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The requirement to link the Universal Account Number (UAN) with Aadhaar has been lifted for certain categories of employees,
Aadhaar no longer mandatory for all PF claims.
The Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) introduced significant changes to the rules governing Provident Fund (PF) claims. Aadhaar will no longer be mandatory for all employees to process their PF claims. The requirement to link the Universal Account Number (UAN) with Aadhaar has been lifted for certain categories of employees, offering relief to those for whom obtaining Aadhaar was a challenge.
Employees without Aadhaar can still make claims under EPFO. In such cases, verification will be carried out through alternative identity documents such as passports, citizenship certificates, or other official identity cards. Additionally, verification will also include documents like PAN cards, bank account details, and other criteria. For claims exceeding Rs 5 lakh, the authenticity of the member will be verified by the employer.
Exemption Criteria
Previously, it was mandatory for employees to link their UAN with Aadhaar to settle PF claims. However, EPFO has now exempted certain groups of employees from this requirement. These include:
- International employees who returned to their home countries after working in India and were unable to obtain Aadhaar.
- Indian citizens with foreign citizenship who could not acquire Aadhaar.
- Citizens of Nepal and Bhutan, for whom Aadhaar is not required.
- Former Indian citizens who have permanently moved abroad.
Claim Process Guidelines
EPFO has directed officials to carefully examine all claims before approval, which will be processed through the e-office file system by the approval officer-in-charge (OIC). Employees have been advised to maintain the same UAN or transfer their previous service records to the same UAN, as this will help streamline and expedite the claim process.