You will not be able to claim your EPF balance online unless you do this critical thing

If you have not linked your Aadhaar card number with EPFO account, then you will not be able to claim your PF online and will have to follow the offline procedure.

Aadhaar is also important for private and government employees who are looking to claim their Employees Provident Fund (EPF) account investments. Photo: UIDAI Twitter

Aadhaarcard number is not just seen as vital identity proof, but also has become an important source of information for our investments. Just like for ITR filing, benefits of subsidized LPG cylinders, application for Permanent Account Number (PAN card), Aadhaar is also important for private and government employees who are looking to claim their Employees Provident Fund (EPF) account investments from EPFO via online medium. It is quite right, if you have not linked your Aadhaar with EPFO account, then you will not be able to claim your PF online and will have to follow the offline procedure which can be time-consuming. You should link Aadhaar with Universal Account Number (UAN) which works as an account number for your provident fund.

Here’s why you should update Aadhaar with EPF account soon!

Firstly, the benefits of Aadhaar seeded with UAN is that a member can submit claims through online mode. Also, a member can file claim directly without employer's signature.

Composite Claim Form without Aadhaar:

According to EPFO, the composite claim form (non-Aadhaar) is a single-page form for settlement of PF withdrawal, pension withdrawal benefits and PF non-refundable advances.

Without Aadhaar, this form will be needed to be filed online and must be attested by the employer.

Composite Claim Form with Aadhaar.

The same form can be submitted both offline and online and does not even require attestation of the employer. This form is applicable in cases, where employees complete details in Form 11(New), Aadhaar number and bank account details are available on UAN portal and the UAN id is activated.

How to link Aadhaar with EPF account?

Step 1 - Visit on EPFO website called as www.epfindia.gov.in. Click on ‘Our Services’ section and select ‘For Employees’.

Step 2 - Then click on Member UAN/Online Service (OCS/OTCP) option mentioned below.

Step 3 - A UAN portal having https://unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in/memberinterface/ will be opened. Now login using your UAN id and password.

Step 4 - There will be a ‘Manage Tab’ select it and then click on ‘KYC’ option.

Step 5 - A tab will state ‘Aadhaar’ - Click on it.

Step 6 - A linking page will be opened. Give your registered mobile number with UAN and generate OTP. A one-time-password will be sent on your phone, confirm it. Other details like gender, Aadhaar number, aadhaar verification and captcha code will be asked to furnish.