How to end PF hassles

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One of the important things to be taken care of when you shift jobs is the transfer of your accumulated provident fund (PF) amount. It is seen that in most cases inordinate delays take place while transferring the amount, and sometimes it just does not happen. Here are tips which to follow while transferring your PF account.Track the statusYou can visit the EPFO website and track the status of your request by selecting the state of the PF office, the regional PF office where the account is maintained, the establishment code and the account number. The extension code field is left blank.E-PassbookThe new initiative of the EPFO enabling generation of e-Passbook will help in giving you the exact status of the PF transfer. There may be a delay in getting your passbook, but this will be intimated to you via SMS when it is ready for download. You will not be able to download the passbook for more than one account with the same organisation.Where’s it stuckIn a PF transfer, normally, the new employer, the sending PF office and the receiving PF office are involved. In some cases, the sending and receiving PF?offices will be the same. When you wish to effect the transfer, you would have submitted Form 13 to your new employer. Ask for an acknowledgement of the receiving PF office from your new employer. You can use this to follow up with the receiving PF office. You can consider meeting PF officials. Some-times, your PF may have been with the old company’s PF Trust. If so, follow up with your old employer.Document grievanceThe EPFO has an online tool for raising grievances called the Grievance Management System. If you are unsure about the status of your PF transfer, you must raise separate grievances with both the sending PF office and receiving PF office. You will be provided with a grievance number, which you must carefully preserve.Although there has not been a good track record of this online process, it is recommended that this is done as the first step. If you do not get any response, you can send a letter to the PF office with details of your grievance and reference to the online reference number through speed post. Inform both the new employer as well as the old employer of this process.Use of the RTI ActYou can use the RTI and send an application to the public information office under the PF office conerned. The application must be accompanied by a postal order for `10 favouring the respective accounts office. As there is no fixed format for the application, you can briefly explain the background of your case as well as give references to all your previous complaints. Attach copies of earlier correspondence. If there is an absence of response under this within 30 days of filing the application, you can opt for an appeal process under the RTI.Don’t withdrawThere are many employees who prefer to withdraw their PF balance when they shift jobs rather than transfer the amount. This is not recommended, as you will be losing out on the compounding benefit of the balance which has already been accumulated. If you choose to withdraw the amount, and find issues in this as well, you may follow the same steps as above. Take interest in tracking your money and getting it back.
(The writer is the CEO of BankBazaar.com)