The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation has moved UAN activation and generation exclusively to the UMANG app. This change mandates Aadhaar-based face authentication to improve account security. While these services are now app-only, members can still file death claims and retrieve forgotten UANs through the official EPFO portal.
What Happened
The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has updated its service delivery model by shifting UAN (Universal Account Number) activation and new UAN generation services exclusively to the UMANG application. This transition follows a recent modernization of the EPFO’s Unified Member Portal. Going forward, members looking to activate their accounts or generate a new UAN must use the UMANG app and complete a mandatory Aadhaar-based Face Authentication (FAT) process. This security measure is designed to reduce identity-related risks and ensure that account access is strictly linked to verified biometric data.
Why This Matters For Subscribers
For millions of Indian employees, the UAN is the primary identifier for their retirement savings. Moving these services to a dedicated app with face authentication is part of a broader government effort to digitize financial services while hardening security against unauthorized access. Subscribers should note that while these specific setup functions have moved, other critical portal activities remain unchanged. For instance, the portal continues to support the filing of death claims, where beneficiaries must upload necessary documentation like death certificates and bank details in PDF format.
Improvements in Account Access
While the activation process has become more restrictive to boost security, the EPFO has streamlined other user-facing features on the main portal. Retrieving a forgotten UAN, a common issue for employees switching jobs, has been simplified. Users now only need to verify their registered mobile number and complete an OTP-based validation, alongside submitting basic identity or address proof, to recover their account details without visiting a physical office.
What To Watch Next
The EPFO has indicated that the transition and the new, more rigorous verification checks may result in temporary service delays. Subscribers should prepare for potential processing times of up to two weeks for certain requests as the system stabilizes after the upgrade. Investors and employees should monitor the official EPFO website for any further notifications regarding service availability or additional changes to the portal’s functionality during this stabilization period.