26 April 2022
I have raised a Advance COVID PF claim (Form 31) on April 13 and received a message on April 19th saying "Your claim is under process and will be settled shortly". However, it is almost now 2 weeks, and the status is still showing "Under process" (from April 13). How much time does it take to settle COVID advance claim (which was supposed to be within 5 days as per EPFO website)?
07 July 2024
The processing time for Provident Fund (PF) claims, including COVID-19 advances, can vary due to factors like workload at the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), complete documentation, and operational considerations. The EPFO guidelines suggest settlement within 5 days of claim submission, but this may be affected by volume. If a claim status remains "Under process" for two weeks, it's recommended to follow up with the EPFO. Follow-up steps include checking the EPFO's online portal, contacting the EPFO directly if processing time exceeds 5 days, and ensuring all required documents are submitted correctly.