Universal Account Number (UAN) is important for EPF account holders as it is required to operate the Employee Provident Fund (EPF) related services online. Accessing your PF account services like PF withdrawal, checking EPF balance, and PF loan application is easy by logging into the EPFO portal using the UAN. This article covers everything about your Universal Account Number.
The Universal Account Number (UAN) is a 12-digit unique number assigned to every employee contributing to the EPF. It is generated and allotted by the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) and authenticated by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India. An employee’s UAN remains the same throughout his/her work life, irrespective of the number of job changes.
Every time an employee switches his/her job, EPFO allot a new member identification number or EPF Account (ID) linked to the UAN. As an employee, one can request a new member ID by submitting the UAN to the new employer. Once the member ID is created, it gets linked to the employee’s UAN. Hence, the UAN will act as an umbrella for the multiple member IDs allotted to the employee by different employers.
The UAN remains the same and portable throughout the life of an employee. The employee shall have a different member ID when switching between jobs. All such member IDs are linked to the employee’s UAN to ease the process of EPF transfers and withdrawals.
An employer must register on EPFO if there are 20 or more employees. If the old employer has already assigned the UAN, the employee should provide such details to the new employer. However, for employees joining the service for the first time, the employer needs to generate the UAN for the employee. To generate a new UAN for the employee, the employer has to follow the below steps:
When you start a job for the first time, your employer will enroll you in the EPF. The EPFO will allot the Universal Account Number and send it to your employer. Thus, you can get to know your UAN and member ID from your employer or HR department. However, only PF-registered employers can enroll you under EPF and issue UAN.
Employers usually include the UAN Number in the employees’ salary slips. You can check your salary slip issued by the employer or company to find out your UAN.
If you are not able to find your UAN (Universal Account Number) from the employer or salary slip, you can obtain it through the UAN portal. Simply follow the steps below:
Step 1: Visit the UAN/ EPFO portal
Step 2: Click on the tab ‘Know your UAN’. The following page will appear.
Step 3: Enter your registered mobile number and captcha for verification. Click on the button ‘Request OTP’. Enter the OTP and captcha code and click on the ‘Validate OTP’ button.
Step 4: It will redirect you to enter your name, DOB, PAN/Aadhaar/member ID, and captcha for verification. After entering all the details, click on the button ‘Show my UAN’.
Step 5: Your UAN number will be displayed on the screen.
To activate UAN, you must have your Universal Account Number or PF member ID with you. Given below are the steps to activate UAN on the EPFO portal:
Step 1: Go to the UAN portal and click on ‘Activate UAN’ under the ‘Important Links’ heading.
Step 2: Select the UAN option, enter your UAN, Aadhaar number, name, date of birth, mobile number, and captcha code, tick the consent box, and click on the ‘Get Authorisation Pin’ button.
Step 3: A new screen will appear on your desktop, where your details will be displayed. Make sure that all the information is correct.
Step 4: Now, you will have to click on the ‘I Agree’ checkbox. Enter the four-digit OTP and click on ‘Validate OTP and Activate UAN’.
Step 5: Once the OTP is verified, the UAN will be activated.
Upon UAN activation, you will receive a password on your registered mobile number to log in to your account.
After activating your UAN and receiving the password on your mobile number, you can log in to the UAN or EPFO Member e-Sewa Portal and access online PF services. Follow the below steps to log in to the EPFO account:
Step 1: Visit the EPFO/ UAN portal.
Step 2: Enter the UAN and password you received on your mobile number.
Step 3: Enter the captcha code and click on ‘Sign In’.
Step 4: Once you log in, you can reset your password.
A valid EPF number can easily download the UAN card by following the steps mentioned below:
Step 1: Navigate to the UAN portal.
Step 2: Choose the ‘Forgot Password’ option.
Step 3: Enter your UAN and the displayed captcha details and click on the ‘Submit’ button.
Step 4: Enter your name, gender, and date of birth and click on the ‘Verify’ button.
