More than ₹16,600 crore is lying unclaimed in inactive Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) accounts and Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) policies, according to official data. If you have changed jobs over the years or forgotten about an old insurance policy, you could be among those with money waiting to be claimed.
The good news is that both the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) and LIC offer online facilities to help individuals trace and recover their unclaimed funds. Here's what you need to know.
EPF accounts may become inoperative if there are no contributions for a prolonged period, but the accumulated balance remains safe and can be claimed.
If you have joined a new employer, log in to the EPFO Member e-Sewa portal using your Universal Account Number (UAN) and submit a request under 'One Member – One EPF Account (Transfer Request)' to transfer the balance to your current EPF account.
If you are eligible to withdraw the money, ensure your UAN is linked with Aadhaar, PAN and bank account details. You can then file an online claim through the 'Claim (Form 31, 19, 10C & 10D)' option using Aadhaar OTP authentication.
Policyholders and legal heirs can also search for unclaimed amounts through the official LIC website.
Visit the 'Unclaimed Amounts of Policyholders' section and enter details such as your policy number, name, date of birth and PAN. If an unclaimed amount is available, visit the servicing LIC branch with the original policy document, identity proof, address proof, a cancelled cheque and a completed NEFT mandate form to initiate the claim process.
People often lose track of EPF accounts after switching jobs or forget to claim proceeds from matured insurance policies. As a result, large sums remain unclaimed despite belonging to the rightful owners.
Checking your EPF and LIC records periodically can help you identify forgotten savings and ensure your money is transferred back to your account.
With over ₹16,600 crore still lying unclaimed in inactive EPF accounts and LIC policies, it is worth taking a few minutes to check whether any money belongs to you. By using the official EPFO and LIC portals and keeping your KYC details updated, you can recover your unclaimed funds through a simple and largely online process.
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Disclaimer: This blog has been written exclusively for educational purposes. The securities mentioned are only examples and not recommendations. This does not constitute a personal recommendation/investment advice. It does not aim to influence any individual or entity to make investment decisions. Recipients should conduct their own research and assessments to form an independent opinion about investment decisions.
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Published on: Jul 23, 2026, 12:19 PM IST
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