Universal Account Number { UAN }

EPF is mandatory for companies that have more than 20 employees. In our country, millions of people contribute a share of their salary to the Employee Provident Fund account for later benefits like retirement funds, emergency savings, etc. An employee’s Universal Account Number (UAN) is provided to all EPF members to make transactions. One can utilize the UAN Member portal to carry out all EPF related operations.

What is UAN?

The Universal Account Number is a 12-digit number issued by the Ministry of Labour and Employment to any member of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), allowing them to manage PF accounts from a single place.

Before 2014, every new company used to assign a new PF account number. This made it difficult to estimate the PF balance accurately. Moreover, it wasn’t easy to keep track of past transactions. As a solution to this issue, it was introduced.

It is a single, unique identification number for all the employees of an organization. It allows employees to consolidate all their Provident Fund accounts associated with different employee IDs from various organizations in one place. This makes it easier for them to withdraw or transfer funds. Any employee in an organization that offers the Employees’ Provident Fund and Family Pension Scheme must fill out Form-11.

What is the purpose of UAN?

When you contribute to the Employee Provident Fund (EPF), a unique number is allotted to your account. But before, all Employee Provident Fund (EPF) accounts were given new numbers each time a person changed jobs. The Universal Account Number introduction on 1 October 2014 has made it easier for employees to access their Employees Provident Fund accounts. It allows for seamless management of all your PF accounts throughout your working life, regardless of how often you change jobs. Your PF account can be transferred with the Universal Account Number even if employed before 2014. As a result, you can easily access your PF accounts and don’t have to remember multiple passwords or details for each account.

What are the benefits of UAN?

Universal Account Number offers the following benefits:

1. This platform integrates all your PF account details and allows you to complete your KYC process.
2. The Universal Account Number makes it easy for employers to verify the employment history of job applicants.
3. Activating your UAN number is simple and requires only the necessary bank details.
4. The unique PF number allows you to transfer or withdraw money from your account anytime.
5. You can manage your PF account by logging into the UAN online portal.
6. The employer can verify and validate your PF request on the portal. The employer can also successfully submit the PF contribution by using this portal.
7. Employees can only access their UAN account as it is linked to their KYC details.
8. The government or an agency assigns you this number, and it remains with you no matter which employer you have.
9. Under the Universal Account Number initiative, you can check your employee provident fund account balance, status, claims, and a lot more, i.e., manage your complete EPF account online.
10. The work contract will include a tax identification number that can be used to track the amount being credited by the employer every month and to keep tabs on deductions and accrued interest.

How to find your UAN number?

Each employee has a Universal Account Number, which can be checked through one’s employer or by logging on to the UAN Portal. This is usually printed on salary slips, so you can prevent these documents from obtaining your UAN.

1. Through UAN Portal

   Step 1: Go to UAN Portal and log in to your account.
   Step 2: You can check the status of your UAN by entering your PAN and Aadhaar number, along with other required details.
   Step 3: To get the EPFO office and state, enter your PF number or member ID, and select the appropriate option from the dropdown menu.
   Step 4: You can use your PAN or Aadhaar number to search for a person’s UAN.
   Step 5: To complete this form, you must enter your name and date of birth. You will also need to enter a mobile phone number and type the code below into the field provided.
   Step 6: Tap ‘Get PIN‘ to authorize your account.  The system will send your PIN to your mobile number when you enter it.
   Step 7: To view your details, click See the UAN number. You will receive a message on your registered phone number.

2. By employer

   You can contact your employer or the human resources department of your company to know your UAN. This number will appear on your monthly salary slip, as PF deductions from your pay will generally be reflected in the total amount you earn.

How to generate your UAN number?

To generate it, you can apply these two ways:

Way 1: When you take up employment, the company will generate a permanent UAN number that remains valid for life or until you change employers. The company will ask for a few documents to set up the account.

Way 2: If your employer does not take the necessary steps to generate the Universal Account Number, you can do so by generating it yourself. To do this, follow the steps given above.

Documents required to activate UAN

To activate UAN, the following documents are required:

1. Aadhaar Card
2. PAN card
3. Bank account details
4. KYC (Know Your Customer) documents
5. Address proof

How to activate the UAN number?

You can activate its number by following these steps:

1. Visit the ‘Activate UAN’ page on the UAN portal.

2. To activate the Universal Account Number, you must enter three pieces of information: your PAN number, Aadhaar number, and UAN.

3. Please provide your personal details as requested on the page.

4. Your mobile number will receive a verification pin to complete the registration process.

5. Click Authorize and Activate when you have entered the pin.

How to download UAN card?

You can download your UAN card online by following these steps:

1. Go to the EPFO Member e-SEWA website
2. Login using your UAN and password.
3. Click on the “View” tab.
4. Click on “UAN Card”.
5. Your UAN card will be displayed on the screen.
6. Click on the “Download UAN Card” button.
7. Your UAN card will be downloaded as a PDF file.

You can also download your UAN card using the EPFO Umang app. To download your UAN card using the Umang app, follow these steps:

1. Install the Umang app on your device.
2. Open the app and sign in using your Aadhaar number and OTP.
3. Click on the “Services” tab.
4. Scroll down and select “Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO)”.
5. Click on “Download UAN Card”.
6. Enter your UAN number and log in through OTP.
7.  Enter your date of birth, and your UAN card will be displayed on the screen.
8. Click on the “Download” button.
9. Your UAN card will be downloaded as a PDF file.

How to transfer accounts using UAN?

The process of transferring a PF account via UAN is listed below:

1. Check the eligibility for PF (Provident Fund) and ensure that all previous and current employers’ records are uploaded online with EPFO.

2. Submit the digital signature online.

3. To file an online transfer, you must register on the EPFO portal.

4. To initiate a transfer of your account, log into the EPF member portal and select the option to transfer your account.

5. Please complete all three sections of the form.

6. Enter your attesting authority and member ID/UAN. Then click on “Get OTP”.

7. An OTP will be sent to your registered mobile number. Enter this OTP to continue.

8. Once you submit your form, you will receive a tracking ID.

9. Submit the printout of the transfer form to your current employer.

How to withdraw money using UAN?

Use these steps to withdraw money using UAN:

1. Login to https://unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in/memberinterface/. After this, enter the verification code and proceed with signing in.
2. To file a claim, go to the ‘Online Services’ at the menu bar, select ‘Claim (Form-31, 19 & 10C)’, and follow the instructions.
3. You’ll be taken to a new page with all the member details, KYC details, etc. To complete this verification, please enter your bank account number in the blank below and click ‘Verify.’ Then select the reason for leaving PF from the dropdown menu and click ‘Submit.’
4. To complete this step, you must click on ‘Yes’ to a pop-up named ‘Certificate of Undertaking.’
5. In the dropdown menu, choose the ‘I Want To Apply For’ option and select the ‘Only PF withdrawal (Form 19)’ option.
6. Make sure to fill in the ‘Complete Address’ section and upload scanned copies of your Passbook or Cheque.
7. To complete your application, click on the ‘Get Aadhaar OTP’ option, fill in the OTP received on your mobile number, and apply.
8. Once you submit this form, follow the same steps and submit Form 10C via the portal. The requested amount should be deposited into your account within 15 to 20 days.

Conclusion

The UAN Member portal is a convenient resource for members. They can manage, transact, update, and view their account from the portal. The portal provides direct access to users and keeps track of their accounts in a simplified and transparent manner.