1. What is UAN Number?
UAN number is an acronym for a universal Account Number which is a 12-digit number. This UAN number is provided to the salaried individuals contributing to the employee provident fund. A UAN or universal account number is generated & assigned by the EPFO (Employee Provident Fund Organization) under the Ministry of Employment and Labour. Although this UAN number will be the same throughout the period of the professional life of an employee. If the employee changes his/her job, s/he will be issued a new member ID, but the EPF number will be the same throughout professional life. This UAN number helps you to track all the contributions toward the EPF account under your previous employer(s) as well as your current employer, all in one place.
2. What are the benefits of a UAN number?
Access to online services: Employees can access their PF account online using their UAN number. They can view their PF balance, download their PF passbook, and also update their KYC details. Hassle-free transfer of PF balance: With a UAN number, employees can easily transfer their PF balance from their old PF account to their new account without needing any intervention from their previous employer. Faster claim settlement: With a UAN number, PF claim settlement is faster and more efficient as all relevant information about the employee's PF account is available in one place. Access to other benefits: The UAN number can be used to avail of other benefits such as the Employees' Pension Scheme (EPS), Employees' Deposit Linked Insurance (EDLI) scheme, and other benefits offered by the EPFO.
3. Importance of UAN Number
The UAN number can be used by EPFO for tracking the changes in the organizations for the employees. It is easy and hassle-free to link the new PF account to the UAN number when an employee changes jobs. Moreover, the EPFO will also update the same in their records. The universal accout number remains same until the employee gets retired form his/her professional life. Having a UAN makes withdrawals and transfers in just a matter of a few clicks during your job change. UAN assures that all PF accounts of the employee are genuine. The employee can withdraw and transfer funds without depending on the employer.
4. How to get a UAN number?
Now that individuals know what a Universal Account Number is and its benefits of it. We have mentioned below the process of generating it. Read on! The first step is to log in to the EPF Employer Portal by using the ID and password. Then go to the section of the ‘Member’ tab and click on ‘Register Individual.’ After this, you will need to furnish some details such as Aadhaar, PAN, bank details, etc. After furnishing all the relevant details, click on the ‘Approval’ option. AND a new UAN will be generated by Employee Provident Fund Organization. New employers can easily link the Provident Fund account of employees to that UAN after the generation of the new UAN number.
5. Required Documents
If you are thinking of having a new UAN number but do not know about the required documents to get a UAN number. The following are the essential documents for your Unique Account Number Registration. Account information - The account number, IFSC code, and branch name. Identity Proof - A driver’s license, passport, voter ID, Aadhaar, and SSLC Book. Address Proof - A recent utility bill in your name, a rental/lease agreement, a ration card, or any of the ID proofs listed above that show your present address. Your PAN Card Aadhaar card The ESIC card
6. How to Check UAN number?
There are various ways of checking your UAN number details. These are mentioned below- Checking UAN Number With Aadhaar Card You can check your UAN number details with an Aadhaar card in just a few steps. First you need to visit EPFO’s Unified Portal Then click on the tab ‘Know Your UAN Status’ from the important link box. Select Aadhaar, and enter the number, name, date of birth, mobile number, and email ID. After this, submit the Captcha code and click on ‘Get Authorisation PIN.’ You will be redirected to a new page where you need to check the provided details and select ‘I agree’. An OTP will be delivered to your registered mobile number. Enter that OTP. Select ‘Validate OTP’ and you will get UAN. A new message will be sent to your registered mobile number including your UAN details.
7. Checking UAN From the Portal
You need visit the EPFO’s Unified Portal. Then click on the ‘Know Your UAN Status' tab from the important links section. You will be redirected to a new webpage where you must furnish all the essential details like name, date of birth, mobile number, email or EPF account number, etc. You will get an authorization PIN on the registered mobile number after submitting details. Now, you need to enter your PIN. After entering this, UAN will be sent to the registered email account and mobile number.
8. Checking UAN Number by mobile number
Individuals can also get the details of their UAN Number by their mobile number. However, the mobile number must be registered on the UAN portal to get complete details of a missed call. Read On! Give a missed to 011-22901406 from your registered mobile number. This call will be automatically disconnected after two rings. Once the missed call is placed successfully, you will get an SMS with all details of PF. One must remember that this service is applicable to employees who have their UAN integrated with KYC details.
9. How to withdraw/transfer funds with a UAN number?
You can easily withdraw or transfer your EPF balance with the help of a UAN number. Below are the steps to withdraw or transfer with the UAN number: First step is to log in to the EPFO portal using your UAN number and ID and password. After login, you are required to click on the 'Online Services' tab and select 'Claim (Form-31, 19, 10C)' from the drop-down menu. In the third step, you have to verify your personal details and click on the 'Proceed for Online Claim' option. In the next step, you need to select the type of withdrawal your want to make and fill in the required details, such as bank account number, IFSC code, etc. After filling in all the necessary details, you need to claim and the EPF balance will be transferred to the specified bank account. To transfer the EPF balance from one account to another, the employee needs to log in to the EPFO portal and click on the 'One Member - One EPF Account (Transfer Request)' option under the 'Online Services tab. In the last step, you need to fill in the required details and initiate the transfer request. The EPF balance will be transferred to the new account within a few days. It is important to note that the EPF balance can only be withdrawn after a certain period of time, depending on the reason for withdrawal. In case of job loss, the EPF balance can be withdrawn after a waiting period of 2 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is UAN number in India?
UAN stands for Universal Account Number, which is a unique identification number assigned to every employee enrolled in the Employee Provident Fund (EPF) scheme in India.
Who issues the UAN number?
The UAN number is issued by the Employee Provident Fund Organization (EPFO), which is a statutory body under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India.
Why is UAN number important?
The UAN number is important for EPF members as it helps in accessing and managing their EPF accounts online. It also helps in linking multiple EPF accounts and tracking the status of EPF claims.
Is it mandatory to have a UAN number?
Yes, it is mandatory for all employees enrolled in the EPF scheme to have a UAN number. The UAN number remains the same throughout the employee's career and can be used for transferring the EPF balance from one employer to another.
How can an employee get a UAN number?
The UAN number is generated by the EPFO and is automatically allotted to an employee when the employer registers the employee for the EPF scheme.
Can an employee change the UAN number?
No, an employee cannot change the UAN number as it is a unique identification number assigned by the EPFO.
Can an employee link multiple EPF accounts with the same UAN number?
Yes, an employee can link multiple EPF accounts with the same UAN number. This helps in consolidating all the EPF balances under one account and makes it easier to manage the EPF account.
How can an employee check their EPF balance using the UAN number?
An employee can check their EPF balance by logging in to the EPFO portal using their UAN number and password. They can also check their balance through the UMANG app or by sending an SMS to a designated number.
Is there any fee for getting a UAN number?
No, there is no fee for getting a UAN number. It is provided free of cost by the EPFO.
