What Happens if You Don't Link Aadhaar with UAN by the Deadline? Seeking Advice!

Hi Seniors,

Can you tell me what will happen when an existing EPF member doesn't link his Aadhar number with his existing UAN on or before 31st December? Will the government force him to submit Aadhar? Or will he no longer remain a member of EPFO? Will his EPFO account get locked until he provides his Aadhar?

Any idea on the same?

Hello, it is recommended that you link your Aadhar Number to UAN as the benefits that can be enjoyed by the employee will not be applicable to him. The government is trying to get all the systems online.

Once Aadhar is linked, you can transfer your UAN from your old company to your changed/current company. In the near future, even withdrawal of PF will be processed online, which will be a great advantage to both parties.

Concerns about forum responses

I don't understand the problem with this forum—everyone seems to prefer giving suggestions, reading, and enforcing their own opinions instead of answering specific queries.

Mr. Ram, I didn't ask how to enroll for an Aadhaar or the benefits of linking Aadhaar. I am quite familiar with those. Is my query here too difficult to understand? Just because everyone is doing something doesn't mean I have to do it too. My question was about the consequences of choosing not to do it.

If anyone has serious insights into the repercussions, please enlighten me, as I have no clue about that. But please don't suggest that I should do it, etc. Stop giving answers based on what you would do under specific circumstances. So, Mr. Ram, instead of telling me what you have done or prefer to do, please share what the consequences might be if you know them at all.

Again, I'm expecting some views from the genuinely knowledgeable members of this community.

Aadhaar Linking and Its Implications

Remaining anonymous doesn't mean I'm living in a virtual world, and the rule of the land says I have to link Aadhaar in order to get certain facilities. I never said that I would take these facilities without linking Aadhaar. I only questioned whether the government can force me to link my Aadhaar if I don't want those specified facilities. For example, if I don't want the LPG subsidy, can the government force me to link my Aadhaar?

You are mistaken. I am not against any law of the land; I'm completely in favor of it. However, the government states that I must link Aadhaar with UAN if I wish to remain a subscriber of EPS and EPF. That's fine with me. But what if I don't link it? Will I not remain a subscriber? That was my query. Avoiding linking Aadhaar with anything doesn't make me a non-law-abiding citizen. The government says if I want to have a bank account, I must have an Aadhaar. If I don't link Aadhaar, then I can't have a bank account. I'm okay with it. But please understand this rule itself says that if I don't want to become a subscriber of any of the banks, then I don't need to link Aadhaar. Even if I don't have a bank account, I still remain a law-abiding citizen. That was my question: Is there any such rule in the case of EPFO and Aadhaar?

So again, I'm requesting that having a different view than you doesn't make me a non-law-abiding citizen. Therefore, you are most welcome to place your views here, but please don't tell me what you believe in terms of linking UAN with Aadhaar, as I'm not interested. If you know anything specific about my original query, then you are most welcome to share.

Last but not least, please don't try to teach me how to follow the rule of the land. I believe you either haven't understood my original question, or you have, but you don't know the answer and hence are sharing your ways of thinking, which I'm not interested in hearing.

Thank you. Cheers.

Dear Anamika,

Please peruse the attachment regarding "Aadhaar is a Proof of Identity & Address" with regard to your specific query "Is there any such rule in case of EPFO and Aadhar?" The deadline has been extended until 31/12/2017 for your information as per the attachment.

If you are a member of EPS, 1995, linking Aadhaar is mandatory because the Government of India also contributes at 1.16% up to the actual Basic & VDA, maximum up to Rs 15,000/- towards the Employees' Pension Scheme.

Exactly, thanks for your input, by the way. Here lies my question. Being a subscriber of EPS, I have to submit my Aadhaar. But what if I decide not to? Do I still remain a subscriber? Will they debar me? Will I no longer remain a subscriber of EPFO? What will be the consequences? That was my question.

In each and every case where linking Aadhaar is mandatory, there is a clear provision of what will happen if someone doesn't link it, but I didn't find any such provision in the case of EPFO. For example, if I don't link Aadhaar with a bank account, the accounts will get frozen; if I don't link it with my PAN, it will be deactivated; if I don't link it with my mobile number, it will be deactivated. My query here was what will happen if I don't link it with my UAN? Will it get deactivated? Or will something else happen?

I'm expecting your views on the same as I believe you know this scheme better than me.

Dear Anamika, please clarify your statement: "Being a subscriber of EPS, I have to submit my Aadhaar. But what if I decide not to? Do I still remain a subscriber?"

