Withdrawing Your Employee Pension Scheme Funds: A Guide to EPF Form 10C

Withdrawing Your Employee Pension Scheme Funds: A Guide to EPF Form 10C

The Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) and Employees' Pension Scheme (EPS) are retirement savings plans offered in India. EPFO manages these plans, and both employers and employees contribute funds during an individual's employment tenure. A Universal Account Number (UAN) is assigned to each member for easy tracking.

An EPF account statement reflects an individual's service details, including their family members who would benefit if the employee passes away while employed. Upon retirement, individuals have the option to either transfer their EPF balance to their new employer or withdraw it. However, a withdrawal necessitates filing EPF Form 10C.

Submitting an EPF Form 10C Online

1. Access the EPFO Member Portal: Head over to the official EPFO website and locate the section dedicated to members. You can find the website address through a quick web search for "EPFO member portal."
2. Log in with your UAN: Enter your Universal Account Number (UAN) and password to access your member account.
3. Navigate to Online Services: Once logged in, locate the section labelled "Online Services" or similar terminology.
4. Select Claim Form: Within the "Online Services" section, find the option for claim forms. This might be titled "Claim Form (Form 10C, 19, and 31)" or something similar.
5. Verify Member Information: The system will likely display a pre-filled section with your employment details, KYC (Know Your Customer) information, and member profile. Carefully review this information to ensure accuracy.
6. Verify Bank Account: Enter the last four digits of the bank account you want the funds deposited into. This step verifies your bank account details.
7. Agree to Terms: A "Certificate of Undertaking" will be presented. Read the terms and conditions thoroughly before electronically agreeing to them.
8. Specify Claim Type: Since you're filing for pension withdrawal, choose the option that indicates "Only Pension Withdrawal (Form 10C)". You might also be prompted to enter your complete address for future reference.
9. Verify with Aadhaar OTP: An OTP (One-Time Password) will be sent to the mobile number registered with your Aadhaar. Enter this code to validate your identity and submit the claim form electronically.

Who Can Benefit from EPF Form 10C?

There are three categories of members eligible for Form 10C, each with specific criteria:

Member Type 1:

·       Left before 10 years of service completion.

·       Turned 58 years old without completing 10 years of service.

Benefit: These individuals can withdraw their EPF using Form 10C before their official retirement.

Member Type 2:

·       Completed 10 years of service before reaching 50 years old.

·       Over 50 but under 58 years of age.

Benefits:

·       Those meeting both criteria are entitled to a scheme certificate.

·       Individuals meeting only the second criterion can withdraw a reduced pension after filing Form 10D.

Member Type 3:

• Legal heir or nominee of a deceased member who was past 58 and hadn't completed 10 years of service.

Benefit: These individuals can avail withdrawal benefits by filing EPF Form 10C.

Eligibility Table Summary

Important Note: Membership for less than 180 days disqualifies an individual from receiving any benefits.

What You'll Need on Form

·       Personal Details (Name, DOB, father/husband's name)

·       Previous Employment (Company details, joining/ leaving dates)

·       Current Address

·       Claim Preference

·       Family Details

·       Remittance Preference (Cheque or electronic payment)