EPF members can now initiate pension claims and obtain scheme certificates online through the EPFO e-SEWA portal. The process begins by logging in with Universal Account Number (UAN), password, and captcha code, then selecting 'Claim Form (Form-31, 19, 10C & 10D)' from the menu. Members must fill in member details including name, father's name, date of birth, contact details, and bank account details, with the last four digits requiring verification. After providing consent through the 'Certificate of Undertaking', members can choose between 'Withdraw PF Only' (Form 19) or 'Withdraw Pension Only' (Form-10C). The form is then filled with required details, OTP generated and submitted, with successful submission confirmed via SMS on registered mobile number. Amounts are directly deposited into the provided bank account once the request is processed.
The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) provides pension benefits for subscribers with over 10 years of service, as reported by Mint. According to the Employees' Pension Scheme 1995 (EPS 1995), a member who joins at 23 years and superannuates at 58 years old, contributing to the wage ceiling of ₹15,000 may receive around ₹7,500 per month as pension for 35 years of service. Members can choose to delay pension payments until reaching 60 years of age by either pausing contributions for two years (which earns 4% p.a. interest until 60 years) or continuing contributions for two years (resulting in higher accumulated amounts). At retirement, members can withdraw their provident fund amount in full while maintaining annuity in the pension scheme through a Scheme Certificate.
EPF members who wish to withdraw their pension or obtain a scheme certificate must fill and submit Form 10C, as detailed by Mint. The form is applicable to multiple categories: members who retire before completing 10 years' service, those who complete 58 years of age before 10 years in service, members with 10 years' service but below 50 years of age, members between 50-58 years wanting full pension, and family or nominees of deceased members who passed after 58 years but did not complete 10 years of service. Members who accept reduced pension or withdraw due to permanent disablement must use Form 10D instead. The retirement age to withdraw EPF in India is 55 years, with any legal nominee of the PF account holder able to withdraw the EPF balance.
According to Mint, the documentation required for Form 10C includes the member's name, universal account number (UAN), Aadhaar number, PAN number, father/husband's name, date of birth, date of joining, date of leaving, reason for leaving, bank account details, and postal address. Additional documents include a copy of blank/cancelled cheque, date of birth certificate for children if applying for Scheme Certificate, death certificate in case of member death, succession certificate for legal heir applications, and a ₹1 revenue stamp attached to the form. For deceased member applications, succession certificate is mandatory. Withdrawals from the EPF while on maternity leave are generally not allowed, except under certain circumstances.
The current EPF and voluntary provident fund (VPF) interest rate is 8.25%, as reported by Mint. The scheme functions through joint contributions from both employer and employee, with mandatory enrolment for salaried individuals with basic pay and dearness allowance up to ₹15,000. Employee contributions up to ₹1.5 lakh annually are exempt under Section 80C of the old tax regime, while employers' contributions up to 12% (below ₹7.5 lakh) are exempt under both old and new tax regimes. Interest on accumulated contributions up to ₹2.5 lakh is tax-free for employees, while interest on employer's contribution remains tax-free. EPF contributions are taxable if withdrawn before the time limit of 5 years, with tax implications determined by EPF regulations and policies after five years.
