UAN - Universal Account Number

What is UAN?

This number is issued by the Ministry of Labor and Employment, Government of India. If an individual changes his job, he will get a new PF account with the organization. This way, multiple PF account numbers will be allotted to an employee. Multiple PF account numbers is an area of concern as many employees report grievances related to transfer and withdrawal of PF amount. To counter this problem and to make the management of provident fund accounts easier, the concept of UAN was introduced The UAN is a single account number that will connect the multiple IDs associated with an employer. With UAN, an employee can connect all his EPFO accounts to make the process of PF withdrawal and transfer easier.

Simple Steps for UAN Login

1. Visit https://www.epfindia.gov.in/site_en/index.php in order to access UAN.

2. Select “For Employees” under “Our Services” tab.

3. Click-on to “Member UAN/Online Services” under Services menu.

4. Enter your Login details like UAN Number & Password to login to UAN.

Features & Benefits of UAN

UAN is a twelve digit number assigned to every member who is contributing towards the Employee Provident Fund. It enables quick and convenient transfer of funds from one account to another. As per the new guidelines issued by EPFO, employees don’t need attestation from their employer for withdrawal of PF sum, provided they have a valid UAN ID. The main objection of UAN is to support the centralization of employee data and decreasing the dependency of Employee Provident Fund Organization on employers for the purpose of employee verification. At present, the identity of members is verified by the EPFO through the data obtained by employers. With the introduction of UAN, the bank account details of the member and KYC details are linked in a way that the employee’s identity is verified and established.

The UAN will also assist EPFO in tracking the job changes of every employee. If an individual changes his job, he will have to give the UAN number to his employer to link the new PF account. In this way, EPFO will have updated information on where a person is employed at any time. Also, UAN will stop people from making unnecessary EPF withdrawals when they switch jobs. With the Government bringing more enhancements in UAN linked data services, more employees are getting aware of the EPF benefits. Now with the latest amendment of EPF act, even inoperative accounts will continue to accrue interests.

The main Benefits of UAN is as follows.

• Hassle free transfer of PF balance while switching jobs
• Allows an employee to view PF status, download passbook and form, and file EPF claims
• Option to avail accumulated funds without employer attestation
• Provides loan facility
• Users can subscribe to SMS notifications
• Each employee will be issued only one UAN number
• Change of jobs does not affect the UAN status
• All EPF accounts will be linked to a single UAN
• Activation of the UAN depends on the KYC details furnished by the applicant
• UAN Registration is done through the employing organization
• The linking of UAN can be done online through the EPFO portal
• Employees can connect all their PF accounts to one single unified account.
• Employees can withdraw their PF online by using the UAN.
• Transferring the PF amount from old account to a new account is also made easy with the UAN.
• Employees can check their EPF balance instantly using the UAN member portal online. Also, by sending an SMS with UAN number, the employee can get to know the PF balance.
• UAN is an identification number that is independent of employers. There will be any need for the employer to authenticate your profile if your UAN is Aadhaar and KYC verified.
• UAN will help the employees to manage their PF accounts online and this would mean that any employer will not be able to hold back the PF amount of any employee.
• Employees would be able to track if the company is depositing the PF every month or if the company is delaying the PF contribution just by registering on the UAN portal.

Advantages of UAN to Employees

Employees who have linked together all their PF accounts with UAN will get the following benefits.

• No Involvement of Employer in PF Withdrawals

Currently, any request for PF withdrawal has to pass through your previous employer, has to be signed and then forwarded to the EPFO. With the UAN, the employer intervention is reduced. The PF money in your previous account will be automatically transferred to the new PF account after the KYC verification is complete.

• No need to Transfer Funds

Transferring the PF amount from one employer account to other, used to be a lengthy and tedious process. With the advent of UAN, there will be no need to transfer funds at all. To change the accounts, all you have to do is mention the KYC and UAN details to the new employer. Once these details are verified by your new employer, the PF amount from the old account will be transferred to the new account automatically. For old PF accounts which were opened before the UAN allotment, the transfer is still done through either digital or physical form.

• SMS Alerts for Easy Management

By registering on the EPF portal, employee’s will receive SMS alerts from the EPFO when a contribution is made either by the employer or the employee. The alerts will be very similar to those you get on your phone every time your bank savings account is debited or credited. By downloading the PF passbook from the EPF portal by mentioning the UAN, you can also check your total balance.

• Enhanced Effectiveness of Employee Pension Scheme

Many employees preferred to withdraw their PF amount from one account while switching jobs because the withdrawal was easier than PF transfer. But, an important point to remember is when the PF money is withdrawn, the fund contributed towards Employee Pension Scheme is also withdrawn. This greatly impacts the pension that you will receive after retirement. With UAN, the EPF account and under that, the EPS is also transferred automatically. Instead of withdrawing, transferring EPF money will directly result in greater pension money after retirement.

