Universal Account Number (UAN)
Every working individual in India contributing to the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) must have a unique 12-digit Universal Account Number (UAN). Issued by the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), the UAN is akin to your Permanent Account Number (PAN), constant throughout your professional life, regardless of job changes. Let's delve deeper into the process of UAN activation online and how to generate a UAN number.
The Significance of the Universal Account Number (UAN)
As per the Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952, any establishment with 20 or more employees must register with the EPFO. Under the EPF scheme, employees are required to contribute at least 12% of their basic wages. The employer matches this contribution, making a collective deposit not exceeding 12% of the employee's basic wages. A UAN is crucial for every working individual, as it allows you to easily access and manage your EPF account. Every EPFO member is assigned this twelve-digit number after uan activation online. Despite changing employers, which results in multiple Member Identification Numbers (Member IDs), your UAN remains consistent, linking all these Member IDs under one umbrella.
Benefits Of UAN
The Universal Account Number (UAN) has become an indispensable tool for managing Employees Provident Fund (EPF), offering myriad benefits to members. Let's explore some of the top perks of uan activation online and using it:
Centralized Access
UAN serves as a one-stop access point to your EPF account, eliminating the need to remember multiple account numbers. This single window access is one of the most noteworthy advantages of UAN, making it a breeze to manage your EPF account.
Access On-The-Go
One of the key features of UAN activation online is the convenience it offers. The UAN Member Portal comes with a mobile application, allowing you to access your EPF details from anywhere, anytime.
Seamless Transfer Process
With UAN, transferring your EPF accounts when you switch jobs has become hassle-free. UAN streamlines the process, eliminating the need for cumbersome physical form submissions.
Secure Online Contributions
The UAN Member Portal allows members to make secure online contributions to their EPF accounts. This convenience and peace of mind make UAN an ideal tool for managing your retirement savings.
Instant Notifications
Stay updated with your EPF transactions with instant SMS alerts provided by the UAN Member Portal. These alerts, encompassing contributions, withdrawals, and other transactions, ensure you're always informed about your EPF status.
How to Generate a UAN?
To get started at your first job or commencing work at a company registered by the EPFO, you'll need to generate a UAN. Here are the documents you'd need for the same:
Identity proof: You can use your driving license, passport, or voter ID.
Address proof: Submit either a ration card, rental agreement, or any utility bill registered in your name.
Bank account details: You would need to provide your bank account number, branch details, and IFSC code.
PAN card: Your Permanent Account Number card is a mandatory requirement.
Aadhaar Card: In line with the latest EPFO norms, your Aadhaar Card is essential.
ESIC card: Your Employee State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) card.
UAN Generation through the UAN Portal
The Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) assigns a unique UAN to every employee at the time of their initial registration to the EPF Scheme. The responsibility of UAN generation rests with the employer and is carried out on the EPFO employer portal. If you are an employer looking to generate UAN for your employees, here are the steps:
- Start by visiting the Government of India EPFO Homepage for UAN generation.
- Sign in to your establishment using your establishment ID and password.
- Navigate to the "Member" section and click on the "Register Individual" tab.
- Fill in the employee’s details, such as PAN, Aadhaar, and bank details.
- Finally, approve all the details in the "Approval" section.
Activating Your UAN through the UAN Portal: A Step-By-Step Guide
Once the Universal Account Number (UAN) is generated, the next crucial step is UAN activation. The activation process can be done easily at the UAN member portal, a service the Government of India provides to facilitate various EPFO services. Here's a simple walkthrough to guide you:
- Visit the UAN eSewa portal, a dedicated platform for all UAN-related services, including UAN activation online.
- Locate and click on the link titled “Activate UAN.” This is your gateway to UAN activation online.
- Fill in the required details (PAN or Aadhar, or Member ID). These are essential identifiers to ensure the right UAN is being activated.
- Click on “Get Authorization Pin” to generate an OTP(one-time password), which you will get on your registered mobile number.
- Finally, enter the received OTP and click on "Activate UAN" to complete the UAN activation online process.
- Upon successfully completing UAN activation online, you will receive a password on your registered phone number, which can be changed as per your preference later.
- With your UAN activated, you can log in to MEMBER e-SEWA using your UAN as the user ID and the received password. This opens up a plethora of services at your disposal, including the EPF passbook service. The UAN passbook service allows you to keep track of and manage your EPF balance comfortably from home.
FAQs
Q. Is there a need to reactivate UAN when changing jobs?
A. No, your Universal Account Number (UAN) remains the same even if you switch jobs. It's a unique identification number tied to you, not your job.
Q. Is the UAN registration process free?
A. Yes, UAN registration and activation on the UAN eSewa portal is completely free of charge.
Q. Who assigns the UAN?
A. The UAN is assigned by the Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO), not the employer. Lawgical India can guide you through the process of obtaining your UAN.
Q. Can I use UAN for fund transfers without linking it with Aadhaar?
A. No, your Aadhaar number must be linked with your UAN for transferring funds or claiming PF.
Q. Is it mandatory to link PAN with the UAN?
A. Yes, linking PAN with UAN is a mandatory requirement along with Aadhaar.
Q. Can I have more than one UAN under my name?
A. No, only one UAN is assigned per individual. It remains the same irrespective of job changes.
Q. Is UAN activation possible via a mobile app or SMS?
A. UAN activation online can only be done via the EPFO member portal or the Umang app, as of now.
Q. Can personal details be updated for UAN? How?
A. Yes, personal details can be updated on the UAN portal. After entering the required changes, you will receive a verification code which you require to enter to finalize the update.
Q. Can I activate UAN offline?
A. No, UAN activation is an online process and can be done on the UAN eSewa portal or through the Umang app. Lawgical India can assist with your UAN activation online.
