Saturday, March 29, 2025
The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has recently implemented several new rule changes, directly affecting crores of its members across the country. Among these, one major change is related to PF claims, while another focuses on identity verification. Let’s take a closer look at all three updated rules.
EPFO members can now verify their Universal Account Number (UAN) and access related services through facial authentication. Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya recently launched upgraded digital services that enable this.
Using the UMANG mobile app, employees can now use Aadhaar-based Face Authentication Technology (FAT) to directly generate their UAN. Employers can also use this technology to generate UANs for new employees. Existing members who have a UAN but haven’t activated it yet can now do so easily through the UMANG app.
In another major change, EPFO has simplified the PF online claim process. Applicants are no longer required to upload an image of a cancelled cheque or get their bank account details verified by their employer.
Previously, members applying for PF withdrawals online were required to upload a copy of a cancelled cheque or passbook linked to their PF account. Employers also had to approve and verify bank details.
Now, both requirements have been removed, making the process smoother for both employees and employers.
This update is aimed at ensuring ease of living for members and ease of doing business for employers. The need for employers to verify and approve an employee’s bank details during a PF claim has been eliminated, streamlining the workflow and reducing delays in processing.
These changes by EPFO are expected to speed up claims, improve service accessibility, and reduce paperwork, ultimately benefiting both employees and employers alike.
