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The Employees’ Provident Fund, commonly known as EPF, is one of the most important retirement savings schemes for salaried employees in India. Every month, both you and your employer deposit a fixed percentage of your salary into your EPF account. This money grows with interest, stays safe under the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), and becomes a financial cushion for your future.
To make sure your savings are on track, it is important to check your EPF balance regularly. This helps you confirm whether your employer is depositing the correct amount, whether your account is active, and whether your KYC is updated. EPFO provides many official methods such as the EPFO Passbook website, UMANG app, SMS service, and the missed call facility.
This guide explains all PF balance check methods in simple and easy words, both with UAN and without UAN.
| Method | UAN Needed | What You Need | Steps or SMS Format | What You Get |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EPFO Passbook Website | Yes | UAN and password | Login to passbook website | Full passbook and balance |
| UMANG App | Yes | UAN and OTP | Open UMANG and login | Passbook and balance |
| SMS | Yes | UAN, linked mobile, KYC | Send “EPFOHO UAN” to 7738299899 | SMS with PF balance |
| Missed Call | Yes | UAN and linked mobile | Give missed call to 9966044425 | SMS with PF balance |
| Salary Slip | No | Salary slip | Check PF section | Monthly PF contribution |
| HR or Employer | No | Employment details | Ask HR | PF balance |
| Company PF Trust | No | Trust portal or HR | Check trust portal | PF balance from trust |
| Know Your UAN | No | Mobile + Aadhaar or PAN | Retrieve UAN online | UAN for full access |
EPF (Employees’ Provident Fund) is a government-backed savings scheme managed by the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO). It helps employees build long-term savings through:
Every employee gets a UAN which links all PF accounts under one number. This makes checking PF balance, transferring PF, and downloading passbooks much easier.
UAN stands for Universal Account Number. It is a 12 digit number that EPFO gives to each member who contributes to PF. You keep the same UAN for your whole working life. When you change jobs, your new PF account is linked to the same UAN. This makes it easy to view all past and present PF accounts in one place.
Why UAN matters: UAN is the key for online services. With an active UAN and a linked mobile number you can view your passbook, get SMS updates, and submit online claims. If your UAN is not activated, you will not be able to use many digital services provided by EPFO.
How to check if UAN is active:
Steps:
Steps:
This works only if your UAN is active, KYC is updated, and your mobile number is linked.
SMS Format: EPFOHO UAN
Send to: 7738299899
Give a missed call from your UAN-linked mobile number:
9966044425
You will receive balance details by SMS.
If you do not have an active UAN or you do not know it, you still have some options. Note that SMS and missed call will not work without UAN. Use the following alternatives to know your PF details or to get your UAN first.
Many employers show employee and employer PF contributions on the monthly salary slip. This helps you see how much was contributed in a month but it does not show the full accumulated PF balance. Use the slip to spot missed deposits.
HR can provide your PF account number, your UAN, and contribution statements. If you do not have UAN, ask HR to give it to you or to activate it on the EPFO portal. HR can also share the passbook or a yearly statement on request.
Some organizations have a private PF trust and are exempt from EPFO. If your employer uses a trust, PF details will not appear on the EPFO passbook. In that case, check the trust portal, ask HR, or request an official statement from the trust administrator.
Use the EPFO member portal option to know your UAN by entering your mobile and Aadhaar or PAN details. Once you receive UAN on your mobile, activate it and link your number to start using online services.
EPF contributions are simple to understand. The standard contribution is 12 percent of basic pay from the employee and 12 percent from the employer. However the employer portion is split between EPF and EPS as shown below.
Example: If your basic salary is 20,000 per month:
EPFO declares the EPF interest rate each financial year. Interest is calculated every month on the closing balance. The calculated interest for each month is added at the end of the financial year to your EPF account.
How monthly interest works: For every month, EPFO takes the balance at the end of that month and applies the yearly interest rate divided appropriately to the monthly period. These monthly interest amounts are summed and credited at year end.
