Currently, the EPFO has been settling EPF withdrawal claims at 8.55 per cent interest rate, approved for 2017-18. Now, the EPFO will settle accounts on higher rate of 8.65 per cent for 2018-19.

"Ministry of Labour and Employment has notified 8.65 per cent rate of interest on EPF deposits for its subscribers (over 6 crore). Now, the interest would be credited into accounts of subscribers and claims would be settled at this rate," a source was quoted as saying by PTI.

The Central Board of Trustees -- the apex decision-making body of the EPFO -- had approved 8.65 per cent interest rate for the last fiscal on February 21 this year.

The proposal was sent for the concurrence of the finance ministry, and the labour ministry was waiting for its approval.

Earlier this week, Labour Minister Santosh Gangawar had assured, "..ahead of the festival season, over 6 crore EPFO subscribers would get 8.65 per cent interest for 2018-19.

Last month, retirement fund body EPFO approved a proposal to restore a provision for commutation, or advance part-withdrawal, withdrawn by the EPFO in 2009 under the Employees' Pension Scheme.

Under the EPF Scheme, a final PF claim is settled within 20 days.

However, in the case of resignation, the member has to wait for a period of two months for withdrawal of the PF amount.

Provident fund body EPFO also allows the subscriber to make a partial withdrawal from the corpus under certain conditions.