Step 1: Activate and verify your UAN before anything else
Your Universal Account Number is the single point of failure most people ignore. EPFO's online withdrawal system will not process a claim if the UAN is not activated on the member portal, or if the mobile number linked to it belongs to a previous employer's record and is no longer yours. Log in at unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in, confirm your UAN status shows "Active", and verify that the OTP during login reaches your current phone. If the number is wrong, update it through your employer's HR, this cannot be done directly on the portal without employer intervention. A dormant or incorrectly linked UAN is the most common reason claims are returned before they are even reviewed.
