Universal Account Number (UAN) is introduced by Employee Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) for its members. UAN is a 12-digit number that is generated when an employee opens an EPF account. It is handed over to the employer who opened EPF account for the employee. The employer then hands over the EPF account number and UAN number to the employee for future access.
When an employee switches jobs from one organization to another, his/her new employer creates a member ID with EPFO. This member ID is created within the UAN number of the employee (the UAN number that was given to the employee by his previous organization). There can be multiple member IDs under one UAN. UAN is created for its member for ease of operation and to find all details in one place. An employee doesn’t have to create multiple accounts every time he switches an employer. All his member ID details can be accessed by him/her under the one’s UAN.
How to generate Universal Account Number (UAN) on an EPF account?
If your employer has not generated a UAN for you or has not furnished the details to you, you can generate the UAN from the official website of EPFO using the following steps.
Step 1 – Click on the Employees’ Provident Fund Organization website here – https://unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in/memberinterface/
Step 2 – Click on the option ‘Know your UAN status’. You will be redirected to another page where you have to fill in the state you reside in and the EPFO office of your state from the drop-down menu on the page.
Step 3 – Enter your name, date of birth, mobile number, PF number. Click on ‘Get authorization PIN’ button.
Step 4 – Enter the authorization PIN that you received in the corresponding box on the screen and click on the button ‘Validate OTP and get UAN’.
Step 5 – Your UAN of your EPF account will be sent to your registered mobile number by EPFO. Save this number for future reference. UAN is required to carry out any request online with regards to your EPF.
Activate your UAN online:
Once you have your UAN, you have to activate it in order to use it. To activate your Universal Account Number (UAN) of your PF account online, follow these steps.
Step 1 – Click on the official EPFO member portal – https://www.epfindia.gov.in/
Step 2 – Under ‘Important Links’ option on right hand side of the screen, select ‘Activate UAN’.
Step 3 – Enter details such as your name, date of birth, UAN, mobile number and registered e-mail address.
Step 4 – Click on the button ‘Get authorization PIN’. You will receive the authorization PIN on your mobile number. Enter the PIN against the box asking for authorization PIN on your screen.
Step 5 – The mobile number you have used in this process will be considered as your registered mobile number on your EPF account. Within a few hours, your UAN will be activated. You will receive an SMS with the password to your UAN using which you can access your UAN.
Services provided through UAN portal:
Every employee registered on UAN is a member of UAN. The UAN portal offers several services to its members with respect to their EPF accounts. Here’s a list of the services offered –
- Download UAN card
Step 1 – To download your UAN card from the UAN portal, login to your account with valid credentials on the link – https://unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in/memberinterface/
Step 2 – Under download menu, select ‘download UAN card’. You can download your UAN card in PDF format.
- Submit KYC
Step 1 – To submit KYC on your EPF account, login to your UAN account with valid login credentials on the link – https://unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in/memberinterface/
Step 2 – Under Profile menu, click on ‘update KYC information’.
Step 3 – Contact your employer to digitally approve the KYC submitted to EPFO. Until your KYC verification is complete by your employer, the status of KYC on your profile will display ‘pending’.
- Download passbook
Step 1 – You can download passbook of your EPF account anytime from your UAN account. Login to your UAN account here – https://unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in/memberinterface/
Step 2 – Under Download menu, select ‘download passbook’.
If your provident fund and pension fund is managed by EPFO, only then you will be able to access your updated passbook from your UAN account. There are some organizations who are ‘exempt establishment’ because PF of its employees is managed by the companies itself. Only the pension fund is managed by EPFO, in this case EPFO will not have details to PF and hence will not be able to provide updated transaction details. Please contact human resources department of your company to get passbook of your PF account.
- List of all member IDs in the UAN
- Edit personal details on the EPF account
You can change the e-mail address and phone number on your EPF account after account creation. To update your e-mail address, under Profile menu click on ‘Edit e-mail id’. To update your registered phone number, under Profile menu click on ‘Edit phone number’.
- Request withdrawals
- Check eligibility to transfer claims online
How to withdraw funds from PF account using UAN portal?
You can submit request to withdraw funds from your EPF account online using the UAN portal. However, the employee should have met the following criteria in order to file a request:
- UAN of the employee is active and linked with a valid mobile number.
- KYC should be verified on UAN account.
- Bank details inclusive of IFSC code and Aadhar card is linked to the UAN account.
Follow these steps to withdraw money from your EPF account:
Step 1 – Login to UAN portal here – https://unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in/memberinterface/
Enter the captcha code.
Step 2 – Under ‘Online Services’ tab, click on ‘Claim (Form 31, 19 & 10C)’.
Step 3 – In the page that opens, enter your bank details and click on ‘verify’. Mention the reason for withdrawal of funds.
Step 4 – In the pop-up that appears -’Certificate of undertaking’, click on ‘Yes’.
Step 5 – Under the ‘Online Services’ tab, click on ‘Only PF withdrawal (Form 19)’ option.
Step 6 – Fill your complete address under ‘address’ section, upload scanned copies of your cheque or passbook.
Step 7 – Accept the disclaimer that appears. Click on ‘Get Aadhar OTP’. You will receive an OTP on your registered mobile number. Enter it and submit the application.
Step 8 – Under the ‘Online services’ tab, click on ‘Form 10C’ option. Fill in the requested details.
Step 9 – Update scanned copies of your cheque or passbook. Accept the disclaimer that appears. Click on ‘Get Aadhar OTP’. You will receive an OTP on your registered mobile number. Enter it and submit the form.
You will receive the amount requested in the application on UAN portal within 15-20 working days to your bank account.
If you have more than one UAN number? Here’s what you should do:
When you move from one organization to another, it is possible that your new employer might give you a UAN when you already have a UAN from your previous employer. This happens when your previous employer missed filling ‘date of exit’ in ECR.
When you have two UANs, you have to report it to your current employer and to EPFO. Write an e-mail to your employer and to EPFO at uanepf@epfindia.gov.in with details of your previous UAN and new UAN.
In a few days, EPFO will conduct the necessary verification and block your previous UAN. Only your new UAN will be kept active. Once you have this confirmation, you can submit a claim to EPFO with details of your EPF account and new UAN requesting to transfer funds from your previous UAN to your current UAN.