EPF Balance Check: A Comprehensive Guide for 2024

The Employee Provident Fund (EPF) is a crucial financial tool for salaried individuals in India. It serves as a retirement savings scheme, ensuring employees have a financial cushion when they retire. Regularly checking your EPF balance is essential to ensure your contributions are correctly recorded and to plan your financial future effectively. This comprehensive guide will explore everything you need to know about checking your EPF balance 2024, covering various methods, the importance of regular checks, and tips to manage your EPF account efficiently.

What is EPF?

The Employee Provident Fund (EPF) is a retirement benefits scheme managed by India’s Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO). It mandates a monthly contribution from both the employee and the employer, which accumulates over time and can be withdrawn upon retirement or under specific conditions. The EPF is a vital component of an employee’s financial planning, offering a combination of savings and insurance benefits.

Importance of Checking Your EPF Balance

Regularly checking your EPF balance is essential for several reasons:

1. Verification of Contributions: Ensures that employee and employer contributions are correctly credited to your account.
2. Financial Planning: This helps you plan your retirement by knowing the exact amount accumulated.
3. Detecting Discrepancies: Identifies any discrepancies or issues in the account promptly.
4. Loan Applications: Provides proof of savings, which can be helpful when applying for loans.
5. Tax Planning: Assists in planning for tax benefits associated with EPF contributions.

Methods to Check EPF Balance in 2024

1. Using the EPFO Portal

The EPFO portal is a comprehensive online platform for all EPF-related activities. Here’s how you can check your EPF balance through the portal:

1. Visit the EPFO Website: Go to the official EPFO website www.epfindia.gov.in.
2. Login to Your Account: Use your Universal Account Number (UAN) and password to log in.
3. Navigate to ‘Our Services’: Click on ‘For Employees’ under the ‘Our Services’ section.
4. View Passbook: Under the ‘Services’ section, click ‘Member Passbook’ to view your EPF balance.
5. Using the UMANG App

UMANG (Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance) is a government app that provides access to various government services, including EPF.

1. Download the App: Download the UMANG app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
2. Register/Login: Register or log in using your mobile number.
3. Select EPFO Services: Navigate to the ‘EPFO’ section under ‘Employee Centric Services.’
4. View Passbook: Click ‘View Passbook’ to check your EPF balance.
5. Using SMS Service

EPFO offers an SMS service for employees to check their EPF balance.

1. Send an SMS to 7738299899 in the format: EPFOHO UAN ENG. Replace ‘ENG’ with the first three letters of your preferred language.
2. Receive Balance Details: You will receive an SMS with your EPF balance details.
3. Using Missed Call Service

EPFO provides a missed call service for balance checks.

1. Give a Missed Call: Give a missed call to 011-22901406 from your registered mobile number.
2. Receive SMS: You will receive an SMS with your EPF balance details.
3. Using EPFO’s WhatsApp Helpline

Many EPFO regional offices now offer a WhatsApp helpline for queries, including balance checks.

1. Find the Regional Office Number: Visit the EPFO website for your regional office’s WhatsApp number.
2. Send a Message: Send a message with your UAN to the provided number.
3. Receive Balance Information: You will receive your EPF balance details via WhatsApp.

Common Issues While Checking EPF Balance and Their Solutions

1. Incorrect UAN or Password

Ensure that you are entering the correct UAN and password. If you have forgotten your password, use the ‘Forgot Password’ option on the EPFO portal to reset it.

1. Unregistered Mobile Number

Your mobile number must be registered with your UAN. If you need to register, update it on the EPFO portal or through your employer.

1. Inactive UAN

Ensure that your UAN is active. If not, activate it on the EPFO portal.

1. Technical Issues

Sometimes, the EPFO portal or services may be down due to maintenance. If you face any issues, try again after some time.

Tips for Efficient Management of Your EPF Account

1. Regular Updates: Update your details, such as your mobile number and email address.
2. Nominee Details: Ensure that your EPF account correctly fills out nominee details.
3. KYC Compliance: Make sure your EPF account is KYC compliant to avoid any issues in the future.
4. Track Contributions: Regularly track your contributions and the interest credited to your account.
5. Link UAN with Aadhaar: Linking your UAN with Aadhaar can simplify many processes, including balance checks and withdrawals.

