EPFO Members Can Activate Their Universal Account Number via UMANG App
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Synopsis
The EPFO has introduced a feature allowing members to create and activate their Universal Account Number via the UMANG app using Aadhaar Face Authentication. This initiative aims to enhance the digital experience for millions of users, overcoming previous barriers related to inaccuracies in UAN generation.
Key Takeaways
- EPFO members can generate UAN through UMANG app.
- Aadhaar Face Authentication enhances security.
- Reduces inaccuracies in UAN generation.
- Immediate access to EPFO services post-activation.
- Government reforms improve claim settlement process.
New Delhi, April 9 (NationPress) The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) announced on Wednesday that its members can now create a Universal Account Number (UAN) and activate it using Aadhaar Face Authentication Technology (FAT) through the UMANG mobile application.
This secure and contactless service represents a significant advancement in delivering a seamless and completely digital experience for millions of EPFO members.
Previously, UANs were mainly generated by employers utilizing employee information submitted to the EPFO.
Although Aadhaar details were verified, discrepancies in information such as father’s name, mobile number, or birth date were frequently reported, as noted by the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
Such errors often necessitated corrections during claim processing or while using other EPFO services.
In the financial year 2024-25, out of 1.26 crore UANs issued, only 44.68 lakh (35.30 percent) were activated by members.
The EPFO stated, “Numerous reminders were sent to employers to encourage employees to activate their UANs using Aadhaar OTP so that any benefits under the Employment Linked Scheme could be provided via direct benefit transfer (DBT) in the future.”
In numerous instances, the UAN was not communicated to the employee, leading to missing or incorrect mobile numbers, which hampered direct communication. Moreover, the process of UAN activation via Aadhaar OTP validation on the EPFO Member portal was separate, leading to confusion.
To resolve these issues, the EPFO has now implemented direct UAN generation and activation using Face Authentication through the UMANG App.
This service is available for both employees and employers, offering 100 percent verification of Aadhaar and user identity using Face Authentication, with user data directly pre-filled from the Aadhaar database.
As per the EPFO, the user's mobile number is matched with the one registered with Aadhaar, and UAN activation on the EPFO portal is simultaneously completed during the generation process.
Upon employment, an employee can present a printed copy of the e-UAN card PDF and UAN to the employer for onboarding with the EPFO. Access to EPFO services such as passbook viewing, KYC updates, claim submission, and more is instantly available.
Recently, the government announced two major reforms in the EPFO claim settlement process. The EPFO eliminated the need to upload an image of a cheque leaf or attested bank passbook when filing online claims, benefiting over 7.7 crore members.
Additionally, the requirement for employer approval post-bank verification has also been removed.
