UAN - How to check, generate and activate UAN

Any account number is a unique identification number that helps you keep your information, money, and assets safe. The most common variety of account numbers are your bank account number and your consumer account number, which allows you to pay your utility bills. Like these account numbers, the UAN number also uniquely identifies your EPF (Employee Provident Fund) deposits and keeps them safe. In addition, it helps you port various PF accounts started for you by multiple employers under one number and is accessible only to you. In a way, this unique identification method secures your deposits with a virtual lock and key and simplifies the process of accessing and checking on your EPF.

What is UAN number?

Universal Account Number or UAN is a 12-digit identification number, which both you and your employer are assigned, under which each of you can contribute to the EPF. This number is issued by the Ministry of Labour and Employment and is generated and appointed by the Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO).

Two separate UAN are assigned to you and your employer by the EPFO. The UAN, once generated, stays constant throughout the company’s years in business and all along your employment years, irrespective of the number of jobs you change. Every time you change jobs, the EPFO, on intimation, will allow you a new member identification number (ID), which will link to your existing UAN. You can raise a request for the member ID either directly with EPFO or do it with your employer so that they can use your UAN to request the EPFO for a new member ID.

How to check UAN number

There are two ways in which you can find out your UAN. The first is by getting it through your employer and the second way is to find it by using the UAN portal. Here’s more on the process involved:

1. Checking your UAN with your employer: Normally, not, your employer will notify you about your Universal Account Number in case of your first employment. However, if, for some reason, you don’t have a record of it, your UAN number is printed on your salary slip from the time your company starts deducting your salary towards PF contributions. This is the most common protocol followed by Indian companies, making it easy for you to check your UAN right on the salary slip.

2. Finding your UAN on the website: 

• Log on to the UAN portal
• Click on the ‘Know your UAN Status’ tab
• Next, you will be asked to either enter basic details such as your Aadhaar number, PAN number, etc. or fill in a form based on your PF number/member ID (you can ask your employer for these details)
• In case you have the PF number/member ID, fill those parameters and then choose your state and EPFO office from the dropdown menu
• Otherwise, use your Aadhaar or PAN number to find out your UAN number
• The other details that are mandatory for both routes are your name, date of birth, mobile number, and captcha code
• After you fill the form, click on ‘Get Authorization Pin’
• You will immediately receive the PIN on your mobile number
• Enter the PIN and click on ‘Validate OTP’ to see the UAN button
• Click on the UAN button to get your Universal Account Number via SMS on your mobile number

Why is a UAN needed?

As a salaried individual in a company that deducts and contributes towards an Employee Provident Fund, you will be allotted a UAN number. Earlier, this wasn’t the case when you were allocated multiple member IDs for each PF account started by different employers. The UAN mandate was brought into being on October 1, 2014, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to create a single umbrella under which all your PF accounts may be easily and conveniently accessed by you.

Additional Read: How to change mobile number in PF account

UAN seeks to simplify PF transactions since having a single UAN allows you to manage all your PF accounts in one place, irrespective of how many employers you may have had during your employment journey. So, UAN makes accessing your PF a much more organized and efficient process and saves you the effort of maintaining various passwords and account details of multiple PFs.

How will UAN change things?

The Universal Account Number generated for you at the beginning of your career helps organize all your simultaneous PFs over the years. It puts the multiple IDs linking you to your employers all in one place. If you have been a salaried employee since before 2014, then UAN enables you to port your PF number. Here are the few features and benefits of UAN.

UAN features

• UAN works towards easing the process of employee verification by the EPFO and controls all employees’ data in one place
  

UAN benefits

• You can withdraw or transfer your PF money anytime using the UAN
• Both your employer and you can manage a record of the PF account and its balance using the hassle-free online UAN member portal
• Your employer can quickly validate your PF withdrawal requests or submit PF into your account using the UAN portal
• UAN brings all your KYC and PF details into one place, which has easy accessibility online

How do employees benefit from UAN?

Apart from easy access and a more efficient process via the UAN portal, you benefit from UAN in the following ways:

• You can promptly check your PF balance anytime at your comfort
• Authenticated by your KYC and linked to your Aadhaar, your UAN is secure and may be used by you via your smartphone to check your PF balance by sending a simple SMS
• The UAN number is your identification number, independent of your employers
• Only you can have access to the account based on your KYC details
• You can keep track of your PF account to see whether your employer is crediting your account every month based on your deductions

How to generate UAN number

During your first job, your employer will ask for a few documents from you to generate your UAN number. This is a one-time process. Once developed, this number remains unchanged and stays with you all along your employment years.

Here are the documents that you will need to furnish to generate your UAN.

Documents required to generate UAN

• Your bank account number, IFSC code, branch name
• Your ID proof, be it a Driving License, Passport, Voter ID, Aadhaar, SSLC Book
• Your address proof, be it a recent utility bill in your name, rental/lease agreement, ration card, or any photo ID proof that has your current address mentioned
• PAN card and Aadhaar Card is mandatory

How to link Aadhaar with UAN

The government has made it mandatory to link your Aadhaar details with UAN.
However, if your Aadhaar updates were not linked when you became a UAN member, then you can do so now by following a few simple steps online using this portal or offline using an application form.

Link Aadhaar with UAN – offline

EPFO has developed an Aadhaar Linking Application Form, and you will need to fill it using your UAN, Aadhaar number, and other required personal details. You will also have to attach self-attested copies of your UAN card, PAN card, and Aadhaar card with this form. Then you can submit all the documents at the field offices of EPFO or Common Services Centres (CSC). Once verified and registered, your Aadhaar will be linked to your UAN, and you will get notified about the same via SMS.

Link Aadhaar with UAN – online

To link your Aadhaar on the website, you will just have to enter your UAN number and your mobile number to generate an OTP. On entering the correct OTP, you will be asked to enter your Aadhaar number and specify your gender. Choose the OTP verification after this step to successfully generate and verify your Aadhaar. Once done click ‘Submit’. Your Aadhaar will be linked to your UAN within 15 days.

How to link multiple EPF accounts with UAN

Your UAN number has been issued to bring in all your Provident Employee Funds under the purview of one unique number. The EPFO promotes this unified system as ‘one employee-one EPF account.’ So, you can pull in up to 10 PF accounts within this singular system by visiting the EPFO portal.

Additional Read: How to link multiple PF accounts to UAN

Here is how you can bring all your PF accounts together under one UAN number.

• To initiate the process, keep your UAN number, current EPF account number linked with the UAN number, and your KYC details such as bank account number, IFSC code, Aadhaar number, PAN card number handy
• All these details must be verified and approved by your current employer

Now, start the process by clicking here and follow the steps below.

• Go to the main menu and click on ‘Our Services’ tab to access ‘For Employee’ services
• Click on ‘One Employee – One EPF Account’ listed under the services tab
• Input the required details to generate OTP
• Enter the OTP you receive on your registered mobile number linked with the UAN to come to the enter EPF ID page
• Now input your old EPF ID, accept the declaration and click ‘submit.’ Your IDs will be linked, and you will get an intimation of the same on your registered mobile number
  

UAN numbers are an excellent way to keep your PF funds handy and will help you save your money secured all through your career until you feel the need to partially or fully withdraw it. Also, adopting this digital route allows you to maintain and supervise your money comfortably using the UAN portal and app.

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