Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) is a long-term savings scheme, seeking to create a significant retirement corpus through regular automatic payment of contributions. To check balance of your Provident Fund (PF), a number of online and offline options are available for instant and safe access. The Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) is essential for all salaried individuals in India, offering a secure amount at the time of retirement. Here’s a brief description about PF , its importance, and easy-to-follow instructions to check balance of your PF account.
What is Provident Fund (PF)?
Provident Fund (PF) or the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) is a compulsory retirement savings plan launched by the Government of India for salaried people. Employee and employer contribute equal amounts every month (usually 12% of basic salary and dearness allowance) to the PF account, which is regulated by the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO). The savings accumulated up over the years, providing security in old age or during a job changeover, and could also be withdrawn at times of need.
Importance to Salaried Employees
- It offers tax relief under Section 80C.
- The fund provides liquidity in case of emergency and aids in financial planning.
- Corpus accumulated earns interest, usually higher than most regular savings schemes.
Step-by-Step Process to Check PF Balance
1. Check PF Balance Using EPFO Portal
Open the official EPFO website.
Go to ‘For Employees’ and click ‘Member Passbook’ under ‘Services.’
Login with UAN, password, and CAPTCHA.
Check your balance, statement of details, and contribution history.
2. Through UMANG Mobile App
Download UMANG mobile app from Play Store or App Store.
Register with the mobile number associated with UAN.
Go to ‘Services → Social Security → EPFO.’
In ‘Employee Centric Services,’ choose ‘View Passbook’ and login using UAN details to view your balance.
3. By SMS
Send an SMS with “EPFOHO UAN ENG” to 7738299899 from the registered mobile number.
You will get your current PF balance and previous contribution details via SMS.
4. Giving a Missed Call
Provide a missed call at 9966044425 from your UAN-registered mobile number.
You will receive your PF balance information through SMS soon afterwards.
5. Offline or Without Registered Mobile
Go to the EPFO office or approach your employer’s HR department.
Exempted establishments can furnish information through salary slips or internal websites.
More Information and Advice
- Always keep your UAN activated and connected with your Aadhaar and PAN for online services.
- In case you lost or forgot your UAN, recover it through the employer or ‘Know Your UAN’ link on the EPFO portal.
- Periodic monitoring of your PF balance assists in retirement planning and checking employer contributions.
- The UAN does not change even when changing jobs, helping you merge your PF accounts for better management.
Verifying your PF balance has become easy and handy, enabling employees to know their retirement savings at all times.
