What is the first step to claim the EPF balance after retirement?

Submitting Form 19 along with the required documents to the EPF Organization (EPFO) is indeed the first step to claim the EPF balance after retirement. This form serves as the formal request for the settlement of the EPF account and includes essential details such as the member's account number, personal information, and the reason for claiming the balance.

Completing this step correctly ensures that all necessary information is forwarded to the EPFO for processing, which is crucial for a smooth and efficient claim settlement. Additionally, the required documents, which may include identity proof, and retirement details, complement the form and help verify the claim.

Initiating the process with Form 19 puts the entire claim mechanism in motion, allowing the EPFO to validate and process the application accordingly. Without this step, the claim cannot be officially recognized or processed by the EPFO.