Introduction: The Universal Account Number (UAN) and Know Your Customer (KYC) processes play pivotal roles in simplifying Employee Provident Fund (EPF) operations. This section provides comprehensive answers to frequently asked questions about UAN and KYC, shedding light on the significance and procedural aspects of these systems.
FAQs on Universal Account Number (UAN) And KYC
Q.1 What is Universal Account Number (UAN)?
The Universal Account Number (UAN) is a 12-digit identification number assigned to every member of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO). This number serves as a unique identifier and a common thread that links multiple Member Identification Numbers (Member IDs) assigned to a single individual under a single UAN.
One of the most significant advantages of UAN is that it eliminates the need for individuals to juggle multiple Member IDs for different employments. It simplifies the process of managing and transferring PF accumulations, making it easier for employees to keep track of their retirement savings.
When the UAN is duly seeded with KYC details (Aadhaar, PAN, Bank details, etc.), it empowers the member to access various online services directly without the intervention of their employer. This feature enhances the ease and efficiency of managing their EPF account.
Q.2 What is KYC?
The Know Your Customer (KYC) process is a crucial step in verifying the identity of EPF subscribers and linking their UAN with essential KYC details. KYC helps establish a member’s unique identity and enables seamless online services. The process involves providing information such as Aadhaar number, PAN, and Bank account details to validate the authenticity of the subscriber.
For both employees and employers, the KYC process ensures accurate and reliable identification, contributing to the smooth functioning of EPFO services. Once KYC details are successfully linked with the UAN, members can easily access various online services, including claims and transfers.
Q.3 How can the employer generate UAN for newly joined employees not having UAN?
Employers can generate UAN for newly joined employees without an existing UAN by following these steps:
- Log in to the EPF employer portal using Establishment ID and password.
- Click on “Register Individual” and ensure that the previous employment is marked as “NO.”
- Go to the “Member” section and enter the employee’s details, such as PAN, Aadhaar, bank details, etc.
- Approve all details in the “Approval” section.
- A new UAN is generated by the EPFO, and the employer can link the PF account with the UAN of the employee.
Q.4 How can an employee generate his UAN on his own?
Employees can independently generate their UAN by visiting the unified member portal ‘https://unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in/memberinterface‘ and selecting “Direct UAN Allotment by Employees.” To avail of this facility, a valid Aadhaar number with a registered mobile is a prerequisite. Employees need to provide their employment details to obtain the UAN.
Q.5 How can a member know his UAN?
To find your UAN, follow these steps:
- Visit the unified member portal.
- Select Member ID, Aadhaar, or PAN.
- Enter your details, such as name, date of birth, mobile number, and email id as per EPFO records.
- Click on the “Get Authorization Pin” option.
- A PIN will be sent to your mobile number registered with EPFO.
- Enter the PIN, and your UAN will be sent to your mobile number.
Q.6 How can a member activate his UAN?
To activate your UAN, follow these steps:
- Visit the EPF Member Portal and click on “Activate UAN” or UAN Activation under Employee Centric Services of EPFO on the UMANG APP.
- Choose one of the following: UAN, Member ID, Aadhaar, or PAN.
- Fill in additional details such as Name, Date of Birth, Mobile Number, and Email ID, and click on “Get Authorization PIN.”
- An authorization PIN will be sent to the mobile number registered with EPFO.
- Enter the PIN and click on “Validate OTP and Activate UAN.”
- Your UAN will be activated, and a password will be sent to your mobile. You can now log in to the unified member portal using your UAN and password.
Q.7 Can one mobile number be linked with multiple UANs?
No, one mobile number can only be used for registration with a single UAN.
Q.8 How to activate UAN via offline mode?
UAN registration and activation are exclusively done online; there is no offline mode for activation.
Q.9 Can contractual employees register their UAN and avail online facilities?
Yes, both contractual and direct employees can avail UAN facilities online after successful registration and activation.
Q.10 In which format should I create my UAN password?
Your UAN password should be alphanumeric and contain at least one special character. The password length should be between 8 and 25 characters. Special characters allowed are: !@#$%^&*()
Sample Password: abc@1973
Q.11 What can I do if my UAN is not seeded with Aadhaar?
If your UAN is not linked with Aadhaar, you can personally seed your UAN with Aadhaar by visiting the member portal. After you initiate the linkage, your employer needs to approve it to complete the process. Alternatively, you can ask your employer to link your Aadhaar with your UAN.
You can also use the “e-KYC Portal” under Online Services available on the EPFO website or the e-KYC service under EPFO in the UMANG APP to link your UAN with Aadhaar without the need for your employer’s intervention.
Q.12 My UAN was generated during the initial days after the launch of the UAN facility. My employer erroneously linked it with the wrong Aadhaar number. How can I correct this?
