EPF Form 10C: Who Can Claim EPS Benefits and How to Apply Online
Leaving a job can raise questions about what happens to the pension portion of your EPF savings. For eligible members, EPF Form 10C is used to claim certain benefits under the Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS) or obtain a scheme certificate that helps preserve pensionable service for future employment.
The Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) is managed by the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), with contributions made by both employees and employers. The pension portion is handled separately, with 8.33% of the 12% contribution going towards EPS.
What Is EPF Form 10C?Form 10C is meant for eligible EPFO members who want to claim EPS withdrawal benefits or apply for a scheme certificate. Unlike the employee’s EPF contribution, the EPS portion is funded by the employer.
The form can be useful for employees who leave a job before completing 10 years of eligible service, depending on their age and circumstances. A scheme certificate records the member’s pensionable service and can help preserve that service when they join another organisation covered by EPFO.
Who Can Use Form 10C?Eligibility for Form 10C depends mainly on a member’s age and length of eligible service.
An employee who leaves employment before completing 10 years of service may be able to claim the applicable withdrawal benefit through Form 10C. Members who reach 58 years without completing 10 years of service can also claim withdrawal benefits under the applicable rules.
Those aged above 50 but below 58 who completed 10 years of service before turning 50 may be eligible for a scheme certificate.
Where the required service period has not been completed but the member meets the applicable age conditions, Form 10D may be required to claim a reduced pension, subject to EPFO rules.
In the event of a member’s death at age 58 or above without completing 10 years of service, an eligible legal heir or nominee may apply for the applicable withdrawal benefit.
Benefits of Form 10CForm 10C primarily allows eligible members who have not completed the required service period to claim EPS withdrawal benefits.
It can also be used to obtain a scheme certificate. This certificate helps a member retain previous pensionable service when moving to another employer covered by EPFO.
Depending on eligibility, the form may therefore provide withdrawal benefits, preserve pensionable service and allow a refund of the pension component contributed by the employer in eligible cases.
How to Apply for Form 10C OnlineMembers can submit a Form 10C claim through the EPFO’s Unified Member Portal. The process involves logging in with the UAN, password and captcha, followed by these steps:
After the claim is successfully submitted, an SMS is sent to the registered mobile number. Once EPFO processes the claim, the eligible pension amount is credited to the bank account.
Documents and Certification for Form 10CThe documents required can vary depending on the nature of the claim. These may include a cancelled cheque or blank cheque, a birth certificate of children when applying for a scheme certificate, and a death certificate in cases involving a deceased member.
Legal heirs may need to provide a succession certificate. A Re. 1 revenue stamp may also be required when withdrawal benefits are claimed through a bank.
For offline applications, Form 10C may require certification from the employer. If the previous organisation has closed and its authorised signatory is unavailable, certification can be obtained from specified officials. These may include a gazetted officer, magistrate, postmaster or sub-postmaster, bank manager of the member’s savings account, certain elected representatives, EPFO officials and the head of a recognised educational institution.
Since the applicable benefit can depend on age, service period and the circumstances in which employment ended, members should check their eligibility and the latest EPFO requirements before submitting a Form 10C claim.