Latest news with #UMANG
News18
2 days ago
- Business
- News18
Facing EPFO Site Errors? UMANG App Offers A Smart Alternative
Last Updated: A multi-utility government application, UMANG, helps EPF members register and avail of various services, including checking their EPF passbook and tracking claims submitted. Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) members who are tired of facing site errors while trying to check their EPF passbook need no longer worry. You can access the EPFO services even when the official portal undergoes technical faults or downtimes by using UMANG. A government-backed mobile application, Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance (UMANG), helps EPF members check their PF balances, submit claims and perform other essential tasks without entering the official EPFO portal. A convenient and user-friendly platform, the UMANG application offers all EPFO-related facilities to members on their smartphones. Whether it is checking the EPF passbook, balance, raising or tracking claims, applying for Scheme Certificates or even activating your UAN. UMANG is the way to go. EPF members seeking a full or partial claim against their UAN can do so directly from the UMANG app, with just a few taps on their mobile phones. One can also avoid the hassle of visiting the EPFO offices for pension scheme certificate applications through the app, which allows us to track the status (only the non-financial details) of the claims raised against a member ID. The UMANG app helps members check their EPF passbooks if they are unable to do so through the online portal, providing a summarised overview of transactions done in their pension account of PF for the last 3 months. If members wish to go further back, the rest can be downloaded in PDF format. Members of the Employees' Pension Scheme (EPS) can download their pension payment order using the UMANG app. The application has eased the process of acquiring the order that helps you get your pension after retirement. Additionally, EPF members can generate and activate a Universal Account Number (UAN) for first-time users via the multi-utility UMANG application. 'This service leverages secure face authentication, ensuring a seamless and reliable process. Employees can quickly access their EPF accounts without requiring extensive paperwork or manual verification steps," says the UMANG website. The app comes with a range of other benefits, including status tracking of any grievances or requests made through the eMigrate web portal, allowing you to check whether the government has taken any prompt action on your complaints. Members can download the UMANG app from the Google Play/App Store. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Lost your PPO number? Here's how you can find it online, and offline
Pension Payment Order (PPO) number is a critical identifier for retirees drawing pensions under the Employees' Pension Scheme (EPS), managed by the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO). This 12-digit number helps track pension disbursement, update records, or lodge complaints. If you've misplaced it or never received the PPO document, there are several ways, both online and offline, to retrieve it. How to find PPO number online? 1. EPFO Pensioners' Portal Visit the EPFO's official Pensioners' Portal. In the 'Know Your PPO No.' section, enter your registered bank account number or EPS member ID. If your details match EPFO's records, your PPO number will appear instantly. 2. UMANG app The government's UMANG (Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance) app offers a convenient option. After logging in, go to 'EPFO' services, then select 'Pensioner Services' > 'Know your PPO Number'. You can retrieve your PPO number by entering your Aadhaar or bank account details linked to your EPS account. 3. DigiLocker EPFO has also enabled downloading PPO certificates via DigiLocker under the Digital India initiative. Download the DigiLocker app or visit Sign up and link your Aadhaar (ensure your Aadhaar-linked mobile number is active for OTP verification). Search for 'Employees Provident Fund Organisation' under 'Issued Documents' and provide your PPO number and last four digits of your pension-linked bank account. Once verified, your PPO certificate will be fetched directly from EPFO's records. How to get your PPO number offline? If you're not comfortable with online methods, visit the branch of the bank disbursing your pension. Provide your pension-linked savings account number, and they can help retrieve the PPO number from their system. Keep your PPO number safe
Economic Times
7 days ago
- Business
- Economic Times
EPF withdrawals made easier for PF members but this impacts your retirement corpus
