What is EPF?

The Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) is a savings scheme for employees, which is facilitated by the employer and managed by the EPFO. Both the employee and the employer contribute a certain percentage of the employee’s salary towards the fund. The employee's contribution is 12% of their basic salary plus dearness allowance, while the employer contributes 3.67% towards EPF and the remaining 8.33% towards the Employee Pension Scheme (EPS).

Importance of Checking EPF Balance

Regularly checking your EPF balance is crucial for several reasons:

1. Ensure Accuracy: Verifying your balance helps ensure that both your and your employer's contributions are being correctly deposited.
2. Financial Planning: Knowing your EPF balance aids in planning for retirement and understanding your financial standing.
3. Discrepancy Resolution: Early detection of discrepancies in contributions or balance can help in resolving them promptly.

Understanding UAN

The Universal Account Number (UAN) is a unique 12-digit number assigned to every employee contributing to the EPF. It acts as an umbrella for multiple Member Identification Numbers (Member IDs) assigned to an individual by different establishments. The UAN remains the same throughout the employee’s lifetime and helps in managing the EPF account conveniently.

Methods to Check EPF Balance

1. Using UAN Portal

The UAN portal is the most comprehensive platform for managing your EPF account. Here’s how you can check your EPF balance using the UAN portal:

1. Activate UAN: If you haven’t activated your UAN, visit the EPFO website and click on ‘Activate UAN’. You will need your UAN, member ID, Aadhaar, PAN, and personal details to activate it.
2. Login: Once activated, log in to the UAN portal using your UAN and password.
3. View Passbook: After logging in, you can view your passbook under the ‘View’ section. This will show you the detailed balance of your EPF account.

2. UMANG App

The UMANG (Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance) app integrates various government services, including EPFO services. To check your EPF balance:

1. Download and Install: Download the UMANG app from Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
2. Register: Register on the app using your mobile number.
3. EPFO Services: Navigate to ‘EPFO’ under the ‘All Services’ section.
4. Employee Centric Services: Select ‘Employee Centric Services’ and then ‘View Passbook’.
5. Login with UAN: Log in using your UAN and OTP sent to your registered mobile number to view your EPF balance.

3. EPFO Member e-Sewa Portal

The EPFO Member e-Sewa portal provides a straightforward method to check your EPF balance:

1. Login: Visit the EPFO Member e-Sewa portal and log in using your UAN and password.
2. View Passbook: Click on the ‘Passbook’ option to view your EPF balance.

4. Missed Call Service

If you do not have internet access, you can still check your EPF balance using the missed call service:

1. Link Mobile Number with UAN: Ensure your mobile number is linked with your UAN.
2. Missed Call: Give a missed call to 011-22901406 from your registered mobile number.
3. Receive SMS: You will receive an SMS with details of your EPF balance.

5. SMS Service

The EPFO also provides an SMS service to check your EPF balance:

1. Link Mobile Number with UAN: Ensure your mobile number is linked with your UAN.
2. Send SMS: Send an SMS to 7738299899 in the format: EPFOHO UAN ENG, where ‘ENG’ is the first three letters of your preferred language (e.g., HIN for Hindi, TAM for Tamil).
3. Receive SMS: You will receive an SMS with your EPF balance details.

Checking EPF Balance Without UAN

If you do not have your UAN or cannot access it, you can still check your EPF balance through other methods:

1. Using PF Number

You can check your EPF balance using your PF number through the EPFO portal:

1. Visit EPFO Portal: Go to the EPFO portal and click on the ‘Our Services’ tab.
2. Select ‘For Employees’: Click on ‘For Employees’ under ‘Our Services’.
3. Balance/Passbook: Select ‘Member Passbook’ under ‘Services’.
4. Enter PF Number: Enter your PF number and other required details to view your EPF balance.

2. UMANG App (Without UAN)

Even if you don’t have your UAN, you can still use the UMANG app:

1. Download and Install: Download the UMANG app.
2. Register: Register using your mobile number.
3. EPFO Services: Navigate to ‘EPFO’ services.
4. Employee Centric Services: Select ‘Employee Centric Services’ and ‘Know Your Claim Status’.
5. Enter PF Number: Enter your PF number to check your EPF balance and claim status.

3. Contacting EPFO Office

You can also visit your regional EPFO office to check your EPF balance without UAN:

1. Locate Office: Find the nearest EPFO office.
2. Provide Details: Provide your PF number and other employment details.
3. Get Balance Details: The EPFO office will help you retrieve your EPF balance details.

Resolving Discrepancies in EPF Balance

If you find discrepancies in your EPF balance, follow these steps to resolve them:

1. Check Passbook: Verify the passbook entries for any missed contributions.
2. Contact Employer: Inform your employer about the discrepancy for clarification and rectification.
3. Raise a Grievance: If the issue persists, raise a grievance through the EPFO Grievance Management System (EPFiGMS).
4. Follow Up: Follow up with EPFO or your employer until the issue is resolved.

Conclusion

Keeping track of your EPF balance is vital for ensuring your financial security post-retirement. Whether you have access to your UAN or not, there are multiple ways to check your EPF balance conveniently. Regular monitoring can help in early detection of any discrepancies and ensure that your savings are on track. Utilizing online portals, mobile apps, SMS, and missed call services makes it easier than ever to stay updated with your EPF balance. Make use of these methods and keep your retirement savings secure and well-managed.