If your UAN was erroneously linked with the wrong Aadhaar number, you can correct this by applying for a correction to the Regional office of EPFO where your EPF account is maintained. This correction can be initiated through the submission of a joint request.
Q.13 How can I seed my KYC details with UAN?
To seed your KYC details with your UAN, follow these steps:
- Log in to your EPF account at the unified member portal.
- Click on the “KYC” option in the “Manage” section.
- Select the details (PAN, Bank Account, Aadhar, etc.) that you want to link with your UAN.
- Fill in the required fields.
- Click on the “Save” option.
- Your request will be displayed as “KYC Pending for Approval.”
- Once your employer approves the details, the message will change to “Digitally approved by the employer.”
- After UIDAI confirms your details, “Verified by UIDAI” will be displayed against your Aadhaar.
Q.14 How can I seed my Bank account details?
To seed your Bank account details with your UAN, follow these steps:
- Log in to your EPF account at the unified member portal.
- Enter your bank account number and IFSC code.
- Your details need to be approved by your employer.
- Once approved, your bank account gets successfully seeded.
Q.15 Can I change my already-seeded Bank account number?
Yes, you can update your bank account number multiple times by following the steps mentioned earlier. However, during the pendency of any claim with EPFO, the bank account details cannot be changed.
Q.16 What precautions should I take while seeding my Bank account number?
When seeding your bank account number, ensure that the account is active and that you are either the individual account holder or a joint account holder with your spouse. Additionally, confirm that the bank account does not have a deposit cap greater than your withdrawal benefit.
Q.17 I have changed my job. Should I activate my UAN again?
No, you only need to activate your UAN once. There is no need to re-activate it every time you change jobs.
Q.18 Do I have to pay any fee for UAN registration?
No, UAN registration is entirely free of cost, and you do not need to pay any fees to activate it.
Q.19 Can I activate UAN through SMS or mobile app?
UAN activation cannot be done through SMS, but you can activate it through the Umang App. To activate your UAN through the Umang App, visit the Google Play Store and download the app.
Q.20 What are the documents required for a change in Date of Birth of EPF members?
For a change in Date of Birth, the following documents may be accepted as valid proof:
- Birth certificate issued by the Registrar of Births and Deaths
- Any School/education-related certificate
- Certificate based on the service records of the Central/State Government Organization.
- Passport
- Any other reliable document issued by a Government department.
In cases where none of the above documents is available, a Medical certificate issued by a Civil Surgeon after examining the member medically can be used, supported by an affidavit on oath by the member duly authenticated by a competent court. The change in the Date of Birth shall be accepted as per Aadhaar/e-Aadhaar, up to a maximum range of plus or minus three years of the originally recorded Date of Birth with EPFO.
Q.21 What facilities are given to members through the UAN-driven Member Portal?
The UAN-driven Member Portal provides the following services and information to members:
Services:
- Self-generation of Universal Account Number
- E-Nomination
- Change in Name, Date of Birth, Gender
- Enter KYC details
- Seamless Transfer of PF Accumulation from Previous Employment
- Advance claim for the outbreak of Pandemic (Covid-19)
- Aadhaar-based online claim submission
- Entry of the date of exit from service
Information:
- Download Passbook
- Download UAN Card
- Check eligibility for online transfer claim
- PF contributions & balance by sending SMS to 7738299899 in 10 languages
- PF account details by missed call on 011-22901406
Q.22 Do I need to upload documents on the EPFO Portal?
No, you do not need to upload documents on the EPFO Portal. You only need to provide your name as per the document and the document number for verification.
Q.23 What are the minimum details required to be linked with UAN for availing online services?
The minimum details required to be linked with your UAN for availing online services are your mobile number, Aadhaar, and Bank account number.
Q.24 Is linking PAN with UAN beneficial for availing online services?
Yes, linking your PAN number with UAN is beneficial, as it enables you to avail tax benefits on EPF withdrawal.
Q.25 My name is the same on both my PAN card and Aadhaar card, but I am not able to link it with my UAN.
To successfully link your PAN and Aadhaar with your UAN, the name as per your Aadhaar and PAN must match the name in your PF records. If there is a mismatch, you need to ensure that the name you provide matches the name in the Income Tax database. In case of a name mismatch, you can raise a name change request.
Q.26 What should I do if my employer is not approving my KYC?
If your employer is not approving your KYC details, you can directly approach your organization’s administration or HR department with a request for approval. If the approval process is taking too long, you can escalate the matter to higher authorities within the organization.
If you receive no response, you can also approach EPF Grievance via the EPFO’s grievance management system (http://epfigms.gov.in).
Q.27 How do I know if the KYC details updated by me are approved by the employer?
The status of your updated KYC document will be shown on the same page where you made the update. Additionally, the EPFO system will trigger an SMS notification to your registered mobile number to inform you about the approval status.
