The number of times you can withdraw PF advance depends on the purpose of withdrawal. Some purposes like medical treatment or natural calamities allow multiple or unlimited withdrawals, while others like marriage, education, or home purchase have fixed limits—such as once or three times in a lifetime. 

What Is PF Advance Withdrawal? 

PF advance (also called Form 31 withdrawal) is a non-refundable partial withdrawal from your EPF account. It is allowed only for specific purposes such as illness, home purchase, education, marriage, etc., and comes with conditions like minimum years of service, limits on withdrawal amount, and number of times allowed. 

Purpose-wise PF Advance Withdrawal Limit & Frequency 

Purpose of Withdrawal 

Eligibility (Service) 

How Many Times Allowed 

Max Amount Allowed 

Purchase/Construction of House or Flat 

5 years 

1 time only 

Least of: 36 months basic + DA OR total corpus OR cost 

Home Renovation/Alteration (1st time) 

5 years after house construction 

1 time 

Least of: 12 months basic + DA OR employee share + interest OR cost 

Home Repair (2nd time) 

10 years after 1st withdrawal 

1 time 

Same as above 

Home Loan Repayment 

10 years 

1 time 

Least of: 36 months basic + DA OR EPF balance OR loan amount 

Medical Emergency (Self/Family) 

No minimum required 

No fixed limit 

Least of: 6 months basic + DA OR employee share + interest 

Marriage (Self/Children/Sibling) 

7 years 

3 times in lifetime 

Up to 50% of employee share + interest 

Post-Matric Education (Children) 

7 years 

3 times in lifetime 

Up to 50% of employee share + interest 

Unemployment (1+ month) 

N/A 

Multiple allowed 

Up to 75% of total corpus 

Before Retirement (Age 54+) 

After age 54 & within 1 year of retirement 

1 time 

Up to 90% of total PF balance 

Natural Calamity (Property Loss) 

Affected area residence 

Multiple (as required) 

Up to ₹5,000 or 50% of employee share 

Physically Handicapped (Equipment Purchase) 

No minimum required 

Once in 3 years 

Least of: 6 months basic + DA OR employee share + cost 

In Case of Establishment Closure (Job Loss) 

NA 

Multiple 

Up to 100% of employer share with interest 

Can You Apply Again for the Same Purpose? 

  • Yes, if the rule permits multiple times (like medical or education). 
  • No, if the rule states “only once” for that purpose (like home construction or loan repayment). 
  • Some purposes require a gap of several years between two advances (e.g., 10 years between two home renovations). 

How to Apply for PF Advance Online 

  1. Visit: https://unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in/ 

  2. Login with your UAN & Password 

  3. Go to ‘Online Services’ > ‘Claim (Form-31, 19, 10C)’ 

  4. Fill your bank & Aadhaar details 

  5. Select purpose of withdrawal 

  6. Upload relevant documents 

  7. Submit claim 

Claims are typically settled within 3 to 7 working days.

You can withdraw PF advance multiple times, but the number of withdrawals is regulated purpose-wise under official EPF rules. Always check the eligibility and restrictions before applying. Make sure your UAN is active, KYC is updated, and bank details are verified for smooth processing. 

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and may not reflect the most current data. Please verify with official sources before making any decision