EPFO
The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has recently introduced a significant change aimed at empowering employees across India. Under the new rule, employees can now create their Universal Account Number (UAN) by themselves without waiting for their employer to generate it. This initiative is expected to simplify the process of UAN activation and management, giving employees greater control over their provident fund accounts.
What is UAN?
UAN, or Universal Account Number, is a unique 12-digit number allotted to every employee contributing to the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF). It acts as an umbrella for multiple Member IDs allotted to an employee by different employers. The UAN remains the same throughout the employee’s career, irrespective of changes in employment. It simplifies the management of EPF accounts by consolidating all PF contributions under one number, making it easier to track and manage.
Previous Process of UAN Generation
Earlier, the responsibility of generating and sharing the UAN was primarily on the employer. When a person joined a new job, the employer would generate a UAN and share it with the employee. Employees could then activate the UAN on the EPFO portal to access their PF account online. However, delays from employers in generating or sharing UAN sometimes caused inconvenience to employees, especially when changing jobs or needing early access to PF details.
New Rule: Employees Can Generate UAN Themselves
With the new rule implemented by the EPFO, employees no longer need to wait for their employer to create their UAN. Now, individuals can generate their own UAN directly through the EPFO portal by submitting certain required details. This move aims to streamline the process, reduce dependency on employers, and help employees access their PF accounts faster.
How to Create UAN by Yourself?
Creating a UAN independently involves a straightforward online process:
- Visit the EPFO Unified Member Portal: Go to the official EPFO website and navigate to the ‘Know Your UAN’ or ‘Generate UAN’ section.
- Enter Personal Details: Provide essential details such as your Aadhaar number, mobile number, name, date of birth, and email ID. Make sure these details match those linked with your Aadhaar.
- Verification: The system will verify your details through Aadhaar-based OTP or other means.
- Submit Application: Once verified, your UAN will be generated and shared via SMS or email.
- Activate UAN: After generation, you can activate your UAN on the EPFO portal by setting a password, allowing you to access your EPF account online.
Benefits of the New Rule
- Empowerment of Employees: Employees can now take charge of their PF accounts without depending on employers.
- Faster Access: Immediate UAN generation means quicker access to PF statements, claims, and transfers.
- Transparency: Employees can track their PF contributions directly and ensure accuracy.
- Reduced Delays: Eliminates delays caused by employer inaction or lack of awareness.
Important Points to Remember
- Employees must ensure that their Aadhaar details are updated and linked correctly.
- UAN is generated based on Aadhaar authentication, so mismatched details may cause difficulties.
- Employers are still responsible for linking employee’s Member IDs to the UAN for contribution credit.
- Employees should keep their UAN confidential to avoid misuse.
The EPFO’s new rule allowing employees to create their own UAN is a positive step towards digital empowerment and ease of access. It aligns with the government’s vision of making social security benefits more transparent and employee-friendly. By enabling self-generation of UAN, EPFO is simplifying the provident fund management process, reducing dependency on employers, and ensuring employees can manage their retirement funds with greater independence and confidence.
For employees across India, this change means quicker control, better access, and a hassle free experience in managing their provident fund accounts.
