The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has discontinued Universal Account Number (UAN) activation and new UAN generation on its portal. Subscribers must now use the government’s UMANG app with Aadhaar-based Face Authentication to access these services.
Why EPFO Made the Change
The EPFO recently upgraded its Unified Member Portal after a week-long downtime. The overhaul was aimed at making services faster, more secure, and reliable. As part of this upgrade, UAN activation and allotment were removed from the portal and shifted to the UMANG app. This move strengthens identity verification by mandating Aadhaar-based Face Authentication (FAT).
How Subscribers Can Activate UAN Now
- To activate a UAN, members must:
- Download UMANG app from Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
- Navigate to EPFO Services.
- Select “UAN Activation” under “UAN Services Through Face Auth.”
Complete Aadhaar-based Face Authentication and follow on-screen instructions. Once verified, the UAN gets activated and linked to the subscriber’s PF account.
New UAN Generation Process
Subscribers who need a new UAN can no longer generate it via the EPFO portal. Instead, they must:
Open the UMANG app.
Select “UAN Allotment and Activation.”
Complete Aadhaar-based Face Authentication.
Follow instructions to generate and activate the new UAN. This ensures that new employees joining the PF system undergo secure digital onboarding.
Other Portal Updates
While UAN activation has moved, the EPFO portal still supports UAN retrieval for members who have forgotten their number. The process has been simplified: enter your registered mobile number, upload identity proof, and verify via OTP. Additionally, services like death claim filing remain accessible on the portal, ensuring continuity for critical member needs.
What PF Subscribers Should Know
UAN activation is mandatory before accessing EPF passbooks, updating KYC, or managing PF services online.
Aadhaar-linked mobile number must be active for OTP verification during related processes.
Passbook viewing and balance confirmation may face temporary disruptions post-upgrade, but EPFO assures faster claim settlement and improved reliability in the long run.
The discontinuation of UAN activation on the EPFO portal marks a shift towards app-based, Aadhaar-authenticated services. PF subscribers should immediately download the UMANG app and familiarize themselves with the new process to avoid delays in accessing provident fund services. This change reflects EPFO’s broader push for digital security and streamlined member services.
