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Introduction
Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) is a government-run body that was set up to manage the EPF as per the Employees’ Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952. This mandatory scheme offers Universal Social Security Coverage by way of Provident Fund, Pension and Life Insurance to all workers in the country.
It has three main schemes under its blanket — EPF Scheme 1952, Pension Scheme 1995 (EPS) and Insurance Scheme 1976 (EDLI). EPF or Employees’ Provident Fund is a retirement benefits scheme which lets employees and employers make the same contribution towards the scheme. The contribution of both parties must be 12 % of the employee’s basic salary and DA. Upon retirement, an employee gets a lump sum amount combined with interest.
EPFO Portal is the official website that contains all the information with regards to Employees Provident Fund. It has various service categories for the employees and the employers in the section called ‘Our Services’. EPFO Unified Portal is a way to digitalise and simplify the various PF-related operations for employers and employees. For instance, one can simply log in using their username to check the status of the Provident Fund. On EPFO Member e-SEWA Portal, a user has to plug in UAN (Universal Account Number) to check and claim Provident Fund. Read on to find out other information around EPFO member portal login.
EPFO e-Sewa Portal
The EPFO e-Sewa online Portal is the official website of Employee Provident Fund Organisation for access to EPF related services like checking EPF Balance, previous and present employer details, withdrawal of funds from EPF Account, etc. For accessing these services, UAN Members must register on the UAN Portal.
Steps to Login to the EPFO Member Portal
Employees and employers who wish to log in to the EPFO portal must activate their UAN as a first step. To activate the UAN, they must go to the EPFO online portal. The UAN is provided to each member of the EPF scheme. Employees may source their UAN from their employers or it can also be found on the salary slips in most cases. Here is the procedure to log in to the EPFO portal:
For Employees - The steps to log in to the EPFO portal for employees are as below:
- Employees must first visit the EPFO website at this link - Employees' Provident Fund Organisation.
- Once on the EPFO website, employees must look for the ‘Our Services’ option and select ‘For Employees’.
- Next, the employee should select ‘Member UAN/Online Service (OCS/OTCP)’. The link is available under the ‘Services’ section.
- The employee must then enter his/her UAN along with the correct password. Apart from this, the employee will also have to enter the captcha details as provided. The next step is to click on the ‘sign in’ option.
- The employee will then be directed to the EPFO portal. Employees can choose to update their Know Your Customer (KYC) details, withdraw PF amount, check PF balance, and even transfer PF amount.
For Employers - The steps for employers to log in to the EPFO portal are as below:
- As a first step, the employer must go to EPFO employer login page online on this link - https://unifiedportal-emp.epfindia.gov.in/epfo/#.
- Next, the employer must provide the correct username and password, and select ‘Sign In’ to proceed.
- The user will then be redirected to the main page of the employer’s EPFO portal, where they will be able to approve any information updated by the employee, such as KYC details.
In terms of the quantum of financial transactions and the total members registered under it, the EPFO is known as one of the biggest Social Security Organisations across the globe. The three schemes that fall under the EPFO purview are mentioned below:
Employees Provident Fund (EPF) | Under this scheme, contributions made by employees and employers are accumulated for the beneficiary to use post-retirement. Partial withdrawals can be made in case of financial requirements such as house construction, illness, and marriage. |
Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS) | Contributions made towards this scheme can be used by members at the time of retirement or the nominees can receive in case the death of the member. |
Employees Deposit Linked Scheme (EDLI) | Benefits can be availed by the member’s family in case of the member’s death. The benefit offered is up to 20 times the salary of the employee, the maximum amount being Rs. 6 lakhs. |
Online Services of EPFO
Here are some of the online services offered by EPFO:
- Online PF withdrawal
- Online payments into the PF amount
- Transfer of PF from one account to another
- Missed call and SMS alerts for checking PF balance
- Viewing and downloading of EPF passbook
- Checking claim status online
- Grievance redressal related information and procedure
- Certificate for international workers
- Online registration of Establishments
- Universal Account Number (UAN)
The EPFO Help Desk
The EPFO has a stand-alone portal for addressing all UAN-related queries. A subscriber can use the portal services by registering on the help-desk portal. At the time of registration, a subscriber has to provide few details such as the UAN, Aadhar number and PAN. Assistance with regards to EPF and UAN is offered to subscribers, post-registration.
Linking EPF account with Aadhaar Card
Here are the steps to be followed for linking EPF account with Aadhaar card:
- Log in to the Unified Portal of Employees’ Provident Fund – EPFO and go to the ‘For employees’ option.
