To claim the Employment-Linked Incentive (ELI) scheme benefit, administered by the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), employees must activate their Universal Account Number (UAN) and link their Aadhaar to their bank accounts. This mandatory step must be completed by November 30, 2024.
EPF UAN: Do you need to activate UAN every time you change jobs? Check details here
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced three ELI schemes (A, B, and C) during the Union Budget 2024. As the ELI benefits will be disbursed through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), employers are urged to ensure UAN activation and Aadhaar seeding for all new employees who joined in the current fiscal year, starting with the most recent hires, by November 30, 2024.
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In a press release dated November 21, 2024, the Ministry of Labour & Employment said, “Employers are required to complete the process of UAN activation through Aadhaar-based OTP for all their employees joining in the current financial year by 30th November 2024, starting with the latest joinees. They must then complete the process for all employees working with them.”
What is the ELI scheme?
The ELI scheme is a government initiative to encourage formal-sector employment and create jobs. The scheme has three components: Scheme A, Scheme B, and Scheme C.In a circular dated November 22, 2024, EPFO said, “Every subscriber of EPFO is required to have an Aadhaar-linked Universal Account Number (UAN), which needs to be activated by creating a login on the Member Portal, for availing a number of facilities through a single window. Such facilities include the ability to view and download PF passbooks; submit online claims for withdrawals, advances, or transfers; update personal details and track the status of claims in real-time. The activation process is straightforward and can be completed using an Aadhaar-based OTP.”EPFO further added that “For availing the benefits of any Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) Scheme, the bank account number of the beneficiary is required to be seeded with Aadhaar so as to credit the benefits directly into the beneficiary’s bank account,”
How to activate your UAN on EPFO member portal to get ELI benefits
According to the EPFO circular, here’s a step-by-step guide on how to activate UAN on the EPFO portal:
Step 1: Go to the EPFO member portal- https://unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in/memberinterface/
Step 2: Click the ‘Activate UAN’ link under the ‘Important Links’ section.
Step 3: Enter your UAN number, Aadhaar number, date of birth and Aadhaar-linked mobile number. Employees should ensure their mobile number is linked to Aadhaar. After entering the details, agree to Aadhaar OTP verification.
Step 4: Click ‘Get Authorization PIN’ to receive an OTP on your Aadhaar-linked mobile number. Enter the OTP to complete the activation. A password will be sent to your registered mobile number upon successful activation.
Benefits after UAN activation
When an employee’s UAN is activated, they can easily access EPFO’s extensive online services, which include managing their Provident Fund (PF) accounts, viewing and downloading PF passbooks, submitting online claims for withdrawals, advances, or transfers, updating personal information, and monitoring claims in real-time. Employees can now access EPFO services from the convenience of their homes around-the-clock, doing away with the requirement to physically attend EPFO offices.
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