Employee’s Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has brought in some major change in the way it works and a new system called UAN (Unique Account Number) is in place now. The UAN is a simplifying the process of collecting and managing the provident fund money for employees.

Background of Old EPF system

Before I begin to explain the new EPF system i.e. UAN. Let me go back a bit to help you understand a bit of background. Earlier when a person joins a new job for the first time, he got an EPF account by the employer where his provident fund money was deposited. For many years, the money gets accumulated in that EPF account.

 

Now, when this person leaves his job and joined some other organization, the new employer again assigns him/her a new EPF account and starts depositing his  provident fund money in that respective account. In this way, if the person changes his job for more than 6 times, he will have 6 different EPF account and in this case if he wants to withdraw his money from EPF account. The employee has to apply at 6 different employers or transfer the amount in his latest EPF account and this call for a big headache.

Comparison between old v/s new EPF withdrawal Process

Things have changed now quite a bit after UAN has been introduced and most of the pain points have been addressed and resolved.

Comparison between old v/s new EPF withdrawal Process

 

What is UAN?

In simple words, UAN is a 12 digit single account number which will be linked to your provided fund money. Now you don’t need to worry for different EPF account and then transfer them, when you join a new job. Now each employer will just give you a member id, and all those member id will be linked with the same UAN. Even the employee’s having EPF under private trusts will be assigned the UAN.

This is a new system and will be applicable now for your current and future employment.

Steps of obtaining and activation your UAN (Unique Account Number)?

 Below these are steps to be followed if the person wishes to procure UAN and activate it.

Step 1: Get the UAN from your Employer.

The first step is to ask the employer for your UAN. The EPFO department has already allotted most of UAN and communicated it with employers. If your employer has not shared it with you, you can still validate if your UAN has been issued or not. For that, you need to follow the below given steps.

1. Visit the site http://uanmembers.epfoservices.in/check_uan_status.php.
2. Choose your State and Office jurisdiction for EPF.
3. Enter your Establishment Code and EPF account number.

Then click on the “Check Status” button and it will show a message saying “UAN activated” in case it is already activated by the EPFO department. Once you see the message and then click it with your employer. So, in this manner, you can verify if your UAN is allocated or not against your EPF.

Step 2: Activation of UAN (Unique Account Number)  

The next step is to activate your UAN. For that, you need to follow the steps below:-

1. Visit the site http://uanmembers.epfoservices.in/check_uan_status.php.
2. Enter the requisite details such as UAN number, mobile number and EPF account details.
3. Get authorization PIN code on your registered mobile number.
4. Submit the PIN number and activate the UAN number.
5. Then, generate your login/password and registration is complete.

Step 3: Updating of KYC details

Post this; you have should login in UAN portal with your username and once you enter the portal and update the KYC details.

Here below are the documents required which can be used for KYC. You need to upload a scanned copy of any one document.

1. National Population Register.
2. Aadhar Card
3. Permanent Account Number (PAN)
4. Passport
5. Driving License
6. Election Card
7. Ration Card

 

EPFO system has formulated a regime to ease to the employees. Also, make sure your UAN is activated and you have uploaded the KYC documents.

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