EPFO passbook portal restored: 8.25% interest credit, new UAN and withdrawal rules
Synopsis
EPFO's passbook portal is back online after a major security and database overhaul — and it brings significant changes. The 8.25% interest for FY2025-26 is set to hit accounts from 15 July, but members now face a new 25% mandatory balance rule on partial withdrawals and must activate their UAN exclusively via Aadhaar-based face authentication on UMANG. Three changes, one upgrade window.
Key Takeaways
EPFO restored its passbook portal after a major database consolidation and software upgrade that kept it offline until 26 June .
Annual interest of 8.25% for FY2025-26 is expected to be credited to subscribers' accounts from 15 July .
Provident fund claims and service requests may face delays of up to two weeks during ongoing verification checks.
UAN activation is no longer available on the Unified Member Portal; members must use the UMANG app with Aadhaar-based Face Authentication Technology .
Under the EPF Scheme, 2026 (effective 29 June ), members must retain a minimum 25% of their eligible balance before making any partial withdrawal.
The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has restored its passbook portal following the completion of a major database consolidation and software upgrade, allowing millions of members to once again access their provident fund statements online. The portal, which was taken offline until 26 June, returned ahead of the scheduled credit of 8.25% annual interest for FY2025-26, which EPFO is expected to begin depositing into subscribers' accounts from 15 July.
What the Maintenance Covered
The scheduled downtime was aimed at enhancing processing efficiency, security, and reliability across EPFO's online platform. A notice on the portal confirms that transactions for recently processed accounting years are currently available, while records for earlier years are still being migrated and are expected to appear within the next few days. 'This is an automated process, and no action is required from the member,' the notice states.
Even as member and employer services have been restored in phases, provident fund claims and other service requests may face delays of up to two weeks while additional verification and validation checks are completed, EPFO has said.
UAN Activation Now Aadhaar-Based Only
In a significant procedural shift, EPFO has changed the process for activating a Universal Account Number (UAN). UAN activation is no longer available through the Unified Member Portal. Members must now use the UMANG mobile application with Aadhaar-based Face Authentication Technology (FAT) to complete the process. This move is part of the broader push to strengthen identity verification and curb fraudulent claims on the platform.
New Partial Withdrawal Rules Under EPF Scheme 2026
The newly notified Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) Scheme, 2026 introduced revised provisions on partial withdrawals, effective 29 June. Under the updated framework, EPFO members must retain a minimum balance of 25% of their eligible member balance in their EPF account before making any partial withdrawal. The minimum balance requirement applies to both employee and employer contributions.
For context, an account holding an eligible balance of ₹1 lakh must retain ₹25,000, leaving ₹75,000 available for withdrawal, subject to the scheme's rules. Any calculation for a minimum withdrawal amount will be done only after setting this mandatory reserve aside.
Impact on Subscribers and What to Expect
The timing of the portal restoration is notable: it comes just days before the 15 July interest credit deadline, giving subscribers a window to verify their balances before the 8.25% rate for FY2025-26 is applied. With over 7 crore active EPF subscribers in India, any delay in access or interest crediting carries wide financial implications.
The combined changes — tighter UAN authentication, a mandatory minimum balance for withdrawals, and phased service restoration — signal a broader effort by EPFO to modernise its infrastructure and reduce systemic vulnerabilities. Whether the two-week service delay window affects pending claims will become clearer in the days ahead.
Point of View
UAN authentication overhaul, and partial withdrawal caps — under a single maintenance window is administratively ambitious but operationally risky. The two-week delay warning on claims processing, coinciding with the 15 July interest credit, could leave time-sensitive claimants in limbo. The shift to Aadhaar-based face authentication for UAN activation is a meaningful fraud deterrent, but it also raises access concerns for members in low-connectivity areas or those without compatible smartphones. The 25% minimum balance rule for withdrawals is a structural guardrail that protects long-term corpus, but it was introduced with limited public communication — a pattern EPFO has repeated before when rolling out consequential policy changes quietly.
NationPress
11 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Has the EPFO passbook portal been restored?
Yes, the EPFO passbook portal has been restored following a scheduled database consolidation and software upgrade. Transactions for recently processed accounting years are available, while records for earlier years are being migrated and will appear within a few days.
When will EPFO credit 8.25% interest for FY2025-26?
EPFO is expected to begin crediting the 8.25% annual interest for FY2025-26 into subscribers' accounts from 15 July. Members can verify their balances on the restored passbook portal ahead of the credit.
How has the UAN activation process changed?
UAN activation is no longer available through the Unified Member Portal. Members must now activate their Universal Account Number using the UMANG mobile application with Aadhaar-based Face Authentication Technology (FAT).
What are the new EPF partial withdrawal rules under the EPF Scheme 2026?
Effective 29 June, EPFO members must retain a minimum balance of 25% of their eligible member balance before making any partial withdrawal. For example, an account with ₹1 lakh in eligible balance must keep ₹25,000 aside, making ₹75,000 available for withdrawal subject to scheme rules.
Will there be delays in EPF claims after the portal restoration?
Yes, EPFO has indicated that provident fund claims and other service requests may face delays of up to two weeks while additional verification and validation checks are completed as services are restored in phases.
