The new process allows employers to directly correct name and birth date mismatches, aiming to cut down on paperwork and delays for employees.
The Employee Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has updated its rules to make linking an Aadhaar number to a Universal Account Number (UAN) much simpler. According to a circular released on August 13, the new process gives employers more authority to make corrections. This change aims to reduce delays and paperwork for millions of members trying to update their provident fund accounts.
The main reason for this update is to streamline a process that has often been a source of frustration for employees. The EPFO explained that the goal is to provide services "directly to the beneficiaries without intermediation." This means giving employers and members more control over their own data.
Under the new system, if an employee's name, gender, and date of birth in their UAN match their Aadhaar details exactly, their employer can link the two directly through an online portal without needing separate approval from the EPFO. For cases with minor mismatches, the employer can now file a "joint declaration" online to get the information corrected. Even if a completely wrong Aadhaar number was previously linked, employers can now submit the correct one for approval through the same online function.
This change directly impacts employees who have struggled to access their PF funds or transfer their accounts due to data mismatches. By simplifying the correction process, the EPFO hopes to "greatly reduce the turnaround time" for members trying to access their benefits. What once required a lengthy approval process can now be handled more efficiently between the employee and their employer.
This move is part of the EPFO's ongoing effort to digitize its services and make them more user-friendly. For years, members have faced significant delays because of small discrepancies in their personal data between their Aadhaar card and their PF account. The older process often involved physical forms and multiple levels of approval from EPFO field offices, creating a bottleneck for routine corrections.
With these changes now in effect, the process of ensuring your PF account is accurate and linked to your Aadhaar should be much faster. By giving more responsibility to employers, the EPFO aims to clear its backlog of correction requests and make its services more efficient. Employees with pending issues are now encouraged to contact their employers to use the new, simplified online system.
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