UAN acts as an umbrella for the multiple member Ids allotted to an individual by different employers. The idea is to link multiple member identification numbers (Member Id) allotted to a single member under a single UAN. This will help the member to view details of all the Member Id linked to it. Employees can stay on top of their provident fund (PF) accounts with the help of this UAN. By accessing the UAN homepage, an employee can download online passbooks, transfer requests and adjustments.
If a member is already allotted UAN then she is required to provide the same on joining a new establishment to enable the employer to in-turn mark the new allotted Member Id to the already allotted UAN. However, there are situations when an employee is allotted a new UAN.
Two UANs can be generated for a single person when the exit date is not updated by the previous employer and/or the UAN is not disclosed by the employee. In case an employee changes his/her job, the UAN that was allotted to them must be given to the new employer. In case the employee does not disclose the UAN and EPF details, the new employer will allot another UAN.
In such a scenario, both numbers should be merged immediately or one account should be deactivated as with two accounts, you won't get the benefit of pension and the amount deposited by your old company will also not be added to the new account.
If you've been given two UANs, you'll need to deactivate the first one because getting two active UANs at the same time is against the rules. All of a member's EPF accounts should be connected to a single UAN. Employees with two UANs will have to transfer their EPF amount to a single account and deactivate the previous UAN.
How to Merge 2 UAN Accounts:
You need to notify your current employer or write to the EPF to get the previous UAN blocked and the existing balance transferred to the active UAN. The employee must file a claim to have the EPF account connected to the blocked UAN transferred to the active account. To resolve the issue, the EPFO will conduct a verification. Send an email to uanepf@epfindia.gov.in with your present and previous UAN in the subject line. This process can be time-consuming.
The old UAN is deactivated by transferring the funds to the new one. After the transfer request, EPFO verifies the transfer claim. Both the UANs are linked and EPFO will deactivate the old UAN once the transfer process is done. The process of UAN merging will be completed automatically. Once EPFO verifies your new UAN, it will be linked with your PF account.
The second method for deactivating one of the UANs is automatic, and it will take less time than the above-mentioned method.
Step 1: Visit the EPFO portal
Step 2: Enter using your documents
Step 3: On the menu bar, Click on 'Claim'
Step 4: Click on "Request for Transfer of account" to file an online Transfer Claim
Step 5: Enter Captcha and click on "GET PIN"
Step 6: After entering the PIN obtained on the registered smartphone, the online claim application can be submitted.
It is worth noting that when a request for EPF transfer is made, the EPFO device automatically detects the duplicate UAN. The old UAN from which the funds are being transferred will be deactivated once the identification process is completed. The old EPF account will be linked to the new UAN once the UAN is automatically deactivated. You will receive an SMS informing them of the old UAN's deactivation status. In case you have not yet activated the new UAN, you will be sent an email with instructions on how to do so.