Simple example: Assume yearly interest rate is 8.25 percent and your closing balance each month averages out to 1,00,000. Monthly interest roughly equals (1,00,000 * 8.25%) / 12 = 687.5. Over 12 months this becomes 8,250 and will be credited at the end of the financial year.
Note: The exact interest figure depends on your actual monthly closing balances. If you add money mid year or switch jobs, those months will affect the interest calculation for those months.
Ask HR to update your mobile number in the employer EPFO portal.
You can track claims for PF withdrawal, transfer or pension via the EPFO member portal, UMANG app or SMS. Keep your UAN and mobile handy for OTP verification.
Login to the member portal with your UAN. Go to Online Services and click Track Claim Status. The portal will show claim type, current status such as under process, approved, rejected or settled, and the estimated settlement date if available.
Open UMANG, choose EPFO services, and select Track Claim. Enter your UAN and verify with OTP. The app shows the same claim status details as the portal, useful when you are on the move.
If your UAN is active and mobile is linked, you can get claim updates by SMS. Send EPFOHO <UAN> CLAIM to 7738299899. You will receive a message with the current claim status and settlement information.
Example scenario: You filed a PF withdrawal on January 10. After 5 days you check the member portal and see status as “Under Process”. After 10 more days it shows “Settled” and the amount is credited to your bank. Use the portal to see expected settlement date and the payment reference if given.
Both the passbook and the annual PF statement provide PF details but they differ in purpose and frequency.
The EPFO passbook is updated monthly and shows every credit entry made by you and your employer. It lists employee share, employer share, monthly interest and the running balance. Use it to check if monthly contributions are being remitted correctly and to spot missed months.
The annual PF statement is a year end summary. It shows opening balance, total contributions in the year, interest credited for the year and the closing balance. The annual statement usually includes EPS records for the year. This is useful for a yearly financial record and for pension tracking.
Which to use when: For regular checks use the passbook. For tax, audit or pension checks use the annual statement. If you need EPS details for service years, the annual statement is better.
EPF and EPS are linked but are different streams within the retirement system. EPF is the provident fund that accumulates contributions and earns interest. EPS is the pension scheme which builds a pension benefit based on years of service and a defined formula.
Key differences:
Example: Over 20 years, your EPF account will show a growing balance with interest. Your EPS will be used to calculate a pension amount per month. The pension depends on pensionable salary and total service years.
1. Can I check PF balance without UAN?
You can get contribution information from salary slip or HR, or check with a company trust. SMS and missed call require UAN and a linked mobile number.
2. How do I find my UAN if I forgot it?
Use the EPFO member portal option to know your UAN. Enter your mobile number and verify with OTP. You may need Aadhaar or PAN to confirm your identity.
3. How long does it take for PF to show after employer deposit?
Usually EPFO updates passbook within a few days to a week. If it is longer, check with HR for payment challan and reference.
4. Why is EPS not visible in passbook?
EPS contributions are recorded differently. The passbook focuses on EPF entries. Annual statements and service records are used for EPS tracking.
5. Can I change mobile number linked to UAN myself?
If Aadhaar is linked you can update mobile via Aadhaar OTP on the EPFO portal. Otherwise update via employer or grievance portal.
6. What proof do I need to raise a grievance?
Salary slips, bank deposit challans, offer letters, Member ID and UAN help. Attach any document showing employer contributions.
7. Can an employer change my UAN?
No. UAN is assigned to the employee by EPFO and should remain constant across employers.
8. How to merge two PF accounts?
File an online transfer claim on the EPFO member portal. Enter old and new Member IDs under your UAN and submit claim. HR approvals may be needed.
9. Is the SMS service free?
Yes. EPFO provides SMS and missed call services free to members whose UAN and mobile are linked.
10. What if the employer refuses to link Member ID to UAN?
Raise the issue with HR. If unresolved, file a grievance on the EPFO portal with supporting documents.
11. Can I withdraw PF before retirement?
Yes in certain situations such as medical emergencies, education, home purchase or unemployment. Rules and limits apply. Use the EPFO portal to apply and check eligibility.
12. How do I reset UAN password?
Use the forgot password option on the EPFO member portal. You will get an OTP on the mobile linked to UAN to reset the password.