EPFO: Changing jobs often involves transferring or withdrawing the EPF balance, but employees should also pay attention to their Employee Pension Scheme (EPS) service record. If the pensionable service from an earlier job is not properly carried forward, it could affect the pension benefits an employee may receive in the future.
Many employees focus only on their PF balance when leaving a job and may overlook the pension component linked to their previous employment. Keeping the EPS service history properly connected with the new EPF account is therefore important when moving from one employer to another.
Why the EPS Service Record Matters
EPF and EPS are part of the same social security system, but they serve different purposes. The EPF account accumulates contributions and interest for retirement, while EPS keeps track of the period of eligible pensionable service.
Withdrawing the PF balance does not necessarily mean that the pensionable service associated with previous employment should be ignored. The service record from earlier employment needs to be properly linked with the current EPF account so that the total eligible service can be considered for pension purposes.
Under EPS, a minimum of 10 years of eligible service is generally required to qualify for a monthly pension. If service periods from different employers are not correctly reflected, the overall pension service record may remain incomplete.
Can Previous EPS Service Be Linked Later?
If an employee has already withdrawn the PF balance and later discovers that the earlier EPS service has not been transferred, the previous service record can be linked with the new account through Form 13, subject to applicable EPFO guidelines.
Employees should ensure that their records are accurate before initiating the transfer process. The UAN details should be updated correctly, and the KYC information should not contain discrepancies.
It is also important to check that the employee’s name and other essential details match across the old and new employment records. The Date of Exit recorded for the previous employment should also be verified carefully.
Before submitting Form 13, employees should review their complete service history to ensure that the relevant employment details have been properly recorded.
How to Update the Date of Exit in EPFO
An incorrect or missing Date of Exit can also create problems with the PF service record. Employees can update the details through the EPFO member portal.
To make the correction, log in to the EPFO member portal using the UAN and password. Go to the Manage section and select Mark Exit. After selecting the relevant PF account, check the employment details and enter the correct reason for leaving the job along with the appropriate Date of Exit.
The request can then be submitted after completing the required Aadhaar-based OTP verification.
Keeping employment and pension records updated can help ensure that service details from different jobs are properly reflected in the EPFO records.
Disclaimer: This article is intended for general informational purposes and is based on the details provided in the source material. EPFO procedures, eligibility conditions and account-related processes may be subject to applicable rules and changes. Members should verify their individual records and the latest requirements through the official EPFO portal or authorised EPFO channels before taking any action.