What can I do with UAN Number?

Having a Universal Account Number (UAN) number helps in better management of your Provident Fund (PF) account. Below is a list of things that a UAN number can be used for: 

• With the help of UAN, an employee will be able to access his or her Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) balance online at any instance. Members can also instantly download the PF statement if needed. 
• UAN helps in ensuring faster EPF withdrawals and transfers. Full or partial withdrawals can also be done easily. 
• Easier withdrawal and transfer of funds from the EPF account is possible by using UAN. With the help of UAN, direct communication with the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) regarding your EPF account is possible, rather than depending on your employer. 

• Easy and hassle-free transfer of PF amount is possible in case you change your job, as the UAN remains the same for the entire professional life of an employee. Also, the PF amount can be transferred by the employee with UAN.  
• Employers will not be able to withhold or access the employees’ PF amount due to the presence of UAN.  

How to get UAN?

At present, the UAN allotment is done only for those employees in service from 1st January 2014 to 30th June 2014. In this process, 41.7 million subscribers have got their UAN number for this period. Getting the UAN number is very simple, all you have to do is follow the easy steps described below.

• EPFO will provide unique PF number to all employers.
• The employer will have to include the UAN for employees who contribute to PF with the new member ID.
• Employees have to submit KYC documents including ID proof and address proof. The following documents will have to be provided.
  • Identity Proof - PAN card, Aadhaar or Passport
  • Bank account details including account number and the bank IFSC code
  • Address Proof - Ration Card, Driving license, passport or voter ID
• The employer will have to take up the responsibility of verifying the KYC documents submitted by the employee. The new member ID will then be linked to UAN by the employer.
• After KYC verification is complete, the employees will have to register themselves on the UAN website. Activate UAN Based registration must be selected and the following mandatory details have to be entered.
  • Mobile number
  • Member ID provided by the new employer
  • UAN number offered by the employer. The user ID will be your UAN for all future logins on the web portals.
• Once the mandatory details are all submitted, an OTP PIN will be sent to your mobile.
• After entering the OTP PIN, you will have to enter the following details.
  • Date of birth
  • Father/husband name and other details
• You will be asked to submit a new password. After this, the registration is complete and you will be able to view your updated EPF passbook.

Registering UAN

Follow the steps given below to easily register your UAN online.

• After receiving the UAN from the employer, log on to the official website of EPFO services where you can activate your UAN. Select “Activate UAN based registration” and provide details about your UAN, member ID and mobile number.
• After you have submitted the details, you will receive a PIN for authorization on your mobile. After you have entered the PIN, the screen will allow you to create a login and a password using which you can access the facilities in UAN portal.
• The username will always be your UAN while you can select your password.

UAN Login

You can log on to the EPF official website using your username as UAN and password. After logging in, you will be able to do the following.

• Download the UAN card and passbook
• View PF linking status and list all member IDs
• View transfer claim status, file transfer claim and system generated transfer claim status
• Edit personal details including mobile number and email id
• Update KYC information and upload KYC documents
• View helpdesk contacts

How to Activate your UAN

Once your employer generates your UAN number the same has to be activated through the EPFO web portal. Follow the steps given below to activate your UAN:

• Visit the EPFO website and click on the “Activate your UAN” link
• It will navigate to the UAN activation page where you will be required to fill in your UAN number, mobile number, and Member ID
• On clicking the “Get Pin” option you will receive an activation PIN on the registered mobile number
• Feed the PIN number in the appropriate field and click submit
• Next generate your UAN Login password and complete the process

Why is it necessary to link Aadhaar Card with UAN? 

Several measures have been introduced by the EPFO for claims to be settled quickly. For a quick settlement of claims, the Aadhaar Card will have to be linked with the UAN. Linking Aadhaar Card with the UAN can help in submitting claims without the need of an attestation from the employer as well as not needing to provide any documentary evidence to the EPFO for partial withdrawals for medical, education, or marriage needs. 

How to link Aadhaar with UAN online?

Subscribers can now link their Aadhaar number with their UAN via the EPFO website “epfindia.gov.in”. This facility, which has been made available since Diwali eve 2017, has been introduced with the aim of boosting volume of online claims, and eventually going paperless.

The steps to link Aadhaar with UAN are as follows:

• Users can avail of this facility by going to the "eKYC Portal" on the EPFO website, under “Online Services” tab.
• From there, users need to click on 'Link UAN Aadhaar' to move forward in the process.
• Subscribers then have to enter their UAN to proceed further. This will trigger an OTP being sent to their mobile number registered with UAN.
• After OTP is verified, members will have to enter their Aadhaar Number. This will trigger another OTP to be sent to their mobile/email, but this time to the one linked with their Aadhaar.
• Once this OTP is also verified, and the UAN details match with their Aadhaar details, their UAN and Aadhaar get linked.

