You can now check your PF balance, recent transactions and passbook details through WhatsApp. If you have an eligible inactive PF account with a balance of up to ₹1,000, the amount can also be settled automatically without you having to file an individual claim.
If you have a Provident Fund (PF) account, keeping track of your balance, checking contributions and accessing account details should become easier. The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has introduced two new facilities to simplify these tasks.
Announced on November 1, 2026, during EPFO’s 74th Foundation Day celebrations, the initiatives allow you to access selected PF services through WhatsApp and provide for the automatic settlement of eligible inactive accounts with small balances.
For you, this could mean less effort in checking your retirement savings and recovering money that may have been left behind in an old PF account.
Check your PF balance and passbook through WhatsApp
You can now access selected PF account details through EPFO’s verified WhatsApp service.
The facility allows you to:
- Check your PF account balance.
- View your latest five transactions.
- Access your passbook information.
- Get personalised guidance and assistance with requirements related to the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PMVBRY).
Earlier, you generally had to access EPFO’s online services or visit an EPFO office to get account-related information. With these services available through WhatsApp, checking your PF details should become more convenient.
For example, if you have changed jobs and want to check whether your previous employer’s PF contributions have been credited, you can access your account information without navigating multiple online services.
However, keep in mind that checking your account details through WhatsApp is different from withdrawing or transferring your PF balance. The announcement covers access to information and related assistance, not a new withdrawal facility.
Have a small balance in an old PF account? You may not need to file a claim
When you change jobs, you may sometimes leave behind a PF account with your previous employer. If you do not transfer or withdraw the balance, the money can remain in an inactive account.
In some cases, you may not bother claiming the amount because the balance is small and completing the formalities may seem like more effort than it is worth.
To address this issue, EPFO has introduced automatic settlement of eligible inoperative PF accounts with balances of up to ₹1,000.
Under this facility:
- Your account must be Aadhaar-verified.
- The balance must be ₹1,000 or less.
- Your identity and bank account details will undergo the prescribed verification.
- You will not need to file an individual claim.
- The amount will be transferred to the rightful beneficiary after verification.
According to the Ministry of Labour and Employment, approximately one lakh accounts involving around ₹5 crore are expected to benefit from this initiative.
This means that if you have a qualifying inactive PF account with a small balance, you may receive the amount without having to initiate a separate claim.
One important point: this facility applies only to eligible inoperative accounts with balances of up to ₹1,000. If your inactive PF account has a higher balance, you cannot assume that it will be settled automatically under this initiative.
How do these changes help you manage your retirement savings?
Both initiatives aim to make managing your PF account simpler, although they address different problems.
The WhatsApp facility makes it easier for you to keep track of your account balance and recent contributions. This can be particularly useful if you have changed jobs several times and want to check whether your contributions are being credited properly.
The automatic settlement facility addresses another common issue: small amounts lying forgotten in old PF accounts. Instead of having to initiate a separate claim, eligible members can receive their money after the required verification.
Your PF is an important part of your long-term retirement savings. Even if you change jobs, it is worth keeping track of your previous accounts and ensuring that your accumulated savings are accounted for.
These initiatives are expected to reduce some of the effort involved in managing your PF account and accessing your money.
Source: Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Labour and Employment.
