The Universal Account Number (UAN) was introduced by the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) on October 1, 2014, with a view to making EPF management of employees smooth. This 12-digit identification number integrates different EPF accounts of an individual under one cover, making easy access to multiple online services available. The net addition as of September 2024, according to the latest payroll data published by EPFO, amounts to 18.81 lakh members; these numbers have reflected the growing importance of UAN in the formal employment field of India.

This is the first step towards availing online services from EPFO; an employee has to activate his or her UAN. The advisory by the Press Information Bureau recently throws light on the responsibility of employers in this regard too. It is Aadhaar-based authentication and, in the future, will even have authentication through facial recognition biometric verification. 

Also Read: Explained: EPFO’s New Guidelines For Inoperative EPF Accounts

What is UAN? What's Its Significance?

A UAN acts as a lifetime identifier that integrates several Member Identification Numbers, issued to one employee over multiple employments. Once activated and linked with an employee's KYC details, UAN becomes a gateway to manage provident fund accounts rather effortlessly.

Key Advantages of UAN 

- Unified Management: Employees can transfer PF balances between jobs without paperwork

- Access: Members can view their passbooks, update KYC details, and make claims directly

- Emergency Advance Claims: The UAN-enabled portal allows advance claims in case of emergencies, such as when there was the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic

EPFO Services Through UAN

The Member Portal of EPFO offers a portfolio of services for the UAN holder, which is very transparent on financial matters and provides easy access to the benefits: 

- Enable UAN

- Simple, hassle-free nomination so that the benefits are transferred online

- Update personal details such as name, birth date, and gender

- Online partial withdrawal or emergency claims

Information Access

- EPF passbook and UAN card are available to download

- PF contribution details are provided through SMS or missed calls

- Confirmation of the potential for transferring the claim

Activate UAN

Employees need to activate their UAN to avail of continuous EPFO services. Here's how to do it

1. Visit the EPFO Member Portal: Go to Unified Member Portal (https://unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in/memberinterface/).

2. Select Identification Mode: Choose UAN, Member ID, Aadhaar, or PAN.

3. Enter Personal Details: Provide name, date of birth, and registered mobile number.

4. Receive Authorisation PIN: An OTP will be sent to the registered mobile.

5. Validate OTP: Input the PIN to activate your UAN. A password will be sent to your mobile.

Once you have activated the UAN, you can log in to the portal for any EPFO services.

How to Access your UAN If you don't know your UAN

1. Click on the Unified Member Portal of the EPFO.

2. Enter your registered mobile number.

3. Request an authorization PIN and validate it.

4. Fill in other details like Aadhaar or PAN so that the UAN will generate. .

How to Ensure Your UAN and PF Account Security

UAN has simplified EPF management but the account has to be secured appropriately. There is an example of a scam where fraudsters send an SMS asking for personal details. EPFO and PIB frequently issue alerts to prevent such scams.

Security Practices

- Do not disclose your personal information. EPFO never seeks sensitive information via SMS or calls

- Reporting Suspect Messages For suspected messages about SBI Bank accounts, mail to report.phishing@sbi.co.in

- Official Communication Channels Access all services of EPFO at their website and all verified customer service numbers

The UAN has been a transformative initiative by EPFO. It provided the employee with an easy platform for the centralized management of his provident fund. Beginning with effortless transfer, it simply empowered employees to access essential services on the spot.

The system will still become more secure and user-friendly if EPFO adopts the integration of biometric authentication, which incorporates facial recognition. For an employee, activation and safety of his/her UAN are indispensable factors to derive maximum benefits from the EPF system.

Moving forward, digitization literacy and awareness campaigns will be the first step, ensuring that every employee with whatever level of tech-savviness is able to reap its benefits. UAN and adopting the same can thus prove to be a giant leap towards securing your finances.