Every salaried employee covered by the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has a Universal Account Number (UAN), a 12-digit number that stays the same through every job change. Once the UAN is active, the provident fund balance can be checked in five ways without visiting an EPFO office: two websites, one mobile app, a missed call and an SMS.
This guide lists what each method needs and what changed in the way a UAN is activated. The details are as shown on EPFO's own portals in October 2026.
What you need before you start
- Your UAN. It is printed on most salary slips. If you do not know it, the EPFO member portal has a "Know Your UAN" service that retrieves it from basic details.
- An activated UAN. A UAN that was allotted but never activated cannot be used to log in.
- The mobile number registered with the UAN. One-time passwords, the missed-call reply and the SMS reply all go to this number only.
Five ways to check the balance
| Method | Where | What it shows |
|---|---|---|
| Passbook Lite | EPFO member portal | Summary of contributions, withdrawals and balance |
| Passbook portal | passbook.epfindia.gov.in | Detailed passbook, entry by entry |
| UMANG app | EPFO section of the app | Passbook on the phone |
| Missed call | 9966044425 | Balance details by SMS |
| SMS | 7738299899 | Balance details by SMS |
1. Passbook Lite on the member portal
On 18 September 2025, Labour and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced Passbook Lite, a summary view built into the EPFO member portal. It shows contributions, withdrawals and the current balance after a single login, so members no longer need a second login on a different site just to see the balance.
The minister said the earlier system of two logins had caused delays and password synchronisation problems. The same announcement allowed members to download Annexure K, the transfer certificate issued when a PF account moves from one office to another, as a PDF from the member portal.
To use it, log in to the member portal at unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in with your UAN and password and open the passbook view.
2. The EPFO passbook portal
The older passbook portal was not closed. At the time of the Passbook Lite announcement, the minister said it would stay available for members who want the detailed passbook with graphical displays. Log in with the same UAN and password, pick the member ID of the employer you want, and the month-wise entries for the employee share, employer share and pension contribution are listed.
A member who has worked for several employers will see a separate member ID for each one under the same UAN.
3. UMANG app
UMANG is the central government's common app for public services, available for Android and iPhone. After registering with a mobile number, open the EPFO section and choose the passbook service. The app asks for the UAN and sends a one-time password to the registered mobile number before showing the passbook.
4. Missed call to 9966044425
The EPFO passbook portal lists 9966044425 as the missed-call number for a balance enquiry. Call it from the mobile number registered with your UAN. The reply comes as an SMS to the same number.
5. SMS to 7738299899
The same EPFO page gives the SMS format as EPFOHO UAN followed by a three-letter language code, sent to 7738299899. For a reply in English the message is `EPFOHO UAN ENG`. The message must go from the registered mobile number; the word UAN is typed as it is, not replaced by your number.
The missed-call and SMS services work from the registered number alone, so they are useful where there is no internet. They depend on the UAN being active and on the member's KYC details being linked to it.
How UAN activation works now
Activation used to be done on the member portal. That has changed. As of October 2026, the member portal carries a notice that UAN activation and direct UAN allotment through the portal have been discontinued, and that both can be done on the UMANG app using Aadhaar-based face authentication.
The steps reported for the app are:
- Install UMANG and register with your mobile number. Face authentication also needs the Aadhaar Face RD app on the phone.
- Open EPFO services and choose the UAN services that use face authentication.
- Select UAN activation and enter the UAN, the Aadhaar number and the Aadhaar-linked mobile number.
- Give consent for Aadhaar authentication and complete the face scan with the phone camera.
- When the scan matches the Aadhaar record, the UAN is activated and a confirmation is sent by SMS.
A person who has no UAN at all can generate one from the same menu. A UAN created this way is already active, so no second step is needed.
The member portal still offers "Know Your UAN", tracking of applications, and death claim filing by nominees.
If the balance does not show
- The UAN is not activated. Complete activation on UMANG first.
- The mobile number has changed. Replies go only to the number registered with the UAN, so an old number has to be updated before the missed call or SMS will work.
- The employer runs an exempted PF trust. Some large employers manage provident fund money through their own trust. Their employees' balances are kept by the trust, and the statement has to be taken from the employer.
- A recent contribution is missing. The passbook shows entries after the employer's monthly return is processed, so the latest month may appear later.
For help, the member portal lists the EPFO helpdesk number 14470.
Beware of fraud calls
The member portal carries a security alert asking members to protect their UAN and password. It states that EPFO never asks for Aadhaar, PAN or bank details over the phone and never asks anyone to deposit money. A call, message or link that does so is not from EPFO. The UAN password and one-time passwords should not be shared with anyone, including people who claim to be EPFO staff.
It is also worth filing an e-nomination while logged in. The member portal notes that nomination by members is mandatory under the EPF Scheme and can be filed or updated online during service.
Key points
- Five official routes: Passbook Lite, the passbook portal, UMANG, a missed call to 9966044425 and an SMS to 7738299899.
- All of them need an activated UAN and the mobile number registered with it.
- UAN activation has moved from the member portal to the UMANG app with Aadhaar face authentication.
- EPFO helpdesk: 14470. EPFO does not ask for personal or bank details on the phone.
Frequently asked questions
What is the EPFO missed call number for a balance enquiry?
The EPFO passbook portal lists 9966044425. The call has to be made from the mobile number registered with your UAN, and the details come back by SMS.
What is the SMS format to check the EPF balance?
The EPFO passbook portal gives the format as EPFOHO UAN followed by a language code, sent to 7738299899 from the registered mobile number. ENG is the code used for English.
Can I activate my UAN on the EPFO member portal?
No. As of October 2026 the member portal carries a notice that UAN activation and direct UAN allotment there have been discontinued. Both are done on the UMANG app with Aadhaar face authentication.
What is Passbook Lite?
It is a summary view of contributions, withdrawals and the current balance inside the EPFO member portal, announced on 18 September 2025. The separate passbook portal still gives the detailed passbook.
Does EPFO call members to ask for Aadhaar, PAN or bank details?
No. The member portal states that EPFO never asks for Aadhaar, PAN or bank details over the phone and never asks members to deposit money. Such calls and messages should be ignored.
Sources
- unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in
- passbook.epfindia.gov.in
- newsonair.gov.in
- outlookbusiness.com
- outlookmoney.com
- angelone.in
