A UAN (Universal Account Number) is like a digital ID card given by EPFO (Employee Provident Fund Organization) to working individuals. It's a 12-digit number that stays the same throughout your career. Whenever you switch jobs, you get a new PF (Provident Fund) account number, but all of these are tied to your one UAN. Think of it as a hub that holds all your PF accounts together. With your UAN, you can easily keep track of your EPF contributions, check your balance, and even move or withdraw funds from your PF account online. It's a convenient way to manage your retirement savings hassle-free.
Keep reading to learn how to get and activate your UAN, advantages of UAN for employees, UAN helpdesk and more.
What Is EPFO Login?
EPFO stands for Employees' Provident Fund Organisation. It's a group that helps the Central Board of Trustees, a team set up by the Employees' Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1952. EPFO's job is to manage the Employees' Provident Fund Scheme, the Employees' Pension Scheme, and the Employees' Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme for workers in India's organized sector. It makes sure that these schemes give social security benefits to the members. EPFO's goal is to protect employees' interests and make sure they get their benefits when they retire or if something unexpected happens.
UAN Login
Once your UAN is activated, you can log in to the UAN Member e-SEWA Portal and use various services like viewing your UAN card, profile, and service history. Here's how to log in to the EPFO member portal:
- Go to the UAN Member e-Sewa page.
- Enter your UAN, password, and captcha code.
- Click on "Sign in" to log in to your EPF account.
How to Get UAN
When someone starts working for the first time, if the company has 20 or more employees, the employer needs to get a UAN for them. If the employee already has a UAN from a previous job, they need to give it to the new employer. Here's what the employer has to do to get a new UAN for the employee:
- Log in to the EPF Employer Portal using the Establishment ID and password.
- Go to the "Member" section and click on the "Register Individual" tab.
- Enter the employee’s details like Aadhaar, PAN, bank details, etc.
- Approve all the details in the "Approval" section to have a new UAN generated by EPFO.
If an employee already has a UAN from a previous employer and the current employer requests a new UAN from EPFO, EPFO will provide the existing UAN of the employee instead of generating a new one. However, this will only occur if the employee had linked their UAN with their Aadhaar card.
UAN Activation
Before you can use any online services related to EPF on the EPFO portal, you need to register or activate your UAN. Without activation, you won't be able to access any online facilities provided by EPFO. Here are the steps you need to follow for UAN activation/registration:
To activate your UAN, follow these steps:
- Visit the EPFO Member Portal and click on “Activate UAN”.
- Provide your UAN/member ID, along with your name, Aadhaar number, date of birth, mobile number, and captcha code. Then click on “Get Authorization PIN”.
- Enter the authorization PIN that you receive on your registered mobile number and click on “Validate OTP and Activate UAN”.
- Your UAN will be activated, and the password will be sent to your mobile number.
- Now you can log in to your EPF account using your UAN and password.
UAN Status Check
- After your UAN is created and linked to your EPF account, your employer usually gives you the UAN and PF details. But if you want to check your UAN status or find out your UAN on your own, follow these simple steps:
- Go to the EPFO Member Portal and click on “Know your UAN”.
- Enter your registered mobile number, captcha code, and click on “Request OTP”.
- Enter the OTP you receive, captcha code, and click on “Validate OTP”.
- Provide your name, date of birth, Aadhaar/PAN/member ID, along with the captcha for verification, and click on “Show my UAN” to find out your UAN.
Documents Required for UAN Registration
For a safe UAN registration, you need to provide the following documents:-
- PAN card
- Updated Aadhar Card of the applicant
- Bank account details and IFSC
- Identity Proof- Driving License, Passport, Voter Id, etc.
- Proof of Address
- ESIC card
Benefits of Universal Account Number (UAN)
Here are some benefits of UAN for both employees and employers:
- UAN helps EPFO keep track when employees change jobs.
- When employees switch jobs, they link their new PF account to the UAN, and EPFO updates its records.
- UAN services can be accessed online, making it easy to withdraw and transfer funds when changing jobs.
- UAN ensures that all of an employee's PF accounts are real.
Advantages of UAN for Employees
- Universal in Nature: All of an employee's PF accounts are linked together in one place with UAN.
- Easily Managed by SMS Alerts: Employees get SMS alerts for every contribution made by the employer after registering on the UAN portal, making management easier.
- Less Employer Involvement in Withdrawals of PF: With UAN, employers have less involvement in PF withdrawals. The old PF can be transferred to the new account once KYC verification is done.
- Fund Transfer Not Required: There's no need for the employee to transfer funds manually. Just provide UAN and KYC details to the new employer, and the old PF is transferred automatically after verification.
How to Withdraw/Transfer Funds Using UAN Easily
When employees change companies, they can either withdraw or transfer their funds. But because the process used to be so complicated, many people didn’t use their PF. With the introduction of UAN, the process has become easier in the following ways:
- You can link all your PF accounts together with your UAN.
- Just provide your UAN to the employer, and you can manage your account online after KYC verification.
- You receive monthly updates on your mobile regarding deposits made by the employer in the PF account.
- Employer involvement is reduced if the PF account is linked to UAN.
- Accessing EPF passbook online is possible through the website or the Umang app.
- PF withdrawals are easier and can be made without the employer's involvement.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What information does the UAN card hold?
Ans. The UAN card displays the universal account number and KYC details (if verified by the employer) on the front side. On the back side, it shows the five most recent member IDs and EPFO helpdesk contact numbers.
Q2. I forgot my UAN, how to retrieve it?
Ans. You can retrieve your UAN if you have linked the same with your Aadhaar card or PAN Card. Go to EPFO homepage>For Employees>Member UAN/Online Service>Know UAN status>Enter Details> Request OTP>Enter OTP>Enter Details>Click on Show My UAN.
Q3. How to transfer old EPF accounts and connect them to UAN?
Ans. Once your current EPF account is linked with your UAN, you can easily link all your old EPF accounts online. Additionally, you can check the status of transfer requests as well.
Q4. Why is my UAN KYC pending?
Ans. It generally takes around 3 to 5 days for the related documents to be viewed and approved. If your UAN KYC is pending for more than 7-8 days, you can file a complaint or contact the regional EPFO officer through the help desk online or by calling 1800 118 005 or 14470 (toll-free).
Q5. What can be done if wrong information is mentioned on your EPF card?
Ans. If you need to change your father’s name, your name, or your date of birth, you can do so by providing valid documents to your current employer. You can also communicate these changes to the EPFO helpdesk to update the information on your UAN card.
Q6. How to link Aadhar with UAN?
Ans. There are various methods to link Aadhaar with UAN. You can use the Umang App, biometric credentials on the e-KYC Portal, or OTP verification on the e-KYC Portal of EPFO to link your Aadhaar.
Q7. What to do if two UANs get allotted?
Ans. In this case, the employee needs to inform the EPFO helpdesk right away. After completing all the necessary verifications, the old UAN will be blocked.
Q8. What will happen to UAN in case of a change in job?
Ans. When you switch jobs, you should provide your UAN to your new employer. The new employer then links your new PF account to it. Your UAN stays the same for your entire career.