Investing in an Employee's Provident Fund (EPF), often known as PF, allows you to save for retirement while making the most of your working years by combining contributions provided by you and your company. Knowing the balance of your PF account can help you assess whether your funds are meeting your objectives and whether you need to make additional investments.
Employees previously had to wait for their company to provide their EPF statement at the end of each year. However, employees are now able to swiftly and effortlessly check their individual EPF balance online or offline at any time.
EPFO
The Indian government established the Employees' Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) as a statutory entity. As one of the biggest social security institutions in the country, it primarily encourages people to make savings for retirement, besides other things. Founded in 1951, EPFO operates under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Labor and Employment.
A tripartite body known as the Central Board of Trustees (EPF) oversees the Act and all of its programs. Members of the board include employers, employees, and representatives of the Central and State governments. The Indian government's Ministry of Labor and Employment serves as the board's chair. Three programs are run by the Central Board of Trustees (EPF):
- The Employees’ Provident Funds Scheme, 1952 (EPF)
- The Employees’ Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme, 1976 (EDLI)
- The Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995 (EPS)
Ways to Check EPF Balance
To check the EPF balance, an individual can use any of the following methods:
SMS
You can verify your EPF balance if you have linked your UAN to your KYC data by texting the following message to the specified mobile number:
EPFOHO UAN [Language code]
Enter the very first three letters of your chosen language in place of [Language code]. For example, if you choose English, you can enter "ENG" as the language code. You should send the SMS to 7738299899. To access your EPF balance in any language of your choice, send an SMS to the specified number and enter the associated language code.
You can access your balance via SMS only if your UAN is current and has been linked with your bank account, Aadhaar number, and PAN. You need to finish the eKYC with UAN in order to check your balance via SMS if you haven't linked your UAN with your bank account, Aadhaar, or PAN.
EPFO Portal
To check your EPF balance, ensure that your employer has enabled your Universal Account Number (UAN). Every employee who takes part in the Employee Provident Fund (EPF) program receives a unique identification number (UAN). No matter how many organisations they work for, each person should only have one UAN during their entire professional life.
After activating your UAN number, follow the following steps:
- Visit the EPFO website. Navigate to the "Our Services" tab and select the "For Employees" option from the drop-down menu.
- Click "Member Passbook" from the "Services" menu.
- There will be a login screen. Once your UAN has been activated, enter your password and UAN number here.
- After choosing "Member ID," select "View Password [Old: Full]."
- Your PF data will show up on the screen.
- By selecting the "Download Passbook" option, you can then print this passbook.
Missed Call
You can find out about your EPF balance by making a missed call from the registered mobile number to the authorised phone number. This service is only accessible after your KYC data and UAN have been linked. You may contact your employer for assistance if you are unable to perform this.
Once your KYC data has been integrated with the UAN, proceed as directed below. Make a missed call from your registered mobile phone to 9966044425. Your PF data will be sent to you through SMS after a missed call.
Before checking your EPF balance by missed call, you need to ensure that each of the following conditions are met.
- UAN needs to be turned on.
- Since the missed call feature is only enabled when the missed call is sent from your registered number, your mobile number needs to be registered with the UAN.
- The PAN, Aadhaar, and bank account should be linked to the UAN, among other necessary documents.
There is no additional cost associated with using the mobile phone service to check your EPF amount.
UMANG App
EPFO provides a variety of services using the government's consolidated mobile app, Umang. By checking in with your UAN and OTP, you can use the Umang App to check your EPF balance and obtain your PF passbook.
How to use the Umang App to check your PF balance:
- Install the app from the App Store or Play Store.
- Select your preferred language when you launch the Umang app on your smartphone. Read the "End to End Licence Agreement" terms and conditions as well.
- Verify your mobile number and complete the registration process.
- Select 'All Services' from the drop-down menu.
- Locate and choose "EPFO" from the available selections.
- To check the balance of your EPF, click on "View Passbook."
- After entering your UAN, select "Get OTP." After entering the OTP, select "Submit." (The OTP will be sent to the registered smartphone number). Your EPF balance and passbook will be visible on the screen.
How can you activate your EPF passbook?
Follow the given steps to activate your EPF passbook:
- The user must first log in to the official EPFO website.
- The user must provide his or her UAN and password, which were generated at the EPF member portal.
- After inputting the password, the user must click on the Login button.
- Every EPF account's member ID is shown on the screen. In order to view the passbook, the user must click on the EPF member ID under "Select Member ID."
- The passbook displays in PDF format in a new tab. This passbook is available for download and direct printing by the user.
How many days does PF withdrawal take?
Once the claim has been settled, employees can access the PF amount in their bank accounts. The EPF claim is settled in about 20 days.
Why is the PF claim rejected?
Rejected EPF claims are often seen. It can be the result of technological problems or mistakes, erroneous bank or KYC data, a messy signature, or the fact that you don't meet the requirements. Therefore, before submitting a claim, it is crucial to understand the qualifying requirements and the reason for an EPF claim rejection.