EPFO: For salaried individuals, the Provident Fund (PF) is not just a savings account, but a guarantee of future security. Every month, a portion of our salary is deducted and deposited into this account, which comes in handy during difficult times or after retirement. However, sometimes, we find ourselves in dire need of money and decide to withdraw our PF, only to discover that we've forgotten our Universal Account Number (UAN). Without a UAN, logging into your PF account, let alone checking your balance, becomes impossible. If you're facing this same problem, there's no need to panic. The EPFO has made this problem very easy.
UAN is the 'key to the safe' for salaried individuals.
The UAN number is the identity of your PF account. No matter how many jobs you change, this number remains the same. Often, people forget to note it down in their diary or lose it due to deleting old messages. Without a UAN, the PF withdrawal or transfer process cannot be initiated. The good news is that in this age of technology, you no longer need to visit the HR department for this. You can retrieve it from the comfort of your home using your smartphone or laptop. The Employees' Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) has provided both online and offline services for this.
The solution will be found on the website within minutes.
If you have a smartphone and internet access, recovering your UAN is very easy. To do this, you first need to visit the EPFO's Unified Member Portal. On the right side of the website's homepage, you will see the 'Important Links' section. Here, at the bottom, there is an option to 'Know Your UAN'.
Clicking on this link will open a new page. Here, you will need to enter the mobile number linked to your PF account. Enter the captcha code for security and request an OTP. A one-time password (OTP) will be sent to your mobile number, which will be verified by the system upon entering it. Another form will then open where you'll need to provide your name, date of birth, and Aadhaar or PAN number. As soon as you click 'Show My UAN,' your lost UAN number will flash on your screen.
No internet? SMS will also work.
Sometimes, we find ourselves in places where the network is slow or the internet is not working. EPFO has taken this into account. You can find out your UAN number without internet access by simply sending an SMS. This feature is a boon for those who don't want to get bogged down with technology or websites.
To do this, you'll need to send a message from your registered mobile number. Go to your message box and type 'EPFOHO UAN ENG'. Keep in mind that the last three letters (ENG) represent your language. If you want information in English, type ENG. Send this message to 7738299899. Shortly after sending the message, you'll receive a reply from EPFO, containing your UAN number.
Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from TV9. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.
