Things you need to know about your EPFO Universal Account Number

Employees Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) has initiated a unique universal account number (UAN) for all members. The universal account numbers or UAN as it is being popularly called is likely to be issued to over 4 Crore subscribers by October 15 this year. The basic purpose of a UAN is that any provident fund subscriber would now not have to seek a new account number while switching jobs and all Provident Fund transactions would be linked to the exclusive universal account number.

In an attempt to allow Indian citizens the advantage of changing jobs without worrying about transferring funds in their provident fund account, Employees Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) has launched its unique PF portability program. The move which is likely to benefit millions of salaried individuals working in both government and private sector, Employees Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) has initiated a unique universal account number (UAN) for all employees.

Universal Account Number will work as core banking services

Universal Account number or UAN will be an exclusive identification allocated to each provident fund user. Since different companies or establishments allocate different member ids to each of its employers, the UAN will act as a common connection between them. UAN numbers will have all member ids of each employer attached to it.

Rather than worrying about new provident fund account, the employer simply needs to link his new member id given to him by his latest employer and link it to the universal account number or UAN.

The Universal account number works in a similar way as core banking services whereby a user with a bank account with one branch can use any other bank branch of the same bank to carry out various financial transactions.

Members are given a unique login id and password

The Universal account numbers function like a provident fund portability system allowing users to change their employers without worrying about link their provident fund accounts.

The employees are given a unique login id and password allowing them to fulfill various tasks including downloading of UAN card, updating their provident fund accounts, view any transfers or request for claims. The employer needs to seed the universal account number or UAN by submitting the desired KYC norms.

How to check status of UAN Number Online

• Visit EPFO Portal (http://uanmembers.epfoservices.in) and check the Check UAN Status (http://uanmembers.epfoservices.in/check_uan_status.php). It will let you know whether UAN is allotted to you or not.
• If EPFO has allotted to you the UAN Number, obtain UAN from your employer along with your member ID
• Using your member Id and mobile No, you can activate your UAN by clicking ‘Activate your UAN based registration’ available in the EPFO Portal. You should have UAN, Mobile and Member ID readily available to activate your UAN.

Employees Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) has issued universal account numbers or UANs for 4.17 crore contributing members already. For those who still do not have their UAN number need to get in touch with the existing employer about the same. UANs for each employee are available with his or her employer. Once you activate your UAN based registration, you can any time login to the portal by using username and password. Successfully login to the portal will enable you to download passbook and UAN Card.Your Employer will upload your KYC document. If you upload or update your KYC document, it will show as “Pending” till your employer approves it.

Documents Required for KYC information

Know your customer (KYC) norms for Universal Account Number can be completed by each member by submitting the scanned copies of the documents approved by the EPFO. Following documents can be used for KYC-

• AADHAR Card
• Permanent Account Number (PAN) Card
• Passport
• Driving License
• Election Card
• Ration Card
• Bank Account Number
• National Population Register

Who Are Eligible for Universal Account Number

Universal Account Number is alloted to all the EPFO members who exist in Electronic Challan cum Return (ECR) from 2014 January. Universal Account Number enables you to activate your UAN based registration and using the PIN number received on your mobile number, you can create a username and password for login to the portal.

Conditions for logging in to the portal

• You must be EPFO member and must exist in the ECR from 2014 January.
• You must obtain UAN and member id from the employer.
• Using the UAN, your mobile number and member id, you must activate your UAN based registration.
• Once the username and password is generated, you must upload KYC documents
• In case you are changing your job, you will have to declare your UAN to your new employer and the employer will allot you a new member id.

If you are an Employer

• You must register your digital signature with EPFO
• Download UAN List from UAN Menu
• After downloading the UAN list, UAN and member id detail of your employees has to be given to them.
• If a new employee joins your establishment and already has UAN from his previous employer, you will need to create a new member id for the employee and if the new employee doesn’t have an UAN, you must generate a new UAN against member id.
• An employer can upload Individual KYC Details or Bulk KYC Text File. But, there is no need for the scanned copies of any KYC document under bulk upload.
• User name and password for the UAN Employer Portal (https://employerclaims.epfoservices.in) is the same as used in the ECR portal by the establishments.