Getty Images PF accounts have become a lifeline for those who have nearly exhausted their savings and want to avoid falling into a debt trap. Even as many EPF subscribers continue to face difficulties accessing money parked in the nation's foremost pension body, some have figured a way to tide over the cash crunch. Following the Covid-19 pandemic, when the EPFO portal made partial withdrawal via the 'Illness' option easy for members, PF accounts have become a lifeline for those who have nearly exhausted their savings and want to avoid falling into a debt trap. But indiscriminate use of this facility could compromise individuals' financial security in later years. Indians have faced several upheavals in the past decade—demonetisation in 2016 and the pandemic in 2019—that fuelled pay cuts and especially those in the nation's workforce for not more than a decade, have been hit hard by these crises. Some had neither worked long enough to build an adequate corpus to rely on during uncertain times, nor were they young enough to have the safety net of working parents to support 2020, the pandemic drove cashstarved millennials to break their EPFO piggy bank as it provided immediate liquidity without baggage. Cut to the present: faced with a worry of rising defaults and increased debt of individuals, banks sharpened their screening process and became more cautious when giving loans. According to the RBI's latest report, bank credit in the personal loans segment grew 13.7% during the fortnight ended 30 May, compared with 19.3% in the corresponding year-ago period. The central bank attributed this largely to moderation in growth of 'other personal loans', 'vehicle loans' and 'credit card outstanding'. This essentially means the public has less hard cash. For some millennials, this liquidity crunch was a nudge to again dip into their retirement kitty. Relaxations offered by the EPFO have made this easy. Subscribers can file Form-31 citing reasons such as 'Illness', 'Natural Calamities', 'Power Cut', among others. With the UMANG app, this process is very similar and reduced to barely a few taps of one's introduction of the Universal Account Number (UAN) system in 2014 has also made it easier for subscribers to access their EPF accounts across multiple employers. 'However, in cases where an individual's EPF history spans pre-UAN periods or involves outdated employer records, withdrawals can still be challenging and may require manual intervention,' says Amey Kanekar, founder of fintech startup FinRight Technologies, which streamlines PF withdrawals. Exhausting all savings It is this ease of access that has brought, among some EPFO members, a lack of Massey is part of this segment. The first time the 34-year-old withdrew money from his PF account was in late 2021, months after the devastating second Covid spent the last 10 years working in various companies in Delhi, he is now pursuing an MBA in marketing from a university in Birmingham, England. Massey took an education loan to fund his pursuit. For related expenses, however, he cleaned out nearly 90% of his PF money—almost Rs.2 lakh—and cashed in all his equities. 'I needed cash to buy the plane ticket and other stuff. I withdrew around 40% the first time in March 2024 and then the rest after a few days. I filled in 'Illness' as the reason on the EPFO website,' he explains. Nadiya Hasan, 30Teacher First withdrawal: 2019, during her first year of employment Latest withdrawal: April 2024,for regular personal expenses Multiple small withdrawals across 6 yearsAsked why he didn't invest in systematic investment plans (SIPs) or other mutual funds, Massey says, 'Unless I were saving large sums, I didn't feel there was a point in putting away small amounts in SIPs as the returns would've been meagre.'In Varanasi, media professional Shashwat Sajal, 37, has been more liberal with his PF withdrawals. He too went down this path in 2021 during the pandemic to fund his father's medical expenses and thankfully it bore fruit. Subsequently, he had to lean on these savings more frequently—at least twice every year in batches of Rs.20,000-25,000, with 'Illness' being the reason he gave on the EPFO portal every time.'I needed the money to meet household expenses and pay for some further health issues that my father faced,' says Sajal, who also liquidated all his stocks just as Massey had. When he last used the EPFO website in December 2024 to try and withdraw Rs.5,000, Sajal's claim was restricted by the portal to Rs.1,500. Erick Massey, 34Marketing student First withdrawal: Late 2021, after second Covid-19 wave Latest withdrawal: March 2024, expenses related to higher education overseas 3 large withdrawals across 4 years Impulsive spending Then, there are younger EPFO members like Nadiya Hasan, who confesses to being a English teacher at a private school in Delhi, she had been taking out small amounts using the UMANG app since 2019, when she entered the in 2021, Hasan had to withdraw a major amount following a near-debilitating health emergency, albeit not due to Covid. She recovered soon and returned to teaching 3rd-5th graders English but developed a habit of treating her PF account almost as a current account.'I used my PF money for everyday expenses for a long time,' she admits. 'The UMANG app is too easy to use. I used to raise claims by submitting various reasons. If one was accepted and it couldn't be submitted again for some time, I used to simply give another.'Hasan's expenditures were diverse— from buying stationery to engage her pupils, to pampering herself with impulsive e-commerce purchases. If her salary account fell short, she would transfer her PF money into a separate account to use as she saw fit. And she did it almost on a quarterly basis. AMEY KANEKARFOUNDER, FINRIGHT TECHNOLOGIES Note: Ideally, individuals should build a dedicated emergency fund covering 6–12 months of expenses in high-liquidity instruments like liquid mutual funds or sweep-in fixed deposits. These alternatives may be more suitable than depleting long-term retirement savings. She, however, has no qualms in admitting that her spending habits could be a sort of compensatory mechanism after she got a new lease of life following her hospitalisation. 