When does an EPF balance stop earning interest?
The rules work differently depending on the age at which a member retires:
- If you retire or leave employment before attaining 55 years of age, your EPF balance continues to earn interest until you attain 58 years of age, provided the balance remains with the EPFO.
- If you retire on or after attaining 55 years of age, your EPF balance continues to earn interest for 36 months from the date of retirement. After that, the account becomes inoperative and interest is no longer credited.
For instance, if you retire at 52 and do not withdraw your EPF balance, it will continue to earn interest until you turn 58. Likewise, if you retire at 60, your balance will continue to earn interest for three years after retirement, unless you withdraw it earlier.
How are EPF and EPS rules different?
Can you keep your EPF balance with the EPFO after retirement?
Yes. Retirement makes a member eligible to apply for final settlement of the EPF balance, but there is no requirement to withdraw the amount immediately.