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New Delhi: The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has announced that certain employees are no longer required to link their Aadhaar with their Universal Account Number (UAN) to settle physical claims. This comes as part of a revised procedure outlined in a recent circular.

Who Is Exempted?EPFO has listed specific categories of employees exempt from Aadhaar seeding: International WorkersThose who have left India after completing their assignments and do not possess Aadhaar. Indians With Foreign CitizenshipIndividuals who migrated abroad, acquired foreign citizenship, and do not have Aadhaar. Nepalese And Bhutanese CitizensWorkers who qualify as employees under the EPF&MP Act, are on the payroll of Indian establishments, and reside in their respective countries without Aadhaar.For these categories, alternative documents like passports or citizenship certificates will be used for verification. Additional GuidelinesThe EPFO circular emphasized the need for “due diligence” in processing claims for those exempted from Aadhaar seeding. It directed officials to:- Record details of individuals claiming exemption.- Seek approval from the office in-charge (OIC) for processing such cases.- Maintain an electronic file for verification purposes.- For claims exceeding Rs 5 lakh, officials may verify the employee’s bank account and obtain confirmation from the employer. Settlements will be processed through NEFT for added security.

Importance Of Due DiligenceEPFO has stressed the importance of “due diligence” in cases where employees are exempt from linking Aadhaar with their UAN for physical claim settlements. Officials must document all verification details and obtain approval from the Office In-Charge (OIC) through an e-office file before processing claims.Additionally, all bank accounts linked to claims must be verified. For claims exceeding Rs 5 lakh, officials may require confirmation from the employer. Settlements will be processed using NEFT to ensure secure crediting.In a recent announcement, EPFO clarified that employees should not generate a new UAN when changing jobs or during periods of unemployment. Each member is allowed to have only one UAN throughout their career.

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