'I live with my parents and have restrained myself financially for most of my life. But when I began earning, it gave me a newfound financial freedom,' Hasan adds. A blind spot With limited curbs in place, there's growing concern that EPFO members may misuse this retirement instrument as a fallback for routine expenses, rather than preserving it to support a secure post-employment life as originally is ideal for most members to keep their PF untouched and allow the deposits to accumulate interest over several years, so that this corpus stands one in good stead post-retirement. Kanekar cautions that using the PF as a recurring liquidity source defeats its primary purpose as a long-term retirement safety net. 'Frequent withdrawals erode compounding benefits and could severely compromise retirement readiness.' Shashwat Sajal, 37Media professional First withdrawal: 2021, during second COVID-19 wave Latest withdrawal: December 2024, for expenses on household and father's health Over 6 withdrawals across 4 yearsHe also says that the ease of withdrawal through the 'Illness' option isn't necessarily a loophole, but a 'compliance blind spot'. 'Introducing stricter documentation will increase the operational workload for the EPFO,' he notes. 'Moreover, the 6x wage cap already serves as a safeguard against large or excessive illness-related withdrawals.''Ideally, individuals should build a dedicated emergency fund covering 6–12 months of expenses in high-liquidity instruments like liquid mutual funds or sweep-in fixed deposits. These alternatives may be more suitable than depleting long-term retirement savings,' Kanekar a few thousand bucks, Massey's PF account is still active though, to be of use some day when he returns to meanwhile, has sworn to exercise restraint and not touch this part of his is mending her ways, admittedly, having not taken a rupee out of her PF account since April. Asked if she ever considered investing in mutual funds or other instruments, she says she never felt the need to do so.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
11-07-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
EPF interest not showing in your account yet? Here's what you can do
The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has started crediting the FY25 interest rate of 8.25 per cent to subscribers' accounts. Some subscribers may experience delays and are advised to check the status online and take corrective steps. Why does delay happen The interest rate, announced by EPFO's Central Board of Trustees, applies to contributions made in the previous financial year. However, once the rate is notified, the actual transfer involves extensive calculations before showing up in individual accounts. Unlike bank fixed deposits, EPF interest accrues monthly and is credited annually. A delay in updating the passbook doesn't affect your overall returns unless you withdraw funds. Steps to check and resolve delays If your passbook still doesn't reflect the interest credit after a reasonable wait, consider these steps: -Verify KYC details: Ensure your Aadhaar, PAN, and bank account are correctly linked and verified on the EPFO portal. -Check passbook online: Log in to the EPFO member portal or use the UMANG app to check the latest updates. -Raise a grievance: File a complaint via the EPFiGMS (EPF i-Grievance Management System) portal for formal redressal. -Visit the EPFO office: For persistent issues, carry your UAN and identity proofs to the regional EPFO office for assistance. For most subscribers, the interest should reflect in their accounts within days as the EPFO wraps up the crediting cycle. If you're still waiting, monitor your passbook regularly and act only if the delay stretches beyond the usual timeframe.
Business Standard
07-07-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Cheats posing as EPFO agents are a threat: Red flags and how to stay safe
Cheats posing as agents of the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) are duping subscribers of the pension scheme by offering faster withdrawals or assistance in claims. Experts warn that people may lose their hard-earned retirement savings to such fraud. How these scams work Scammers often contact EPFO members via calls, emails, or even WhatsApp messages, claiming to be officials or authorised agents. They lure people by: Offering faster PF claims or early withdrawals for a 'small processing fee'. Asking for sensitive details like Aadhaar, PAN, UAN, OTPs, or bank account credentials. Claiming the account is 'frozen' and needs reactivation via a link or payment. Once these details are shared, fraudsters can siphon off funds or misuse the personal information for identity theft. Why EPFO does not appoint agents The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation has repeatedly clarified that it does not authorise any middlemen or third-party agencies for withdrawals, account updates, or claim settlements. All services are available free of charge through the EPFO portal ( the UMANG app, or regional EPFO offices. Tips to protect your EPF account take these measures: Never share UAN, OTP, or bank account information with anyone claiming to be an EPFO agent. Access EPFO services only via official platforms like the EPFO website and UMANG app. Ignore suspicious calls or emails asking for payments or login credentials. Regularly check your PF balance and passbook for unauthorised transactions. What to do if you're targeted If you suspect fraud, immediately report the matter to your bank and lodge a complaint with EPFO's grievance portal. You can also call the EPFO helpline (14470) for guidance.
