The EPFO has restored its Unified Member Portal after an upgrade, moving UAN activation and generation to the UMANG app. These processes now require Aadhaar-based face authentication for improved security. While these services migrate to the mobile platform, death claim processing continues to operate directly through the official EPFO portal.
What Happened
The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has restored its Unified Member Portal following a technical upgrade. The update introduces significant changes to how users access account services. Most notably, the portal no longer hosts UAN (Universal Account Number) activation or new UAN generation features. Members must now complete these tasks using the government's UMANG (Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance) app. A key requirement for this shift is the use of Aadhaar-based face authentication, which is designed to verify the identity of the user more securely before the UAN is generated or activated.
Why This Matters For Members
For employees and new subscribers, this change requires a shift in how they interact with their retirement savings accounts. By moving high-traffic administrative tasks to the UMANG app, the EPFO is centralizing these services within a single government platform. Users should prepare by ensuring their Aadhaar details are updated and linked to their mobile numbers. The reliance on face authentication is a move toward more advanced digital identity verification, which aims to reduce manual errors and prevent unauthorized account access.
Accessing Death Claim Services
While UAN-related services have moved, the EPFO has kept death claim processing on the main Unified Member Portal. This is intended to ensure that beneficiaries retain a dedicated, web-based channel for sensitive and time-sensitive tasks. Beneficiaries must continue to use the portal to submit claims, including those related to pensions. When using this service, applicants must ensure their documents—such as death certificates and bank proofs—are in PDF format, do not exceed 2MB in size, and have file names without spaces, as per the current system requirements.
Existing Member Functionality
Existing members who already possess a UAN can continue to use the portal for their regular account management. For those who still need to retrieve a forgotten UAN, the portal remains the primary point of contact. This retrieval process still requires verification through a registered mobile number and the submission of identity or address documentation.
What Members Should Monitor
Members should ensure their mobile numbers are active and linked to their Aadhaar accounts to avoid delays during verification. As the system transition is recent, users may encounter minor technical adjustments as the new portal-app integration stabilizes. It is recommended to download the official UMANG app from verified app stores and avoid third-party links when performing account-related activities to maintain data security.