Step 5: Enter your Aadhaar number, and captcha code, and click on the ‘Verify’ option.
Step 6: Once the details you have entered get validated, key in the mobile number in the box provided and click on ‘Get OTP’.
Step 7: An OTP will be sent to the mobile number you have entered. Key in your OTP and click on ‘Verify’.
Step 8: You will now have the option to change your password. The password must be entered twice in the boxes provided. Once you enter the new password details, click on ‘Submit.’
On clicking the ‘Submit’ option, the password will be updated on the EPFO portal.
You can check your EPF balance with your UAN number. After logging in using UAN, you can view the member passbook on the Unified member portal.
You can check your PF balance without a UAN number in the following ways:
PF balance check by missed call: You can check your EPF balance by giving a missed call to 9966044425 from the registered mobile number. You will receive a text message with your PF balance details.
PF balance check by sending an SMS: You can check your PF balance by sending a message containing ‘EPFOHO UAN ENG’ . Here, UAN means your personal UAN and ENG is the first three letters of your preferred language.
For more details regarding how to check PF balance with or without UAN number click here.
The employee should follow the below steps to link UAN with Aadhaar:
Step 1: Visit the EPFO portal.
Step 2: Enter UAN, password, and captcha to ‘Sign in’ to the portal.
Step 3: Under the ‘Manage’ tab on the top panel, click on ‘KYC’
Step 4: Tick the check box in front of Aadhaar, enter your 12-digit Aadhaar number and name, and save the details.
Step 5: After submitting, your details will reflect under the ‘Pending KYC’ tab. Once the employer approves, it will reflect under the ‘Approved KYC’ tab (It will generally take 15 days for approval).
Linking your Aadhaar to the EPF account will help in faster processing of the withdrawal and transfer process. The present employer should approve and verify the KYC, including the employee’s Aadhaar details.
An employee can change or update his/her personal details, such as name, date of birth, mobile number and e-mail ID by logging into the UAN portal. However, the details to be updated should match the details on the Aadhaar card, else it will not be updated on the UAN portal. The employer must give their approval for updating the name and date of birth.
Below are the steps to update the name and date of birth on the UAN portal:
Step 1: Visit the UAN Portal.
Step 2: Enter your UAN number, password, captcha code and click on the ‘Sign In’ button.
Step 3: Click on the ‘Manage’ tab and click on the ‘Joint Declaration’ option.
Step 4: Select your member ID and click ‘Get Details’.
Step 5: Your details will be displayed on the screen. Here, you can enter your updated details, such as your name, date of birth, gender, father/mother name, relationship, marital status and nationality by clicking on the pen icon under the ‘Changes Requested’ column, tick on the consent for joint declaration and click on the ‘Proceed’ button.
Step 6: Upload the required documents and click ‘Proceed’. Review and submit the application for changes.
Step 7: A message will be displayed as ‘Pending approval by Employer’.
Step 8: Contact your employer and ask them to approve your changes.
Step 9: Once the employer approves the changes, the EPFO office will approve the changes and update your personal details on the UAN portal, including your name and date of birth.
Below are the steps to update the mobile number and e-mail ID on the UAN portal:
Step 1: Visit the UAN Portal.
Step 2: Enter your UAN number, password, and captcha code and click on the ‘Sign In’ button.
Step 3: Click on the ‘Manage’ tab and click on the ‘Contact Details’ option.
Step 4: You will now see an option to change your mobile number or email ID. Select the ‘Change Mobile Number’ or ‘Change E-mail ID’ option.
Step 5: Once you select the ‘Change Mobile Number’ or ‘Change E-mail ID’ option, additional boxes will be displayed. You will be prompted to input your new mobile number or e-mail ID twice. Next, click on the ‘Get Mobile OTP’ or ‘Get Authorization Pin’ button.
Step 6: Once you receive the OTP on your new mobile number, input it and click on ‘Submit’. On clicking submit, your new mobile number or e-mail ID will be updated on the EPFO portal.
Step 1: Visit the UAN Portal.
