Whenever you join a new company, provide your employer with your existing UAN to prevent the creation of a new one. If they have already issued a new UAN, you will need to merge it with your previous one.
The Issue of Multiple UAN
Changing jobs frequently can lead to the creation of multiple Universal Account Number (UAN) from the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO). This situation can create confusion and make it difficult to keep track of your funds. To avoid this mess, it is essential to consolidate all your previous UANs with the latest one.
Why Multiple UAN Occur
Multiple UAN often arise when an employee fails to provide their existing UAN or EPF account details when joining a new organization. In such cases, new employers may register a fresh UAN. This can also happen if the previous employer did not update the exit date correctly in the EPFO system. If this information is not updated promptly, the EPFO may generate a new UAN for you.
How to Consolidate Your UAN
To merge all your EPF accounts under one UAN, log on to the member sewa portal. Select ‘One Member – One EPF Account (Transfer Request)’ under the ‘Online Services’ tab. Your personal details and current EPF account will be displayed. For the PF transfer, ensure that your old account is attested by either your previous or current employer, as this speeds up the process.
Submit your old UAN or PF account number, verify the information, generate an OTP, and submit the request. Your current employer will need to approve the request, after which the EPFO will process and merge your previous accounts with the current one.
Keep checking the portal to track the merger status. Note that your old EPF accounts must be KYC compliant for the process to work. If you have multiple old accounts, you will need to merge them one by one. Alternatively, you can email uanepf@epfindia.gov.in with both your old and new UAN. The EPFO will verify and deactivate the extra UANs, keeping only one active. After that, you can claim the money from the deactivated UAN and transfer it to the active one.