As long as you are in employment and by virtue of being an EPF and EPS member, you will continue to be a member regardless of not linking your Aadhaar number. Upon leaving service, you will cease to be a member of EPF and EPS. You can even withdraw EPF and EPS accumulations by using non-Aadhaar withdrawal forms.

For availing pension under EPS, linking of Aadhaar or submission of Jeevan Praman Patra is mandatory.

Query on Linking Aadhaar with EPFO

Exactly, sir. Here, my query is: by virtue, I have to remain a member of EPFO since I have become one, and by law, every EPFO subscriber has to link Aadhaar, isn't it?

So, does that mean I can't decide not to link my Aadhaar? I'm an EPFO subscriber, and now, by law, I have to link Aadhaar. However, you are saying that regardless of not linking Aadhaar, I'll still remain a subscriber. But how is that possible in this case? There is no provision mentioned in EPFO where I can choose not to link my Aadhaar. It's just like I have to do it, isn't it?

Hi there,

For the old employees, UAN is generated by the department. Even in this case, every employee has to upload Aadhaar (not Aadhaar number but the enrollment number available in the Aadhaar card) and KYC, and the same has to be digitally signed by the employer.

Furthermore, for the new joiners, Aadhaar is a must to generate the UAN along with the bank passbook. Then only the UAN will be generated.

In the near future, without the link, the claim may be retained as it is going to be an online claim settlement.

Dear associates,

I understand that linking Aadhaar is mandatory. However, what happens if someone doesn't link it? That's my query. If someone fails to link Aadhaar, what repercussions will they face? You mentioned that claim settlement will be affected if Aadhaar is not linked. Is this the only issue an employee will encounter, or are there other potential consequences they may face? Can the organization they work for compel them to link Aadhaar?

Please let me know if you need further clarification.

Thank you.

UAN and Aadhaar Linking for EPF Members

As you are an old member of EPF, EPFO has generated your UAN. To get the benefit of the EPS, you need to provide your Aadhaar. If you leave this present job and join another establishment, the new employer will ask for the Aadhaar number. Failing to provide it will result in the inability to link your UAN to the present employer, and as a result, they will not be able to contribute to RPFC.

If you retire from the same establishment, on the date of retirement, to receive the pension, you need to provide the Aadhaar number linked to UAN. Failing to do so will result in the inability to withdraw EPS if the service period is more than 10 years. If the service period is less than 10 years, you may be able to withdraw the EPS.

Thanks,
Vidyadhar Bhat

Dear Anamika,

Congratulations! There is a specific reply to your query as published in a newspaper, which is attached herewith for your perusal.

Non-linking of Aadhaar by EPS Members before 31/03/2018 may result in consequences such as access to benefits being curtailed.

Consequences of Non-Linking of Aadhaar by EPS Members before 31/03/2018

The consequences of not linking Aadhaar by EPS members before 31/03/2018 could be significant. Non-compliance with this requirement may result in penalties or other adverse actions. It is crucial for EPS members to ensure they have linked their Aadhaar before the deadline to avoid any negative repercussions.

Failure to link Aadhaar by the specified date could lead to disruption in accessing EPS benefits or services. Additionally, non-compliance may also impact the individual's eligibility for certain benefits or result in delays in receiving payments.

It is essential for EPS members to act promptly and link their Aadhaar to avoid any potential consequences. By meeting this requirement within the specified timeframe, EPS members can ensure continued access to benefits and services without any interruptions.

Dear Anamika, your question seems to be fallacious. You asked, what if you do not link your AADHAR number with your UAN, right? Let me ask you, how did you get your UAN?

The process of getting or generating UAN

You have to open/login to the EPFO site. You have to select Member UAN/Online Service, then AADHAR Based UAN Generation (remember here: only the employer can initiate non-AADHAR based UAN Generation). Now, you have to input your 12-digit AADHAR number in the respective boxes and also your mobile phone number (linked with your AADHAR number only) in the respective field. An OTP will be received on your said mobile number. You now input that OTP for UAN generation.

Therefore, there is no question of not putting or linking your AADHAR number with your UAN. Your UAN is born with the AADHAR seeding process. Perhaps you have not gone through this actual process and so do not know your UAN is as unique as your AADHAR.

Now, this question is currently irrelevant as the deadline has been extended. However, in the future, it will become mandatory as the Indian government is striving to link every business and bank account with the Aadhar card or Udyog Aadhar card to regulate the flow of money. This initiative will also facilitate changing or transferring from an old company to a new one.