Delays in EPFO Claims Processing Causing Hardships

Delays in EPFO Claims Processing Causing Hardships
Even after two and a half months, people are not receiving the funds deposited in the Employees' Provident Fund Organization (EPFO).
People are facing difficulties due to delays in claim settlements by the Employees' Provident Fund Organization (EPFO). Many individuals are unable to access their funds despite completing the online claim process.
Delays in processing and disbursement have caused frustration among EPFO members. They are continuously reaching out to EPFO offices but are not receiving any concrete answers. Some people have expressed their grievances on social media, saying they are forced to wait indefinitely for their own money.
50 Days Passed Since Escalation – How Long to Wait?
Those who filed online claims and are waiting for their funds have taken to social media, with some claiming delays of over 50 days. EPFO’s official response states that the organization is facing delays in processing due to a high volume of applications and infrastructure issues.
The claim processing system is not working smoothly, and if claims are not processed within a specific time frame, the EPFO is liable to pay interest on the pending amount. However, members are left without proper responses, waiting indefinitely for their dues.
Major Causes of Delay
1.    System errors and glitches in the Aadhaar-PAN linking process.
2.    Insufficient digital infrastructure to handle claim volumes.
3.    Issues with member details, such as incorrect bank accounts and IFSC codes.
4.    Delays in members updating details related to KYC, leading to verification issues.
In some cases, even if all documents are complete, delays in the verification process can cause additional problems, making the wait for funds even longer.
Documentation Errors Contribute to Delays
Incorrect documentation has also been identified as a reason for the delay. EPFO has issued reminders to members to ensure all documents are accurate and complete before submission to avoid further delays. For some, it has been over 70 days, and they still haven’t received their funds.
As of now, EPFO officials have not provided a timeline for resolving the issues but have acknowledged that they are working on enhancing digital infrastructure and speeding up the claim settlement process.