I have retired at 65 years in January 2026. Can I leave my PF money in PF account for three years so that it will earn interest at 8.25% p.a or should I submit Form 19 and withdraw full amount this month or next month. I have another question: my organization has wrongly marked NCP days and written a letter to PF office to correct it. Hence my EPS is on hold on which I should get my arrears for the last seven years, what should I do if this issue is delayed, will NCP days affect my PF final settlement in any way. I have a total service of 11 years 2 months with regard to EPS and 13 years 2 months with regard to PF. Please advice and point me to the exact rule of EPFO on their website with regard to my questions. Please advice. Thank you

Ans: Certainly! Let’s address your queries regarding the Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS) and the process for pension withdrawal:

EPS Withdrawal After 10 Years of Service:
If you have completed less than 10 years of service or have attained the age of 58 years (whichever is earlier), you are eligible for lump-sum withdrawal from your EPS account.
However, if you have completed 10 or more years of service, you cannot withdraw the EPS amount. Instead, you can opt for a Scheme Certificate by filling Form 10C along with the Composite Claim Form (Aadhaar or Non-Aadhaar).
The Scheme Certificate allows you to transfer your pension benefits if you join another employment later.
Pension will be paid to you after attaining the age of 58 years123.
Filing Form 10D for Immediate Pension:
To receive pension immediately after retirement, you need to fill Form 10D.
Unfortunately, Form 10D cannot be filed online. You’ll need to submit it physically to the EPFO Office.
Submission of Form 10D:
After your retirement, submit Form 10D to the EPFO Office to initiate the process of receiving pension.
Ensure that you complete all necessary documentation accurately.
Interest on EPF Account:
Until you decide to withdraw your EPF amount, it continues to earn interest.
As of now, the interest rate is determined by the EPFO and is subject to change periodically.
Since you are retiring on 30th April 2024, you can continue earning interest until you decide to claim your EPF.
Claiming EPF Account After Maximum Extended Period:
After the maximum extended period (usually 3 years of inactivity), you can still apply for EPF withdrawal.
While the process may not be available online, you can submit the necessary forms physically to the EPFO Office.
Remember to consult with your employer or the EPFO directly for any specific details related to your individual case. Best wishes for your retirement!

Ans: We always maintained that EPF account becomes inactive after 36 months of continuous non contribution and doesn't draw interest after that so it is advisable for complete withdrawal before the same.
Thanks for the update though!

Ans: As stated by EPFO, members transaction less account (except interest credit) will be inoperative after 36 consecutive months of no contribution.

Hence it is advisable that you withdraw your EPF corpus and invest in other avenues.