EPFO Update: Key Changes in the Joint Declaration Process

Self-Correction of Personal Details:

Employees can now self-correct common errors in personal details such as name, marital status, joining date, exit date etc. and service information directly on the EPFO portal. This feature is available for members whose Universal Account Number (UAN) was issued after October 1, 2017, when Aadhaar matching became mandatory.

No verification from the employer or approval from EPFO is required for these corrections, streamlining the process significantly. Previously, such corrections necessitated a lengthy process involving employer verification and submission to EPFO, which could take an average of 28 days.

Transfer of Provident Fund (PF) Accounts:

The process for transferring PF accounts when changing jobs has also been simplified. Members with fully compliant e-KYC can now file transfer claims online using an Aadhaar OTP, eliminating the need for employer intervention. This change is expected to expedite claim processing time considerably.

Prior to this reform, online transfer requests had to be verified by employers, which often delayed the process by 12 to 13 days on average.