With the beginning of the new year, the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has made many big and important changes for its crores of members. The purpose of these changes is to give more convenience to the employees, digitize the processes and increase transparency. Be it updating the profile, transferring PF on changing jobs, or talking about policies related to higher pension—now all this has become simpler than ever. Let us know about these 5 big changes of EPFO ​​in common language:

  1. Profile updating has now become very easy

Now updating your profile in EPFO ​​​​is not as hassle as before. If your UAN is linked to Aadhaar, then now you can update important information like your name, date of birth, gender, nationality, parents’ name, marital status, spouse information, and job start and end date online without any document.

Yes, if you got UAN before 1 October 2017, then your employer’s approval may be required to change some information.

  1. PF transfer is now easier when changing jobs

Often there was a problem in transferring PF when changing jobs, but now this process has also become easier. On 15 January 2025, EPFO ​​​​issued new instructions, according to which in some cases, neither the approval of the old employer nor the new one will be required for PF transfer.

This facility will be available in these cases:

If there is a transfer of Member IDs linked to the same UAN (UAN is linked to Aadhaar and issued after 1 October 2017)

If two different UANs are linked to Aadhaar and the details (name, date of birth, gender) are the same

Even if one UAN is issued earlier and the other later, if Aadhaar and details match, then transfer is possible.

Also read: Govt to hike EPS pension to Rs 7,500 from Rs 1,000? Know what unions demand and Parl Panel suggests

  1. The process of joint declaration has also become simple

EPFO has issued new guidelines regarding the process of Joint Declaration (JD) on 16 January 2025. Earlier SOP version 3.0 was applicable, which has now been removed and members have been divided into three categories:

Those whose UAN is Aadhaar based – they can do online JD

Those whose UAN is old but verified with Aadhaar – they can also do online JD

Those who do not have UAN, Aadhaar is not verified or the member is deceased – there is a provision of physical JD for them

  1. Now new system for pension payment – CPPS

From January 1, 2025, EPFO ​​has started a new system – Centralized Pension Payment System (CPPS). Now pension can be sent directly to any bank account in the country through NPCI platform.

This will eliminate the need for PPO transfer between regional offices. Also, now it is necessary to have UAN-Aadhaar link while issuing a new PPO so that the facility of Digital Life Certificate (Jeevan Pramaan) can be availed. If a claim has been sent to another office by mistake, it will be sent back to the same office from where the claim came.

Also read: Nearly Rs 2 lakh crore ‘unclaimed’ in banks, EPF, mutual funds, shares: Could some of it be yours?

  1. Now the picture is clear regarding higher pension

EPFO has also clarified the policy for those members who are taking or want to take pension on the basis of higher salary. Based on the suggestions received from various regional offices, it has now been decided:

-Pension will be calculated in a uniform manner for all pensioners;

-Exempted institutions will have to fully comply with the rules of the trust;

-The process of recovery of dues and payment of arrears will be handled separately;

Its purpose is to bring uniformity in the rules, maintain transparency and follow the legal process properly.

Summing up…

With these five major changes, the services of EPFO ​​have not only become modern and digital, but have also become very convenient for the employees. Now updating the profile, transferring PF or doing pension related work is easier than ever. This step of EPFO ​​is a big effort towards further strengthening the convenience and trust of the employees.