In a significant move to enhance the Ease of Living for EPF members and the Ease of Doing Business for employers, the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has announced two major reforms aimed at simplifying the claim settlement process on April 3rd 2025.
Key Reforms Announced:
Removal of Requirement to Upload Cheque Leaf or Attested Bank Passbook
- What’s Changed? EPFO has abolished the requirement to upload an image of a cheque leaf or attested bank passbook when filing online claims.
- Why This Matters: Previously, poor-quality uploads often led to claim rejections. This change will benefit over 7.7 crore members by eliminating these issues.
- Background: This relaxation was first introduced as a pilot project on May 28, 2024, benefiting 1.7 crore members. Due to its success, it’s now extended to all EPF members.
Removal of Employer Approval for Seeding Bank Account with UAN
- What’s Changed? The requirement for employer approval to seed bank account details with the Universal Account Number (UAN) has been removed after bank verification.
- Why This Matters: This move will immediately benefit nearly 15 lakh members with pending approvals, speeding up the process significantly.
- Impact: Previously, employers took an average of 13 days to approve bank seeding requests, causing delays. Now, this bottleneck is eliminated, streamlining the process for over 36,000 daily requests.
Why These Reforms Are Game-Changers:
- For EPF Members: Faster claim settlements, reduced paperwork, and fewer chances of claim rejections.
- For Employers: Less administrative burden, making it easier to manage EPF-related tasks.
- For the System: Enhanced efficiency, reduced grievances, and improved user satisfaction.
What Should Members Do Now?
- Seed Your Bank Account: If you haven’t already, seed your bank account with UAN using your Aadhaar OTP for quick verification.
- Update Bank Details: For members looking to change their existing bank details, this process is now quicker and hassle-free.
This reform reflects EPFO’s continued commitment to making EPF services more accessible, transparent, and member-friendly while promoting a smoother workflow for employers.
