🔎 EPFO’s New Guidelines on Seeding & Correcting Aadhaar in UAN (August 2025)

The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has issued a new circular dated 13th August 2025 (Ref: WSU/MemberProfile/E-710137/2025-26/26) introducing simplified procedures for linking Aadhaar with UAN and correcting errors in member details.

This reform is expected to reduce delays, eliminate bottlenecks, and make UAN–Aadhaar linking more member-friendly.

📌 Key Highlights of the Circular

✅ 1. Direct Seeding without EPFO Approval

• If a member’s Name, Gender, and Date of Birth (DOB) in UAN exactly match Aadhaar records,

• The employer can directly seed Aadhaar using the KYC functionality in the employer portal.

• No separate approval from EPFO is required.

  👉 This cuts down long waiting times for members.

✅ 2. Correction through Joint Declaration (JD)

• In case of mismatch (spelling errors, gender mismatch, incorrect DOB, or wrong Aadhaar seeded earlier):

• Example: If UAN DOB is 10/07/1991 but Aadhaar shows 11/07/1991, the employer can file a JD to correct it.

✅ 3. Physical JD Submission in Special Cases

• Where the employer is unavailable (company closed, contract ended, etc.), the member can:

  • Submit a physical Joint Declaration Form (Annexure I of circular).

  • It must be attested by recognized authorities like Magistrate, Gazetted Officer, Bank Manager, Postmaster, etc.

  • Submission is at the EPFO Regional Office PRO counter, where staff will enter it in the system.

✅ 4. Approval by APFC

• All corrections via JD are subject to approval by the Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner (APFC).

• Strict caution: No corrections are allowed once Aadhaar is verified.

  👉 This ensures data integrity in the EPFO database.

✅ 5. Relief for Minor Beneficiaries

• EPFO has also waived the Guardianship Certificate requirement for minors in PF claim settlements.

• Now, benefits can be directly credited to the minor’s bank account.

• If no account exists, EPFO will assist in account opening.

  👉 A big relief for families of deceased members.

⚖️ Legal & Compliance Perspective

1. Legal Validity of Aadhaar:

   Linking Aadhaar with UAN has been made mandatory under Section 142 of the Social Security Code, 2020. This circular provides the procedural clarity for compliance.

2. Employer’s Responsibility:

   • Employers must ensure member data (name, DOB, gender) is correct at the time of joining.

   • Failure to update details in time can delay employees’ PF withdrawals, claims, and e-nominations.

3. Member Protection:

   • Allowing members to directly approach EPFO with physical JD protects workers from inactive/closed employers.

   • This prevents members from being stranded when employers are non-cooperative.

4. Data Security:

📊 Analysis – Why This Circular is Important?

🚀 Practical Implications for Members & Employers

For Employees:

• Check that your UAN details match Aadhaar before seeding.

• If employer is inactive → use Physical JD route at Regional Office.

• For dependents, ensure minor’s bank account is ready for claim settlements.

For Employers:

• Use KYC functionality for direct seeding where possible.

• File JD requests responsibly to avoid rejection at EPFO.

• Maintain accurate employee records at joining stage.

📝 Conclusion

This circular is a positive step by EPFO towards ease of compliance, faster settlements, and employee empowerment.

It strikes a balance between speed (direct seeding) and data security (APFC approval for corrections).

For members, this means quicker access to PF benefits. For employers, it means less paperwork and faster KYC clearance.