EPF Balance Check – How to Check PF Balance With and Without UAN Number

Employees can quickly check their phone EPF balance by downloading the Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance (UMANG) app. This app allows users to file and track claims and check EPF balances. Members must complete a one-time registration using their UAN-registered cellphone number to access the app.

Here’s how you can use the UMANG app to view your EPF transactions:

1. Download the UMANG app from the Google Play Store or App Store.
2. Log in to the UMANG app by clicking on your profile picture. Select ‘Services’ and then click the ‘Social Security’ option.
3. Select ‘EPFO’ from the list of services.
4. Under ‘Employee Centric Service,’ click on ‘View Passbook.’
5. Enter your UAN number and click on ‘Get OTP’.
6. Enter the OTP received on your mobile and click the ‘Submit’ button.
7. Select the Company for which you want to view and download the EPF passbook.
8. View the passbook displayed on the screen.
9. Download the EPF passbook by clicking on the ‘Download’ button.

How do you check your PF balance without your UAN number?

Checking Your PF Balance via SMS

Once your UAN is integrated with your KYC details, you can check your PF balance by following these steps:

1. Send an SMS to 7738299899.
2. Format your message as follows: ‘EPFOHO UAN ENG’.

In the SMS, you can set your preferred language of communication by using the first three characters of the language name. For example, if you wish to receive updates in English, use ‘ENG’. If you prefer updates in Marathi, use ‘MAR’.

This service supports the following languages:

• English (ENG)
• Hindi (HIN)
• Punjabi (PUN)
• Gujarati (GUJ)
• Marathi (MAR)
• Kannada (KAN)
• Telugu (TEL)
• Tamil (TAM)
• Malayalam (MAL)
• Bengali (BEN)

Note: You can check your PF balance via SMS only if your UAN is active and linked to your bank account, Aadhaar number, and PAN. If your UAN is not linked to these, you must complete the eKYC with your UAN to use the SMS service.

Frequently Asked Questions about EPF balance

How can I check my EPF balance online?

You can check your EPF balance online using the following methods:

• EPFO Portal: Visit the EPFO website, log in using your UAN and password, navigate to the ‘Our Services’ section, select ‘For Employees,’ and click ‘Member Passbook’ to view your balance.
• UMANG App: Download the UMANG app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, register or log in, go to the ‘EPFO’ section under ‘Employee Centric Services,’ and select ‘View Passbook’ to check your balance.

What should I do if I cannot log into my EPFO account?

If you cannot log into your EPFO account, follow these steps:

• Check Credentials: Ensure you are entering the correct UAN and password.
• Reset Password: If you’ve forgotten your password, use the ‘Forgot Password’ option on the EPFO portal to reset it.
• Update Mobile Number: Ensure your mobile number is registered and updated with your UAN.
• Technical Issues: If the site is down, try again later.

Can I check my EPF balance without an internet connection?

Yes, you can check your EPF balance without an internet connection using these methods:

• SMS Service: Send an SMS to 7738299899 in the format EPFOHO UAN ENG (replace ‘ENG’ with the first three letters of your preferred language).
• Missed Call Service: Give a missed call to 011-22901406 from your registered mobile number. You will receive an SMS with your EPF balance details.

What information do I need to check my EPF balance?

To check your EPF balance, you need the following information:

• UAN (Universal Account Number): A unique identification number assigned to each employee.
• Password: The password you created to log into the EPFO portal or UMANG app.
• Registered Mobile Number: The mobile number registered with your UAN is required for SMS and missed call services.

How often should I check my EPF balance?

It is advisable to check your EPF balance:

• Monthly or Quarterly: Ensure all contributions are credited accurately and stay updated with your account.
• Before Financial Decisions: When planning for loans, withdrawals, or retirement, it is important to have an accurate understanding of your savings.
• During Job Changes: To confirm the transfer of EPF balances from your previous employer to the current account.

Conclusion

Checking your EPF balance is a simple yet crucial task every employee should perform regularly. With multiple methods available, including the EPFO portal, UMANG app, SMS, missed calls, and WhatsApp, staying updated with your EPF balance has never been more accessible. Regularly monitoring your EPF balance ensures the accuracy of contributions and helps in better financial planning and management. Stay proactive with your EPF account to secure your financial future effectively.