Asaduddin Owaisi took a swipe at the Centre over the revised Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) withdrawal rules, accusing the government of being “subsidised with middle-class money”. He questioned whether the funds belong to the EPFO or to the members themselves, and criticised the government for running a so-called “savings festival” amid rising unemployment. EPFO also responded to his post and explained the new rules.
‘Government’s savings festival amid unemployment’
It all started with Owaisi’s criticism of EPFO withdrawal rules. “The government’s ‘Savings Festival’ amidst unemployment,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter) before explaining how the rules had changed. “Earlier, you could withdraw your entire PF within 1-2 months of unemployment. Now, due to the government’s ‘kindness’, you have to wait 1-3 years to withdraw your own money.”
He added, “25 per cent of PF is forcibly locked for 1 year. Meaning, during unemployment, you’ll have to wait a year, and even then, you can’t withdraw your full amount.”
The AIMIM chief further claimed that the EPFO was “already acting like the owner of people’s money”, citing figures to back his point. “Rs 54,658 crore of PF is lying ‘unclaimed’. 25-35 per cent of PF withdrawal applications get rejected,” he alleged.
बेरोज़गारी में सरकार का “बचत उत्सव”:
— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) October 15, 2025
-पहले बेरोज़गारी के 1–2 महीने में आप पूरा पीएफ निकाल सकते थे।
-अब सरकार की “दया” से अपने ही पैसे निकालने के लिए 1–3 साल तक इंतज़ार करना होगा।
-PF का 25% जबरदस्ती 1 साल तक लॉक।
-मतलब बेरोज़गारी में आपको एक साल का इंतज़ार करना होगा और तब भी आप…
EPFO explains new PF withdrawal rules
In response, the EPFO issued a clarification, explaining that the change in the withdrawal period, from two months to twelve, was intended to help members qualify for pension benefits.
“Immediately after job loss, the beneficiary can withdraw 75 per cent of the amount right away. After remaining unemployed for 12 months, they can also withdraw the remaining 25 per cent amount,” the EPFO said in the comments section of Owaisi’s post.
It added, “Withdrawing the full amount within 2 months means that if a new job is secured after 3 months, the service is not considered continuous, and they do not become eligible for pension. Because 10 years of continuous employment is required for pension eligibility.”
Government being subsidised with middle-class money
However, Owaisi was not convinced. Quoting the EPFO’s response, he shot back, “Is the money EPFO’s or the members’?”
He went on to argue that the members are not “beneficiaries of some freebie” but “hardworking citizens being deprived of their own savings”. Accusing the government of misusing public funds, he said, “The government is being subsidised with the middle class’s money.”
The Hyderabad MP then urged people to “read the replies” to the EPFO’s post, claiming, “Every day, many people tag EPFO because it harasses them so much just to withdraw their own money,” he claimed.
“25% might be a small amount for you, but an unemployed person could pay their children’s fees or house rent with it,” he stressed, before adding, “What will someone going through a difficult time today do with the hope of a pension that comes decades later? And what will someone who has already retired do by waiting for 3 years?”
पैसा EPFO का है या मेम्बर का? ये लोग किसी “रेवड़ी” के “लाभार्थी” नहीं हैं, बल्कि मेहनतकश नागरिक हैं जिन्हें उनकी ही जमा-पूँजी से महरूम किया जा रहा है। मिडल क्लास के पैसों से सरकार को subsidise किया जा रहा है।
— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) October 15, 2025
EPFO के इस ट्वीट के रिप्लाई ज़रूर पढ़िए। हर दिन कई लोग @officialepfo… https://t.co/N5290xiRkS
New PF withdrawal rules explained
The Central government has introduced sweeping changes to the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) withdrawal policy on Monday, creating three new categories for withdrawals — Essential Needs (such as marriage, education, or illness), Housing Needs, and Special Circumstances.
Under the revised rules, members can now withdraw up to 10 times for education and 5 times for marriage, compared to just three combined withdrawals earlier. The minimum service period required to become eligible for partial withdrawal has been reduced to 12 months, meaning members can access a portion of their PF savings after just one year of employment.
In another key decision, the EPFO extended the waiting period for premature final settlement of EPF from 2 months to 12 months, and for pension (EPS) withdrawal from 2 months to 36 months.
Simply put, employees can now withdraw their provident fund after 12 months of leaving a job, and their pension fund after 36 months, if they wish to settle their accounts before retirement.
