Employees’ Provident Fund Customer Care Number: Complete, Practical Guide

The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) supports more than 27 crore members and 6 lakh+ establishments across India. With such scale, knowing the correct customer care numbers and the fastest channels to resolve issues is essential. This guide consolidates the official helplines, service hours, self-service shortcuts, and escalation pathways so you can get accurate answers without delays.

Below you will find the national toll-free customer care number, balance check services (missed call and SMS), links to the grievance portal, and tips to prepare before you call. Where relevant, we add exact URLs, office addresses, and operating hours. Always keep your Universal Account Number (UAN) handy; most services require an activated UAN with KYC (Aadhaar, PAN, and bank) seeded.

Official Customer Care Numbers and Digital Channels

The EPFO national toll-free customer care number is 1800-11-8005. This line is designed for member queries (UAN, KYC, passbook, claim status, pension, and employer code issues). Call volumes are high during business hours, so have your details ready to expedite IVR and agent verification.

For quick balance and last contribution details, you can use EPFO’s missed call and SMS services. These work only if your UAN is activated and your mobile number is registered with EPFO. You will receive information via SMS; no charge applies for missed call, while normal SMS rates apply for outgoing texts.

• EPFO Customer Care (Toll-free): 1800-11-8005 (Mon–Fri, 9:30 AM–5:30 PM IST; closed weekends/Gazetted holidays)
• Missed Call Balance Check: 011-22901406 (from your UAN-registered mobile; you’ll get an SMS response)
• SMS Balance/Passbook: Send “EPFOHO UAN ENG” to 7738299899 (replace ENG with HIN, TAM, TEL, MAL, MAR, PUN, GUJ, KAN, BEN as needed)
• UAN Member e-Services: https://unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in/memberinterface/
• Passbook Login: https://passbook.epfindia.gov.in/MemberPassBook/Login.jsp
• Grievance/Complaint (EPFiGMS): https://epfigms.gov.in
• Main Website: https://www.epfindia.gov.in

Service Hours, Response Times, and What to Expect

Phone support via 1800-11-8005 typically operates Monday to Friday, 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM IST. Expect longer wait times during lunch hours and early afternoons. Regional office queues vary by city and season; claim settlement peaks can slow response times. Keep calls concise and stick to one issue per call for faster resolution.

For EPFiGMS grievances, the average resolution time is 7–15 working days for straightforward issues (e.g., KYC mismatch, DOB corrections, passbook errors). Complex cases that require employer verification or inter-office coordination can take 30+ days. You’ll receive an acknowledgement with a registration number—save it for tracking and escalation.

Information to Keep Ready Before You Call

Having the correct identifiers accelerates verification. At a minimum, keep your UAN and registered mobile number handy. If you’re calling about a specific claim or transfer, note the reference/claim ID from the Unified Portal or the acknowledgement SMS/email. For KYC updates, keep your Aadhaar last four digits, PAN, and bank account last four digits ready.

If you represent an employer, have your Establishment ID (starting with the regional office code) and TRRN (Temporary Return Reference Number) for payment-related queries. For pension matters (EPS), note PPO number, bank branch IFSC, and any recent life certificate submission dates.

Use Self-Service First: It’s Often Faster

Most routine queries can be solved faster without calling. Use the Passbook portal to view contributions and interest credits across all linked Member IDs. If you can’t see the passbook, ensure your UAN is activated and that KYC is approved by your employer. Interest for a financial year is generally credited after the government notifies the EPF interest rate—EPF interest for FY 2023–24 is 8.25% (notified in 2024).

To track claim status or submit withdrawals/transfers, log in to the UAN member e-services portal. You can initiate Form 19 (EPF final settlement), Form 10C (EPS withdrawal), or Form 31 (advance) online if your Aadhaar is eKYC-compliant, bank is validated, and your employer has approved KYC. The portal also allows corrections for basic details if they match UIDAI records.

