The Universal Account Number (UAN) is a unique 12-digit identification number assigned by the EPFO to salaried employees who contribute to the EPF scheme. Every member of the EPFO receives a UAN that remains constant throughout their entire professional career. However, whenever an employee switches jobs, they are assigned a new PF account number. The beauty of the UAN lies in its ability to link all these PF accounts to a single UAN.
The UAN serves as a powerful tool to track all EPF contributions made by the employee over time. It enables individuals to effortlessly check their EPF balance, initiate online transfers of funds between PF accounts, and even facilitate withdrawal from their PF account with just a few clicks. This streamlined and centralized approach simplifies the management of EPF-related matters and empowers employees with greater control over their provident fund accounts.
How to Get UAN?
To obtain a Universal Account Number (UAN) for a new employee, the employer must follow these steps:
1. Log in to the EPF Employer Portal using the Establishment ID and password.
2. In the “Member” section, navigate to the “Register Individual” tab.
3. Provide the necessary details of the new employee, including Aadhaar, PAN, bank account information, and other relevant particulars.
4. Once all the employee’s details are filled in, the employer needs to review and approve the information in the “Approval” section.
5. The EPFO will then generate a new UAN for the employee.
It’s important to note that if the employee already possesses a UAN from a previous organization, they should provide the same UAN to the new employer. In such cases, the EPFO will link the current PF account with the existing UAN, provided the employee has previously linked their UAN with their Aadhaar card. No new UAN will be generated in such situations, ensuring a unified UAN for the employee throughout their professional journey.
Documents Required for UAN Registration
To complete a secure UAN registration process, you will need to furnish the following documents:
1. Updated Aadhaar card of the applicant.
2. PAN card.
3. Bank account details, including the bank account number and IFSC code.
4. Identity Proof, which could be any valid document such as Driving License, Passport, Voter ID, etc.
5. Proof of Address to verify the current residence.
6. ESIC card, which is the Employee’s State Insurance Corporation card.
Ensuring the submission of these essential documents will facilitate a smooth and successful UAN registration for the employee, enabling them to access the benefits and services provided by the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO).
Universal Account Number Login
After activating your UAN, you can easily access the UAN Member e-Sewa Portal and utilize various services, including viewing your UAN card, profile, and service history. To log in to the EPFO member portal, follow these simple steps:
1. Go to the UAN Member e-Sewa page.
2. Provide your UAN, password, and enter the captcha code as required.
By following these steps, you will be able to access the UAN Member e-Sewa Portal and take advantage of the available services for managing your EPF account conveniently online.
Advantages of UAN for Employees:
1. Unified PF Accounts: UAN provides the convenience of having all the employee’s PF accounts linked and managed in a single place. This eliminates the hassle of dealing with multiple PF accounts when changing jobs.
2. Simplified Withdrawals: With UAN, employees experience reduced employer involvement in PF withdrawals. Upon completing the KYC verification, the PF amount from the previous organization is seamlessly transferred to the new PF account without the need for the employee to initiate a separate fund transfer.
3. Easy Fund Transfer: Employees only need to provide their UAN details and KYC information to the new employer. Subsequently, the old PF balance is automatically transferred to the new PF account after the verification process is completed.
4. SMS Alerts for Contributions: The UAN portal offers SMS alerts to employees whenever the employer makes contributions to the EPF account. This feature ensures that employees are kept informed about their PF contributions regularly.
Overall, UAN streamlines and simplifies various aspects of PF management for employees, making it a user-friendly and efficient system that promotes transparency and ease of access to PF-related information and services.
Benefits of Universal Account Number (UAN):
1. Efficient Job Tracking: UAN enables the EPFO to effectively track an employee’s job changes. When an employee switches jobs, they need to link their new PF account to the existing UAN. This ensures that the EPFO maintains updated records of the employee’s employment history.
2. Simplified PF Account Management: With UAN, employees can access various facilities online, making processes like withdrawals and transfers hassle-free when transitioning between jobs. This streamlines the management of PF accounts and reduces paperwork.
3. Seamless Account Linking: UAN ensures smooth linking of multiple PF accounts held by an employee. When an employee joins a new organization, they can easily link their new PF account to the existing UAN. This consolidation helps in keeping all PF accounts authentic and maintained in a centralized manner.
4. Transparency and Accessibility: UAN provides transparency to both employees and employers regarding PF contributions and withdrawals. Employees can easily access their PF-related information and services online through the UAN portal.
Overall, UAN simplifies the process of managing PF accounts, reduces administrative burden for employers, and empowers employees to access and manage their PF-related activities conveniently, ensuring an efficient and secure provident fund system for both parties.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Universal Account Number (UAN):
1. What is UAN?
UAN stands for Universal Account Number. It is a 12-digit unique identification number assigned by the EPFO to salaried employees contributing to the EPF scheme. It remains constant throughout an employee’s professional life and helps in tracking multiple PF accounts.
2. How can employees obtain their UAN?
Employees receive their UAN from their employer once they become members of the EPF scheme. Employers generate and provide UAN to their employees upon joining.
3. Can an employee have multiple UANs?
No, each employee is issued only one UAN that remains unchanged throughout their career. It helps in linking and managing all PF accounts held by the employee.
4. What are the benefits of UAN for employees?
UAN offers various advantages to employees, including easy tracking of job changes, simplified PF account management, online access for withdrawals and transfers, and ensuring authenticity of all PF accounts.
5. Is UAN mandatory for all employees?
Yes, UAN is mandatory for all salaried employees who contribute to the EPF scheme. It streamlines PF management and enhances transparency.
Conclusion:
The Universal Account Number (UAN) has revolutionized the management of provident fund accounts for employees and employers alike. It simplifies the process of tracking job changes, consolidating PF accounts, and managing withdrawals and transfers online. With the UAN, employees have greater control and transparency over their PF contributions and benefits. Employers benefit from reduced administrative involvement in PF-related matters. Overall, the UAN system ensures a more efficient, seamless, and employee-friendly EPF scheme, fostering financial security and stability for the workforce during their working years and after retirement.
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