The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), under the Ministry of Labour & Employment, has, on June 16, urged members to avoid using unauthorised agents or cybercafes for PF-related services. These services—such as KYC updates, UAN activation, claims submission, and grievance redressal—are freely and securely accessible through official online channels.
EPFO has made significant enhancements to streamline its digital offerings:
- Auto-settlement of advance claims up to ₹1 lakh, benefiting 2.34 crore members in 2024–25.
- Simplified transfer claims since January, eliminating employer approval in most cases.
- Aadhaar-based online profile correction and member ID de-linking to reduce errors.
- UAN activation via the UMANG app with Face Authentication Technology (FAT).
- Removal of cheque/passbook uploads and employer approval for bank seeding since April.
Despite these improvements, some cybercafe operators and fintechs continue to charge fees for services that are otherwise free, potentially jeopardising personal data security. EPFO has emphasised that all key services—including claim filing and grievance management—must be accessed directly through EPFO Portal, UMANG App or EPFiGMS / CPGRAMS portals. Members are encouraged to contact regional EPFO help desks for support.
