- Date : 12/02/2022
- Read: 3 mins
Is the UMANG App Useful for EPF Users?
Launched by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance (UMANG) is an application that allows the public to access services provided by the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPF0). With the help of this app, employees can apply for an UAN number, check their PF balance, make a withdrawal claim, and apply for a Jeevan Pramaan certificate, a biometric-enabled digital service for pensioners, among others.
The mobile app is part of the government's much-spoken Digital India initiative to assist both employers and employees to keep a track of any queries related to EPF. In India, these processes were cumbersome and time-consuming and through UMANG, the government hopes to do away with red tape.
Also Read: 6 Documents that Can Be Linked with Your Aadhaar Card
The app provides a host of services. As far as EPF goes, there are six key services that are helpful to members.
Services for employees:
Users can check their Provident Fund passbook, make a PF claim (full or partial), and further track its states. They can also activate their UAN number and put forth a plea for COVID-19 advance in this time of uncertainty.
The Umang app enables EPF members to withdraw their PF money. There's one rider: The UAN has to be linked to the Aadhaar number to process this further.
Also Read: EPFO Allows Employees from the Formal Sector To Generate UAN Directly Via Its Portal
Services for businesses:
With the app, employers can get details of the total monthly sum they have deposited as their contribution to their employees. They can also keep track of remittance and the Temporary Return Reference Number (TRRN) status.
Raising claims and other services:
The app can be utilised to raise a claim and keep a check on its status. It helps users look up Provident Fund offices, EPFO offices, and employer-related PF details. Account details can be received via SMSes or missed calls.
Services for the retired:
The app has been created with the hope of making processes easier for pensioners. Once their Aadhaar authentication is complete, retired citizens need to seed or update their card to access services they are eligible for. They can take a look at their passbook online with their Pension Payment Order (PPO) number, a unique 12-digit number that helps them receive their pension and generate a Jeevan Praman certificate.
e-KYC service:
Aadhaar seeding, linking your unique 12-digit number with your personal identification documents, can be done on the UMANG app. EPF members need to enter their UAN numbers and follow the process.
Registering complaints:
EPF members can make complaints if they are not satisfied with EPFO services. After filing the complaint, they can send updates and check the status of their complaints on the app.
Umang is indeed a unified application and a great platform introduced by the government to simplify the EPF process. It's a step in the correct direction for a nation betting big on a digital tomorrow.
You can download the Umang app on your Android phone from the Google Play Store.
Also read: EPFO Makes It Mandatory to Link Aadhaar with UAN to Avail EPF Benefits
