EPFO (Employees’ Provident Fund Organization) members are required to upload their recent profile photo on the Unified Member Portal to complete e-nomination and facilitate online claim settlement. The profile photo is part of the digital record of an individual and is used during the online verification process.
Although uploading a profile photo is not mandatory for all EPFO transactions, those who have not uploaded or updated their photo may find it difficult to complete e-nomination or avail some other online EPFO services. Let us also tell you what kind of alert has been issued by EPFO.
Why is it important to update profile photo?
- According to Money Control report, EPFO has advised members to upload a recent passport-size photograph on their profile to complete the e-nomination process.
- A correct nomination helps ensure that the deposited EPF balance, as well as benefits under the Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS) and Employees’ Deposit Linked Insurance (EDLI), are smoothly transferred to the right beneficiary.
- If the account holder does not choose a nominee, his family members may face delays and require more paperwork while claiming the money. To make the EPF e-nomination valid, members will also have to complete the e-sign process.
- Additionally, maintaining an updated profile with correct personal information (including profile photo) ensures that the member can access various online EPFO services without any interruption.
How to update profile photo?
If your latest photo is not uploaded in your EPF account, you can update your profile photo by following these steps:
- Visit EPFO Unified Member Portal and log in using your Universal Account Number (UAN), password and captcha.
- Go to the Dashboard and then click on the ‘Profile’ or ‘View’ section (depending on your version of the portal).
- Select the option to upload or update your profile photo.
- Upload your recent passport-size photo and save changes.
- Before filing e-nomination or online claim for PF, ensure that the updated photo is visible correctly on your profile.
EPF Nomination: Who is eligible and who is not?
Not everyone is eligible to be selected as a nominee for your EPF fund. EPFO has told about some special people who can be selected as nominees. These include:
- For male subscribers, eligible nominees include wife, children (married and unmarried), dependent parents, and son’s widow and her children.
- For female subscribers, eligible nominees include husband, children (married or unmarried), dependent parents, dependent parents of husband and son’s widow and her children.
- Married subscribers are required to add the name of their spouse, even if they do not want to make them a nominee under PF.
- Spouse and children are considered family for the pension fund. Therefore, their names should be added to the family list.
- Once you have selected your EPF nominee, you will have to submit Aadhaar copy and a photograph of that family member.
What else to keep in mind?
Uploading your recent profile photo is just a part of keeping your EPFO account updated. Additionally, members should also ensure that their Aadhaar, PAN, bank account details, mobile number and email address are correctly linked and verified on the EPFO portal.
Keeping this information updated helps members easily avail the retirement fund body’s digital services – like e-nomination, online PF withdrawal and pension-related services – and speeds up claim processing.
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