EPFO launches WhatsApp PF details and automatic settlement of small inactive accounts

The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has launched two new facilities for PF account holders. Union Minister for Labour and Employment and Youth Affairs and Sports Dr Mansukh Mandaviya announced them on Sunday at EPFO's 74th foundation day.

The foundation day event was held at the Dr Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi, where details of both facilities were given.

The first is on WhatsApp. PF account holders will now be able to see their PF balance, recent transactions and passbook details through an official, verified WhatsApp service. This will reduce the need to make repeated trips to offices or go through different procedures to get PF information.

The second relates to inactive accounts. Inactive PF accounts where Aadhaar verification is complete and which hold up to Rs 1,000 will now be settled automatically. About 1 lakh account holders are expected to benefit, with roughly Rs 5 crore reaching their accounts.

Mandaviya said that over the past 74 years EPFO has grown from an ordinary provident fund body into one of the country's key social security institutions. Today more than 8 crore members and 85 lakh pensioners are linked to EPFO. The organisation manages a retirement fund of about Rs 32 lakh crore.

He said the trust of workers and pensioners is EPFO's greatest strength. According to Mandaviya, workers' problems must be resolved not through administrative procedure alone but with sensitivity and respect.

The organisation said technical improvements have cut the time taken to settle PF claims. In October 2026 the average claim settlement time was 2.57 days. According to the organisation, a technical initiative called CITES 2.01 is helping members get PF-related services faster and more easily.

Dr Chandra Bhushan Kumar, Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Employment, said the benefits of social security schemes should reach workers in the unorganised sector as well. He also said that in the digital age, institutions must keep changing themselves to keep pace with technology.

Seven important publications on social security, administrative reform, court rulings and Hindi literature were also released on the foundation day. Regional offices, officers and employees who did well were honoured with the Provident Fund Awards 2026.