Understanding UAN and How to Access It

The Universal Account Number (UAN) is a unique 12-digit number assigned to every employee who contributes to the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) in India. This number plays a crucial role in linking an individual’s multiple PF accounts across different employers, making it easier to manage and track their provident fund (PF) details throughout their career. UAN is issued by the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) and provides various benefits such as seamless transfers, easy withdrawals, and online access to EPF services.

What is UAN?

The Universal Account Number (UAN) serves as a central repository for an employee’s EPF account details. Each UAN is unique and remains the same throughout an individual’s career, even if they switch jobs. This means that even if you change employers, your EPF account stays linked to your UAN, making it easy to manage and transfer your funds. UAN eliminates the need to create new accounts for each job change and simplifies the overall management of your EPF balance.

When you switch jobs, the new employer will link your existing UAN to the new EPF account, keeping your account records consolidated. Your UAN also allows you to access various EPF e-services like viewing your passbook, applying for withdrawals, and more, all from a single platform.

Features of UAN

• UAN centralizes employee data across the country.
• It reduces the verification burden on EPFO by companies and employers.
• UAN helps EPFO track employees’ job changes.
• It has significantly reduced early and untimely EPF withdrawals.
• UAN allows access to various EPF e-services, including:
  • Viewing and downloading the PF passbook.
  • Accessing organization details (name, joining date, EPS details).
  • Downloading the UAN card.
  • Updating KYC and basic details.
  • Applying for PF or EPS withdrawals.
  • Merging multiple member IDs.
  • Tracking EPF claim status.

Advantages of UAN to Employees

• All PF accounts, regardless of job changes, are linked to a single UAN.
• Employees can easily withdraw PF (fully or partially) online using UAN.
• You can check the balance of all your EPF accounts in one place.
• EPF passbook, showing contributions and interest, can be viewed and downloaded online.
• Old EPF accounts can be transferred or merged with the current account online.
• PF statements can be downloaded anytime from anywhere.
• EPFO claim status can be tracked online via the EPF member portal using your UAN.

How to Obtain Your UAN

Through Your Employer:

When you join a new organization, your employer is responsible for providing you with a UAN. If your UAN is not already generated, your employer will create it through the EPFO portal. If you have an existing UAN from a previous employer, you can provide it to your new employer to link it to your current EPF account.

Through the UAN Portal:

If you cannot find your UAN from your employer or salary slip, you can retrieve it online by visiting the EPFO’s UAN portal. Here’s how you can retrieve your UAN:

1. Visit the UAN/EPFO portal.
2. Click on the “Know Your UAN” tab.
3. Enter your registered mobile number and the captcha code, then click on “Request OTP.”
4. Enter the OTP and captcha code to validate.
5. You will be asked to enter your name, date of birth, PAN/Aadhaar/member ID, and captcha for verification.
6. After entering the details, click “Show My UAN.” Your UAN will be displayed on the screen.

How to Activate Your UAN

Once you obtain your UAN, you need to activate it to access your EPF services. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to activate your UAN:

1. Visit the UAN portal.
2. Click on ‘Activate UAN’ under the ‘Important Links’ section.
3. Enter your UAN, Aadhaar number, name, date of birth, mobile number, and captcha code. Then click on ‘Get Authorization Pin.’
4. Verify the details displayed and click on the ‘I Agree’ checkbox.
5. Enter the OTP sent to your registered mobile number and click on ‘Validate OTP and Activate UAN.’
6. Your UAN will be activated, and a password will be sent to your registered mobile number. Use this password to log in.

How to Login to the EPFO Portal Using UAN

Once your UAN is activated, you can log in to the EPFO portal to access your EPF details. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Visit the EPFO/UAN portal.
2. Enter your UAN and the password you received during activation.
3. Enter the captcha code and click on ‘Sign In.’
4. Once logged in, you can update your password, view your passbook, and perform various EPF-related activities.

How to Download Your UAN Card Online

To download your UAN card, follow these simple steps:

1. Log in to the EPFO portal using your UAN and password.
2. Under the ‘View’ tab, click on ‘UAN Card.’
3. Your UAN card will be displayed. Click on the ‘Download’ option at the top-right corner to save it to your device.

How to Check Your EPF Balance Using UAN

You can easily check your EPF balance using your UAN. Here’s how:

Method 1: Using the EPF Portal

1. Log in to the Unified Member Portal using your UAN, password, and captcha.
2. Once logged in, navigate to the ‘Member Passbook’ section.
3. Your EPF balance will be displayed, including details of your contributions and interest.

Method 2: Using Missed Call or SMS

If you don’t have access to the EPF portal, you can check your balance via a missed call or SMS:

• Missed Call: Dial 9966044425 from your registered mobile number to receive your EPF balance details via SMS.
• SMS Method: Send an SMS in the following format:

Send an SMS with the format:
EPFOHO UAN ENG

(Replace “UAN” with your personal UAN and “ENG” with your preferred language’s first three letters). You will receive your EPF balance details via SMS.

How to Link Aadhaar with UAN

Linking your Aadhaar with your UAN ensures faster and smoother EPF-related processes, including withdrawals and transfers. Here’s how to do it:

1. Log in to the EPFO portal using your UAN and password.
2. Go to the ‘Manage’ tab and click on ‘KYC.’
3. Under ‘Aadhaar,’ enter your 12-digit Aadhaar number and name as per your Aadhaar card.
4. Save the details. Once your employer approves the request, your Aadhaar will be successfully linked to your UAN.

Conclusion

The Universal Account Number (UAN) simplifies the management of your EPF account, especially when changing jobs. By linking all your EPF accounts to a single UAN, you gain easy access to several services like online withdrawals, tracking your EPF balance, and much more. Whether you’re retrieving your UAN, activating it, or linking it with your Aadhaar, the EPFO portal offers convenient online services to help you manage your provident fund account effectively. Make sure to keep your UAN active and updated for a hassle-free experience in managing your retirement savings.