EPFO Brings PF Balances and Passbooks to WhatsApp

A subscriber checking a phone can now see a provident fund balance, passbook details and the latest five transactions through WhatsApp. Labour and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya launched the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation service on Sunday, November 1, at the agency’s 74th Foundation Day event in New Delhi. It also offers personal guidance on requirements linked to the government’s PMVBRY employment scheme. ^1,2

The passbook details are part of a wider effort to bring routine services to a familiar phone platform and reduce basic enquiries at EPFO offices. At the same event, Mandaviya announced that eligible, Aadhaar-verified inactive accounts with up to Rs 1,000 will be settled without members filing individual claims. EPFO will first check identity and bank details, then begin transferring eligible money. About one lakh accounts, holding nearly Rs 5 crore in total, are expected to benefit. ^1,2

Those one lakh accounts show why the second change matters: a small balance left behind after a worker changes jobs can be hard to claim through a formal process. The new route aims to send eligible savings to the right people with less effort, while WhatsApp access could make it easier for members to check their account balances. EPFO manages retirement savings and pension benefits for a vast workforce. Its scale is reflected in a Rs 32 lakh crore fund built from contributions by more than eight crore members. ^1,2

That Rs 32 lakh crore fund also shows how much trust EPFO says it must keep earning through reliable service. The organisation reported that average claim settlement time fell to 2.57 days in October 2026 after technology changes under CITES 2.01. Mandaviya urged officials to focus on workers who need support at the last mile. The WhatsApp service is now available; settlements from eligible inactive accounts will follow identity and bank checks. ^1,2