Common Issues Resolved via Customer Care

Customer care can assist with UAN activation problems (mobile not receiving OTP, duplicate UAN merger guidance), passbook non-availability (missing Member ID linkage), KYC approval status, claim status explanations, and grievance routing. They can also guide you on Aadhaar-PAN seeding errors (name/date mismatches) and how to submit correction requests.

For pensioners, representatives can clarify PPO linkage, bank change procedures, and Jeevan Pramaan (digital life certificate) acceptance status. Employers frequently get help on ECR uploads, NCP days reporting, TRRN reconciliation, and settling inspection remarks. While agents can’t make changes on the call, they can point you to the right form, portal workflow, or regional office.

Escalation, Regional Offices, and In-Person Visits

If your issue remains unresolved after calling, raise a grievance at EPFiGMS (https://epfigms.gov.in) with supporting documents (ID proof, screenshots, claim IDs, employer letters). Choose the correct category (e.g., “KYC,” “Claim,” “Pension,” “Transfer”). You’ll receive a docket number and email/SMS updates. Respond promptly to any clarification sought.

For matters requiring physical verification (signature mismatch, legacy paper records, court/attachment matters), visit your regional EPFO office. Carry original and photocopies of Aadhaar, PAN, bank passbook/canceled cheque, and employer certification if applicable. The EPFO Head Office address is Bhavishya Nidhi Bhawan, 14-B, Bhikaji Cama Place, New Delhi – 110066; however, member services are rendered at regional/sub-regional offices based on your establishment code.

• Step 1: Call 1800-11-8005 with UAN and details ready; note the ticket/interaction ID if provided.
• Step 2: Use self-service: UAN Portal for claims/transfers; Passbook portal for contributions; SMS/missed call for balance.
• Step 3: File EPFiGMS grievance with documents; track using grievance registration number.
• Step 4: If pending beyond SLA or unsatisfactory, escalate within EPFiGMS; optionally approach the Regional PF Commissioner with copies of prior correspondence.

Costs, Languages, and Turnaround Expectations

Calls to 1800-11-8005 are toll-free. The missed call balance check (011-22901406) is free as it disconnects automatically; the SMS service to 7738299899 incurs your carrier’s standard SMS charges. Customer care supports multiple languages; the SMS service supports language codes like ENG (English), HIN (Hindi), TAM (Tamil), TEL (Telugu), MAL (Malayalam), MAR (Marathi), PUN (Punjabi), GUJ (Gujarati), KAN (Kannada), and BEN (Bengali).

Simple information requests are answered on the call. Portal-related fixes depend on verification and backend queues (often 2–7 working days). Claim settlements vary by type: well-documented online claims commonly close in 10–20 working days; pension-related and inter-office transfer claims can take longer.

Security and Fraud-Safety Checklist

EPFO never asks for OTPs, full Aadhaar/PAN numbers, or net-banking passwords on calls or WhatsApp. Do not share debit/credit card details. Always dial the official numbers listed above or access links only from https://www.epfindia.gov.in or https://epfigms.gov.in. If someone calls claiming to be from EPFO and asks for sensitive data, disconnect and reinitiate contact using the official helpline.

When using cyber cafes or shared systems for EPF services, log out fully and avoid saving passwords. For SMS balance checks, send messages only to 7738299899. For missed calls, use 011-22901406 only from your registered mobile. Update your mobile number and email in the UAN portal to receive official alerts.

Helpful Context: Contributions and Interest

For most establishments, both employee and employer contribute 12% of Basic + DA each month to EPF/EPS/EDLI as per statutory split; some notified establishments contribute 10%. EPF interest is credited annually after notification by the Government of India—8.15% for FY 2022–23 and 8.25% for FY 2023–24 (notified in 2024). Your passbook reflects interest posting once applied by EPFO.

Knowing these norms helps when reconciling passbook entries or discussing discrepancies with customer care. If contributions or interest do not appear as expected, keep your wage slips, UAN, and employer details ready before you call or file a grievance.