- Click on ‘UAN Member e-Sewa’ and provide the UAN and correct password to log on to the account.
- Select ‘manage’ on the top panel and click on ‘KYC’. You will then be redirected to another page.
- Provide your bank name, PAN details and Aadhaar details, under ‘Add KYC’, and click on submit.
- Upon submission, you can check the details under ‘Pending KYC’.
Post-approval, the changes will be reflected under ‘Approved KYC’ and this may take approximately 15 days.
Online Process for EPF Withdrawal
Here are the steps to be followed for EPF withdrawal to be done online:
- Enter the full name on the form (as mentioned on the UAN, Aadhaar card, and bank account), along with the registered mobile number, address, PAN card number, reason for leaving the job and date of joining the job, and click on submit.
- After it is approved, the PF amount gets credited to the employee’s account within 10 working days.
Employees can withdraw from their EPF accounts in advance under certain exceptional cases for genuine reasons. For example, while making a PF withdrawal for funding a marriage, an employee can withdraw a maximum up to 3 times. Same goes for withdrawals made for pursuing post-matriculation education. If employees wish to use the withdrawn amount for purchasing a plot or a house or they want to construct a house, they can only make a one-time PF advance claim online. For funding any medical emergencies or for treatment of any critical illness, PF can be withdrawn in advance before retiring. There is no set limit on the number of withdrawals that can be made in this case.
EPF UAN Activation
For EPF UAN activation, one needs to visit the member website of EPF i.e. EPF e-SEWA/EPF Members Portal. Here are the steps to be followed for the same:
- On the right-hand side bottom corner, you will find the ‘Activate UAN’ option. Click on it to proceed
- Once a fresh dashboard opens up, provide either UAN, PAN or Aadhar and other details as Name, Birthdate, etc as per EPFO records
- Enter the ‘captcha’ code correctly and you will then receive an authorization PIN on your registered mobile with EPFO
- Use the One Time Password (OTP) for validation and activating the UAN online
- A separate message will then be sent to confirm activation of UAN
- After UAN has been activated, you can log in using the same to check the status of Provident Fund
EPF Grievances
The EPFO has an established grievance system that enables members to register any complaints related to PF accounts and procedures. The members can lodge their complaints by selecting the ‘Register Grievance’ tab on the link - EPFiGMS.gov.in.
Members must fill in all the required details related to their account along with a brief description of the grievance faced by them. Any files that are relevant and related to the grievance can be uploaded on the website. The member can also track the status of any registered grievance by selecting the ‘View Status’ option.
UAN Customer Care
For assistance related to EPF Accounts, UAN Members can make use of the UAN Customer Care team using the following Contact information:
- Toll-Free Help Desk Number 1800 11 8005
- Email ID employeefeedback[at]epfindia[dot]gov[dot]in
- Official ID Employees' Provident Fund Organisation
- Help Desk Services Timings 9:15 AM to 5:45 PM
Conclusion
Logging into the EPFO member portal is easy if one follows the steps and details mentioned above. Once the registration is done, it becomes easy for an employer or employee to constantly check details of the EPF account online.
FAQs
1. What if a member wishes to file a transfer claim? Is it necessary to register on the member portal in such cases?
Yes, the member must register on the member portal for making transfer claims.
2. What is the percentage of the employer’s and employee’s contribution to EPF?
The employer and employee must each contribute 12% of the employee’s salary towards EPF. The entire contribution made by the employee is considered as EPF. 8.33% of the employer’s contribution is set aside for pension, while the remaining is considered EPF.
3. Can a member amend details like father’s name, date of joining, date of retirement, and relationship status on the EPFO portal?
No, a member cannot make such changes on the EPFO portal.
4. Can a member choose to contribute more than the mandatory 12% in EPF?
Yes, a member can pay over and above 12% of the maximum of Rs. 15,000. This is considered a voluntary contribution.
5. Can a member make changes to his/her date of birth or age on the EPFO portal?
While this is generally not allowed, a member can change his/her date of birth or age by furnishing the relevant documents.
6. What are the main benefits of a UAN?
Once a UAN is activated for a member, he/she will be able to print/download the passbook, and UAN card at any given time. The member can also view all previous member IDs. KYC details can also be amended online by the member.
7. Why is it important to provide nomination details for the pension?
If a member dies, and there is a nominated family member, the designated nominee receives the pension. Thus, to avoid any claims in the future, nomination details are important.