The Universal Account Number (UAN) is essential for employees contributing to the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) in India. It acts as a unified identifier, simplifying access to EPF-related services such as withdrawals, balance checks, and loan applications. With the UAN, employees can efficiently manage their EPF accounts online. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about UAN, its benefits, features, and the step-by-step process to activate it on the EPFO portal.
What is UAN?
The Universal Account Number (UAN) is a 12-digit unique identifier assigned by the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India. The UAN remains constant throughout an employee’s career, regardless of job changes.
When an employee switches jobs, the EPFO assigns a new member ID linked to the UAN. This ensures all PF accounts across multiple employers are consolidated under a single UAN, facilitating seamless transfers and withdrawals.
UAN key features
Centralised data: UAN centralizes employee EPF data nationwide, reducing redundancy.
Streamlined verification: Simplifies employee verification for EPFO and employers.
Tracking job changes: Tracks employees’ job transitions with minimal effort.
Reduction in early withdrawals: Encourages sustained savings by minimizing premature EPF withdrawals.
Access to e-services:
Viewing and downloading PF passbooks.
Updating KYC and basic details.
Applying for PF or EPS withdrawals.
Merging multiple member IDs.
Tracking EPF claim status.
UAN advantages for employees
Unified management: All PF accounts are consolidated under a single account.
Convenient withdrawals: Fully or partially withdraw PF funds online.
Balance check: Access all EPF account balances in one place.
Online access: View and download EPF passbook and statements anytime, anywhere.
Seamless transfers: Transfer or merge old EPF accounts into the current one.
Claim status tracking: Monitor EPFO claim statuses directly from the portal.
How to activate UAN online on EPFO portal?
Activating your UAN is a straightforward process. Follow these steps to activate your UAN on the EPFO portal:
Go to the official EPFO/UAN portal. Click on the ‘Activate UAN’ option under the ‘Important Links’ section.
Provide your UAN, Aadhaar number, name, date of birth, mobile number, and captcha code. Tick the consent box and click ‘Get Authorisation Pin’.
A new screen will display your details. Ensure all information is correct.
Tick the ‘I Agree’ checkbox. Enter the four-digit OTP sent to your registered mobile number and click ‘Validate OTP and Activate UAN’.
Upon successful OTP validation, your UAN will be activated. You will receive a password on your registered mobile number to log in to your account.
How to login to the EPFO portal using UAN?
Once your UAN is activated, you can access EPF services via the EPFO Member e-Sewa Portal. Here’s how:
Go to the EPFO/UAN portal.
Input your UAN and the password received on your registered mobile number. Now, enter the captcha code.
Click on ‘Sign In’ to access your EPF account. Also, you can reset your password after logging in.
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