Archive · 23 Aug 2026
What Happens to EPF Savings After a Job Change
Your EPF is a retirement savings account connected to your job.
If you move to another EPFO-covered job, your savings and service history can be transferred to your new account.
You should give your new employer your existing UAN instead of getting a new one.
If you become self-employed, you cannot keep making normal EPF contributions by yourself.
However, the money already in your EPF account does not disappear.
It may continue earning interest until you turn 58.
If you join a company with a private PF trust, the money is transferred to that trust.
You should check with both trusts to make sure the transfer and pensionable service are recorded correctly.
Employees joining another EPFO-covered employer should transfer their EPF balance and service history to the new member account.
Workers should provide their existing UAN to the new employer and keep the same UAN throughout their careers.
Self-employed people cannot make regular mandatory EPF contributions without an employer-employee relationship.
Existing EPF savings remain in the account and may continue earning interest until the account holder turns 58.
Employees moving to an exempted PF trust should coordinate fund transfers with both trusts and verify that pensionable service is carried forward.
- Who
- Employees changing jobs, becoming self-employed, or moving to an employer with a private or exempted PF trust.
- What
- Their EPF balance, future contributions, interest earnings, and pensionable service are handled differently depending on the new employment arrangement.
- When
- When an employee changes employment or leaves salaried work.
- Where
- At another EPFO-covered employer, in self-employment, or at an establishment managed by a private or exempted PF trust.
- Why
- EPF contributions depend on an employer-employee relationship, while transfers depend on whether the new employer is covered by EPFO or operates an exempted trust.
- New EPFO-covered job
- Transfer the existing EPF balance and service history to the new member account.
- Universal Account Number
- Employees should declare their existing UAN to the new employer and retain the same UAN throughout their careers.
- Transfer requirements
- UAN and KYC details should be correctly updated to avoid transfer problems.
- Self-employment
- No fresh mandatory employee and employer EPF contributions can be made without an employer-employee relationship.
- Existing balance
- The accumulated EPF balance remains in the account after salaried employment ends.
- Interest
- EPFO continues crediting interest after employment ends until the account holder turns 58, according to its FAQ.
- Exempted PF trust
- Employees should obtain transfer acknowledgement and separately verify that pensionable service has been carried forward.