In a significant relief to employees and retirees, the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has, through new rules in 2025, declared that the entire PF balance can be withdrawn and that access to EPS-95 benefits will be entirely free. These modifications are intended to ease retirement planning and provide liquidity during emergencies or post-retirement.
What Are EPS-95 Benefits?
EPS-95 (Employees’ Pension Scheme 1995) is a monthly pension plan for retired employees who were in the EPFO system and made contributions during their lifetime. In the year 2025, the government has made it totally free for the pensioners to avail of the EPS-95 benefits, thus the eligible retirees will not be required to pay any fees for processing or administrative work. This is a huge advantage to more than 6 million pensioners, especially those who are in the low-income category.
100% PF Withdrawal Now Possible
Previously, EPFO permitted only partial withdrawals for a number of purposes such as illness, marriage, or buying a house. Now these have been consolidated into three easy categories and 100% of the PF balance can be withdrawn for the member’s urgent needs. These needs include:
- Medical emergencies.
- Retirement.
- Job loss (after being unemployed for 12 months).
This new ruling facilitates employees in getting their savings without the hassles of delays or unnecessary documentation.
Digital Life Certificate and Online Claims
The EPFO has also teamed up with India Post Payment Bank to enable senior citizens to get Digital Life Certificates issued from home. Besides that, the PF withdrawal process is now 100% online through the Unified Member Portal giving it a speed focus and transparency. For EPS, the final settlement period has been extended to 36 months thus allowing more flexibility to retirees.
EPFO 2025 Update Summary Table
| Feature | Update (2025) |
|---|---|
| EPS-95 Benefits | Free for eligible pensioners |
| PF Withdrawal | Up to 100% allowed for essential needs |
| Withdrawal Categories | Merged into 3 simplified groups |
| Digital Life Certificate | Available via India Post Payment Bank |
| Final EPS Settlement Period | Extended to 36 months |
Final Thoughts
With the updates in the year 2025, the EPFO has brought in much-needed flexibility and support for both employees and pensioners. The retirement planning process has become easier and more secure with the free EPS-95 benefits, full PF withdrawal options plus digital services. Members are reminded to log in to the EPFO portal and update their particulars in order to avail of these new features to the fullest extent possible.