understand the different processes. However, no application is completed merely by watching a video or following the channel.
The channel is, for now, mainly meant for information and awareness. It does not mean employees can check their PF balance, apply to withdraw money, or submit pension and insurance claims through WhatsApp. For these tasks, they will have to use the official EPFO portal, the UMANG app or their regional EPFO office, as applicable.
To follow the official channel, open WhatsApp on the phone and go to the Updates section. Under Channels, choose the Explore option and type EPFO in the search box. Identify the organisation's official channel and tap Follow. Updates shared on the channel will then appear on WhatsApp.
There is also a notice for employers. EPFO has extended the last date for filing the electronic challan-cum-return (ECR) for September 2026 from October 15 to October 31, 2026. The ECR contains details of employees' salaries and PF, pension and insurance contributions. The extension has been given because additional time is needed to file returns after the change in the wage ceiling.