Q.28 My employer entered wrong PAN and Bank account details. What should I do?
If your employer has entered incorrect PAN and Bank account details, you can log in to your member portal and update these details yourself. Once you update them, your employer needs to digitally approve or update the corrected details.
Q.29 My employer has not updated my date of exit despite two months passing since I left the job. How can I update my date of exit?
To update your date of exit, follow these steps:
- Visit the Member Unified Portal.
- Enter your UAN, Password, and CAPTCHA.
- Go to the “Manage” section and click on “Mark Exit.”
- Choose your PF Account Number from the ‘select employment’ drop-down.
- Enter your ‘Date of Exit’ and ‘Reason for Exit.’
- Click on the option ‘Request OTP’ and enter the OTP sent to your Aadhaar-linked Mobile Number.
- Select the checkbox and click ‘Update.’
- Click ‘OK.’
Q.30 How can I change my UAN-linked mobile number?
To change your UAN-linked mobile number, follow these steps:
- Log in to the Member Interface of the Unified Portal.
- Go to the “Member Profile” section.
- Find the option to change your mobile number.
Q.31 Can I apply for an online claim if my mobile is not linked with Aadhaar?
No, you cannot submit an online claim if your mobile is not linked with Aadhaar. During the claim submission process, an OTP is sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile number for verification.
Q.32 What should I do if my Aadhaar is not linked with my mobile?
You can visit your nearest Aadhaar Service Centre to link your Aadhaar with your mobile number. For more details, you can visit the official website of UIDAI: https://uidai.gov.in.
Q.33 What should I do if I forgot my password?
If you’ve forgotten your password, follow these steps:
- Click on “Forgot Password” at the Member Interface of the Unified Portal.
- Provide your UAN and CAPTCHA.
- The system will send an OTP to your mobile number linked with the UAN.
- Use the OTP to reset your password.
Q.34 What should I do if I forgot my password and my registered mobile number with UAN has also changed?
If you’ve forgotten your password and your registered mobile number has changed, follow these steps:
- Click on “Forgot Password” at the Member Interface of the Unified Portal.
- Provide your UAN and CAPTCHA.
- The system will ask whether OTP should be sent to the registered mobile or a different mobile.
- You’ll need to enter basic details (Name, DOB, and Gender).
- If the basic details match, you’ll be prompted to provide your Aadhaar or PAN.
- If your KYC details match, you can enter your new mobile number, and an OTP will be sent to it.
- After successful verification, you can reset your password.
Q.35 What do I need to do when changing jobs?
When changing jobs, you need to declare your UAN to your new employer. Your new employer will link your new Member ID with your existing UAN.
Q.36 Which claims can be filed online?
The following claims can be filed online through the EPFO Member Portal or the Umang app:
- Withdrawal claim
- Advance claim
- Pension claim (after e-Nomination)
Q.37 How can I view/download my passbook?
To view or download your passbook, follow these steps:
- Log in to the UAN Member Portal with your UAN and password.
- Go to the “Download” menu and select “Download Passbook.”
Q.38 How can I view/download my UAN card?
To view or download your UAN card, follow these steps:
- Log in with your valid UAN and password.
- Go to the ‘Download’ menu and select ‘Download UAN Card.’
Q.39 I am not able to see the Passbook, or the Passbook is not available?
If you’re working in an Exempted establishment, your passbook will not be available in the UAN portal. You may need to contact your establishment to obtain your PF statement.
Q.40 Two UANs have been allotted to me. What should I do?
If you’ve been allotted two UANs, this might have happened due to a failure to fill in the Date of Exit by your previous employer in ECR filing, or because you applied for a service transfer in your current establishment. To resolve this:
- Report the matter to your current employer and EPFO via email ([email protected]).
- Mention both your current and previous UANs.
- After verification, your previous UANs will be blocked, and your current UAN will remain active.
Q.41 Why am I not able to link/list previous member IDs pertaining to me?
If there’s a deviation in your details, such as name, between your current and previous Member IDs, you won’t be able to link/list them.
Q.42 How can I change my Name and DOB in EPFO records as per my Aadhaar Card?
To change your Name and DOB in EPFO records as per your Aadhaar Card:
- Visit the Member Unified Portal as mentioned earlier.
- Enter your UAN, Password, and CAPTCHA.
- Sign in and click “Manage,” then “Modify Basic Details.”
- Enter Aadhaar, Name, and DOB as per your Aadhaar.
- Click “Save/Submit,” and confirm the changes.
- Inform your employer to approve your Name Change Request.
Conclusion: The Universal Account Number (UAN) and KYC processes streamline EPF operations, making them more efficient and user-friendly. By understanding the guidelines and procedures associated with UAN and KYC, employees can seamlessly manage their EPF accounts, access online services, and ensure compliance with EPFO regulations.
