New Delhi: The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is developing a new Aadhaar-based digital portal aimed at helping employees trace their old or inactive provident fund (PF) accounts. The initiative is expected to benefit millions of workers, especially those who began their careers before the introduction of Aadhaar verification and the Universal Account Number (UAN) system.

With a large number of unclaimed EPF deposits still lying inactive, the move is seen as a major step towards improving accessibility and ensuring that employees can reclaim their savings with ease.

Millions of unclaimed PF accounts remain inactive

According to official data obtained through a Right to Information (RTI) query, more than 30.9 lakh inoperative EPF accounts held unclaimed deposits worth around ₹9,330 crore as of March 31, 2026.

A significant portion of these accounts belongs to employees who changed jobs before 2014, when the UAN system was introduced. At that time, each employer issued a separate EPF Member ID, leading to the creation of multiple accounts for a single employee over the course of their career.

Although EPFO later introduced the UAN system to consolidate these accounts, many workers either failed to link their older accounts or lost track of their previous Member IDs, leaving substantial funds unclaimed.

How the Aadhaar-based EPFO portal will work

The new portal will use Aadhaar-based authentication to help users locate their old EPF accounts. Members will be required to verify their identity using their Aadhaar details, including OTP-based authentication linked to their mobile number.

Once verified, the system will search EPFO records to identify any old or inactive accounts associated with the individual. After locating these accounts, users will be able to either transfer the funds to their current UAN-linked account or apply for settlement.

The portal is expected to simplify what has traditionally been a complex and time-consuming process, reducing the need for manual verification and paperwork.

What to do if you do not remember your UAN or Member ID

For employees who do not have access to their UAN or old Member ID details, EPFO has outlined alternative options.

Individuals can approach their previous employer to retrieve their Member ID through the EPFO employer portal. In cases where the employer is no longer operational, employees can visit the nearest EPFO office with relevant supporting documents.

After verification, EPFO officials can assist in tracing old records and linking them to the employee’s current account.

Documents required for accessing PF services

Employees looking to use PF-related services, including tracing old accounts, may need to keep the following documents ready:

  • Aadhaar card linked with a mobile number for OTP verification
  • Old EPF account details, including Member ID and employer information
  • PAN card
  • Bank account details linked with the current UAN

Having these documents readily available can help streamline the process and reduce delays during verification.

Portal launch details awaited

While the Aadhaar-based portal has already been developed, EPFO has not yet announced its official launch date or provided the web address for public access. Additionally, the organisation is yet to release a comprehensive list of documents and detailed user guidelines for the platform.

Conclusion

The upcoming Aadhaar-based EPFO portal has the potential to significantly simplify the process of tracing and reclaiming forgotten PF accounts. With thousands of crores lying unclaimed, the initiative could help employees recover their hard-earned savings while improving transparency in the system.

Once officially launched, the platform is expected to reduce dependency on employers and manual processes, making PF account management more efficient and user-friendly for millions of workers across India.