The Ministry of Labour and Employment has issued a directive to the Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) to collaborate with employers and activate the Universal Account Numbers (UANs) for employees. According to the announcement on November 21, 2024, employers must complete the UAN activation process for employees joining in the current financial year by November 30, 2024, using an Aadhaar-based OTP.
No Need to Activate UAN After Job Change
A recent clarification by EPFO on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) stated that employees do not need to create a new UAN when they switch jobs. A single UAN is allocated to each employee, and in case of unemployment or job changes, creating a new UAN is not necessary. Employees with multiple UANs should use the ‘Member-EPF Account’ feature on the EPFO portal to merge services from their previous UAN into the current one.
Critical Information!
Employees are not required to generate a new UAN when leaving their old employment. A member cannot have more than one UAN. There is no requirement for having a fresh UAN at all, in any case of unemployment or change of employment@mygovindia @PMOIndia…
— EPFO (@socialepfo) November 27, 2024
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What is UAN?
The Universal Account Number (UAN) is a unique 12-digit number assigned to each employee. It is a permanent identifier that stays valid throughout an employee’s career, regardless of job changes. The UAN facilitates seamless transfer of Provident Fund (PF) accounts and makes PF withdrawals more efficient.
How to Apply Online for UAN Activation
- Visit the Official EPFO Portal: Go to the official website of the Employee Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) at www.epfindia.gov.in.
- Login to Your Account: Use your existing Universal Account Number (UAN) and password to log in. If you don’t have an account yet, you can create one by registering with your details.
- Aadhaar Linking: To activate your UAN, link your Aadhaar number using the Aadhaar OTP verification method. You’ll need your mobile number linked to Aadhaar for this step.
- Check Activation Status: Once your UAN is activated, you will receive a confirmation via SMS or email. You can also check the status by logging into your EPFO account.
- Complete Employer Process: If you’ve recently changed jobs, your new employer will also complete the UAN activation process through their EPFO portal.
- Transfer Previous PF: If you have worked with a previous employer, you can transfer your old Provident Fund (PF) balance to the new account using the ‘One Member, One EPF Account’ facility.
- Track Progress: Keep an eye on your application status via the EPFO portal to ensure all steps are completed.