EPFO: Big news for EPFO’s crores of members. The EPFO portal has been relaunched following a week-long upgrade, with the EPFO mentioning that the claim processing may require additional days to finalize. During this period, some services may be accessible but might encounter certain issues. Additionally, two services have been discontinued by the EPFO.
These services were previously available through EPFO UAN but will now be exclusively operated via the Umang app. The first service is UAN activation, and the second is the discontinuation of the direct generation of a new Universal Account Number (UAN) on the website. These services have been migrated to the government’s UMANG app and will necessitate Aadhaar-based face authentication (FAT).
This significant transition follows a comprehensive database and software upgrade, with the objective of enhancing the speed, security, and reliability of the online services.
To activate UAN through the UMANG app
1. Download the UMANG app from either Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
2. Access the EPFO service within the app.
3. Choose ‘UAN Activation’ in the ‘UAN Service through Face’ section.
4. Complete the face authentication process using your Aadhaar card and proceed with the on-screen directives.
For Direct UAN Generation via UMANG App
EPFO has eliminated the option to generate a new UAN directly through its website. Individuals requiring a new UAN must now utilize the UMANG app. UMANG is a digital platform of the Government of India offering various services, including those related to EPFO.
Steps to generate a new UAN
1. Launch the UMANG app.
2. Select EPFO Services.
3. Click on UAN allotment and activation.
4. Complete the Aadhaar-based face authentication process.
5. Follow the provided instructions to generate a new UAN.
The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has made a major and significant change for salaried employees. Under its new digital initiative, ‘EPFO 3.0,’ the organization has introduced a system to settle eligible PF claims within just three days of application. This new system is one of the biggest improvements made to the claims processing system in recent years. Its main objective is to expedite the approval of claims through automated verification where all credentials and documents are fully verified.
Auto-settlement and enhanced benefits up to Rs 5 lakh
To enable this faster process, the EPFO has increased the limit of its auto-settlement mechanism to Rs 5 lakh. Under this, a large number of advance PF requests are being approved digitally without any human intervention. This system will provide financial relief to over 70 million active members in the country in emergencies such as medical treatment, higher education, marriage, housing, or sudden unemployment, in a very short time. The organization has clarified that this reform is only for modernizing service delivery, and there is no change in the statutory contribution rate of 12 percent of basic salary for both employers and employees.