Step 2: Click on the ‘Forgot Password’ option.
Step 3: Enter your UAN and the displayed captcha details and click on the ‘Submit’ button.
Step 4: Enter your name, gender, and date of birth and click on the ‘Verify’ button.
Step 5: Enter your Aadhaar number, and captcha code, and click on the ‘Verify’ button.
Step 6: Once the details you have entered get validated, key in the new mobile number linked with your Aadhaar in the box provided and click on the ‘Get OTP’ button.
Step 7: An OTP will be sent to the new mobile number you have entered. Key in your OTP and click on ‘Verify’.
Step 8: You will now get an option to change your password. The password must be entered twice in the boxes as provided. Once you enter the new password details, click on ‘Submit’. On clicking the ‘Submit’ option, the mobile number and the password will be updated on the EPFO portal.
The EPFO portal offers the below online services to EPF account holders.
View Service
EPF account holders can get information related to their EPF accounts from this service.
Profile
EPF account holders can view the following information by clicking the ‘Profile’ option under the ‘View’ tab:
Service History
When employees change organisations, each organisation creates a different PF number under the same UAN. EPF account holders can view all the details of their PF numbers created under a UAN by clicking the ‘Service History’ option under the ‘View’ tab.
UAN Card Download
EPF account holders can view and download their UAN card by clicking on the ‘UAN card’ option.
EPF Passbook
When the employee clicks on the ‘EPF Passbook’ option, a new tab will open. On the new tab, employees have to enter their UAN, password and captcha code and login to view the EPF passbook. The EPF passbook will contain details of the contribution amount to EPF and EPS, date of contribution and total amount.
EPF account holders can change their PF account details through the ‘Manage’ tab.
Joint Declaration
Employees can change their personal details, such as name and date of birth, gender, father/mother name, relationship, marital status and nationality, recorded on the PF account by clicking on the ‘Manage’ tab and selecting the ‘Joint Declaration’ option (as shown above). Please note that to change personal details on the EPF record, a joint declaration must be submitted by the employee and the employer. Thus, your employer must approve the changes and submit to the EPFO for updation of your personal details.
Contact details
Employees can change their mobile number and Email ID recorded on the PF account by clicking on the ‘Manage’ tab and selecting the ‘Contact Details’ option. Employer approval is not required to update your mobile number and Email ID. Thus, they will be updated immediately once the EPFO approves them.
KYC
By clicking on the ‘KYC’ option, a member can complete the KYC details for their PF account online, such as their bank account, PAN number, and Passport.
E-Nomination
EPF account holders can add nominees online by clicking the ‘E-Nomination’ option. They can complete the e-nomination for PF accounts by providing the required details online.
Mark Exit
Employees can update or change their exit date by clicking on the ‘Mark Exit’ option under the ‘Manage’ tab. Exit date is the date of leaving an organisation or company. This date is important for PF withdrawal.
Employees can change EPFO portal password, by clicking the ‘Password’ option on the ‘Account’ tab.
Claim (Form 31, 19 and 10C&10D)
EPF account holders can apply for partial or full withdrawal of PF funds online through this option. However, they must complete the KYC before applying for withdrawal of PF amount.
One Member One EPF Account (Transfer request)
Employees can use this option to transfer and merge their various PF accounts. They should update their KYC details before applying for this.
Track EPF Claim Status
After applying for EPF withdrawal claim, employees can check their EPF claim status through this option.
Download Annexure K
When an employee wants to transfer PF amount from an exempted to an unexempted establishment, they must fill the Annexure K. They can download the Annexure K form through this option.
Click here to know customer care number details of EPFO regional offices.
UAN Helpdesk Email ID: employeefeedback@epfindia.gov.in
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Universal Account Number (UAN) is essential for EPF services, facilitating online operations like withdrawals and balance checks. UAN simplifies tracking multiple EPF accounts and job changes, streamlining processes. Employees can link Aadhaar, update personal details, and use various services through the UAN portal. Steps for UAN activation, login, and accessing EPFO services are detailed.