The Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has once again extended the deadline for UAN activation and Aadhar seeding in bank accounts. The new deadline has now been set for February 15, 2025.
This extension applies to employees eligible for the Employee Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme, which provides financial benefits through direct benefit transfer (DBT) to Aadhaar-linked bank accounts.
This is not the first time the deadline has been extended. Initially, the deadline was November 30, 2024, as per a circular issued on November 22 last year. It was later pushed to January 15, 2025, before being further extended to February 15, 2025, as per the latest circular dated February 6.
The repeated extensions suggest that a significant number of employees are yet to complete the process of linking their Aadhar with their bank accounts.
The ELI scheme was introduced in 2024 to encourage first-time employment. Under this initiative, financial incentives are provided to eligible employees, but they must be enrolled in EPFO and have an activated Universal Account Number (UAN).
The mandatory Aadhar seeding ensures smooth and direct credit of benefits under the scheme.
For employees, activating their UAN and linking it with Aadhar offers multiple advantages. They can access their provident fund details online, view and download their passbooks, and submit claims for withdrawals, advances, or transfers.
Additionally, they can update personal details and track the status of their claims in real time. Without UAN activation, employees may face delays in receiving benefits and other services related to their provident fund accounts.
The government’s decision to extend the deadline again reflects its intention to ensure that more employees are covered under the scheme and receive their entitled benefits.
The move is expected to provide relief to those who have not yet completed the process, giving them additional time to meet the requirements.
Employees who have not yet activated their UAN and linked their Aadhar with their bank accounts are advised to do so at the earliest.
The process can be completed through the EPFO member portal, where subscribers can create a login and complete the necessary formalities. Given that the deadline has already been extended multiple times, further extensions may not be guaranteed.
The extension also comes at a time when the government is focusing on financial inclusion and transparency in employee benefits. By ensuring that all eligible employees are enrolled and linked with Aadhar, the authorities aim to streamline the disbursement of benefits and reduce fraudulent claims.
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