FAQs about UAN Number

1. What Happens to UAN in case of Job Change?

If UAN is already allotted to the employee and if the employee shifts to another organization, all he has to do is just provide the UAN on joining and the employer will mark the new member ID which can be linked to the already allotted UAN. The UAN will remain same throughout a person’s career.

2. What is a UAN card and what information does it contain?

UAN card contains information about UAN number and other necessary information. The front side of the card displays photo and KYC (in case the KYC documents are verified by the employer). The backside of the card has the latest five-member IDs along with contact details of EPF helpdesk.

3. How do I transfer the old PF accounts and connect it with my UAN?

After your UAN is linked to the new EPF account, you will have to transfer the previous accounts. You can transfer your PF accounts online and also check the transfer status.

4. I have been allotted two UANs? How do I get a number validated?

In some cases, you might be allotted two UANs because of confusions during UAN submission to previous and current employer. If that happens, you will have to contact the EPF helpdesk immediately and mention both your UANs and after due verification, previous UAN will be blocked and the current UAN will be activated.

5. What do I do if my date of birth has not been mentioned correctly in the EPF card?

In case you wish to change your date of birth, father’s name or your name, you can apply with supporting documents through your organization. Also, you can contact the EPF helpdesk for more information regarding change of personal details in the UAN card.

6. What facilities areEPFO members entitled to?

Presently, members are entitled to the following facilities:

• UAN Card can be download
• Passbook can be downloaded

• Previous Member IDs can be viewed
• KYC details can be entered
• Personal details can be edited
• Eligibility for online transfer claim can be checked

7. What is the login password to the UAN portal?

The member will have to create a password during his/her activation of UAN. The password must be 8-25 characters long, have a special character, and must be alphanumeric.

8. What are considered as KYC documents?

Documents that can be used for KYC are:

• Driving Licence
• Bank Account Number

• Ration Card
• Permanent Account Number
• Aadhaar Card
• Election Card
• National Population Register (NPR)

• Passport

9. How do I get my photograph on the UAN Card?

Photographs on the UAN Card are not available now. The facility will be available on successful seeding of KYC of Aadhaar. Currently, the process is ongoing.

10. Can a scanned KYC document be uploaded?

A scanned document with a maximum size of 300 KB can be uploaded. Up to 8 scanned documents can be uploaded.

11. Who can I contact for any queries regarding the UAN portal?

For any queries regarding the UAN portal, you can contact the helpdesk email uanepf@epfindia.gov.in or the helpdesk number 18001-18005.

12. Why is member activation required for completion of auto-transfer process?

Ensuring members are updated on the status of their transactions via his or her registered mobile number is the main idea for linking activation and EPFO services.

13. How long will EPF take to make changes in personal particulars?

Once the employer sends the complete information to the respective field office, it will take 1 month for the changes to be uploaded. Changes will be as per EPF norms.

14. What are the benefits of updating KYC details?

On updating KYC details, members get the following benefits:

• Easy withdrawal of PF amount
• Transfer of PF amount is easy

• Members will get a SMS intimation on a monthly basis regarding their PF

15.What facilities are EPFO members entitled to? 

Presently, members are entitled to the following facilities: 

• UAN Card can be download 
• Passbook can be downloaded 
• Previous Member IDs can be viewed 
• KYC details can be entered 
• Personal details can be edited 
• Eligibility for online transfer claim can be checked 

16. What is the login password to the UAN portal?

The member will have to create a password during his/her activation of UAN. The password must be 8-25 characters long, have a special character, and must be alphanumeric. 

17. What are considered as KYC documents? 

Documents that can be used for KYC are: 

• Driving Licence 
• Bank Account Number 
• Ration Card 
• Permanent Account Number 
• Aadhaar Card 
• Election Card 
• National Population Register (NPR) 
• Passport 

18. How do I get my photograph on the UAN Card? 

Photographs on the UAN Card are not available now. The facility will be available on successful seeding of KYC of Aadhaar. Currently, the process is ongoing. 

19. Can a scanned KYC document be uploaded? 

A scanned document with a maximum size of 300 KB can be uploaded. Up to 8 scanned documents can be uploaded. 

20. Who can I contact for any queries regarding the UAN portal? 

For any queries regarding the UAN portal, you can contact the helpdesk email uanepf@epfindia.gov.in or the helpdesk number 18001-18005. 

21. Why is member activation required for completion of auto-transfer process? 

Ensuring members are updated on the status of their transactions via his or her registered mobile number is the main idea for linking activation and EPFO services. 

22. How long will EPF take to make changes in personal particulars? 

Once the employer sends the complete information to the respective field office, it will take 1 month for the changes to be uploaded. Changes will be as per EPF norms. 

23. What are the benefits of updating KYC details? 

On updating KYC details, members get the following benefits: 

• Easy withdrawal of PF amount 
• Transfer of PF amount is easy 
• Members will get a SMS intimation on a monthly basis regarding their PF