If you have recently left a job and are trying to understand what happens to the pension part of your EPF savings, EPF Form 10C is an important form to know about. It is used to claim eligible benefits under the Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS) and, in certain cases, obtain a scheme certificate to preserve pensionable service for the future.
The Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) is managed by the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), with contributions coming from both employees and employers. The pension component is treated separately. Of the employer’s 12% contribution, 8.33% is allocated towards EPS, subject to the applicable rules.
What Is EPF Form 10C?
Form 10C is used by eligible EPFO members to claim EPS withdrawal benefits or request a scheme certificate.
Unlike the employee’s EPF contribution, the EPS contribution comes from the employer. Form 10C becomes relevant in situations where a member leaves employment without completing the required 10 years of eligible pensionable service, depending on the person’s age and circumstances.
A scheme certificate is particularly useful for someone who plans to join another organisation covered by EPFO. It records the member’s pensionable service and can help carry that service forward.
Who Is Eligible for Form 10C?
Eligibility for Form 10C depends mainly on the member’s age and pensionable service period.
Members who leave employment before completing 10 years of eligible service may be able to claim withdrawal benefits through Form 10C.
Those who reach the age of 58 without completing 10 years of service can also claim withdrawal benefits under the applicable rules.
Members aged above 50 but below 58 who completed 10 years of service before reaching 50 may be eligible to obtain a scheme certificate.
In cases where the age requirement for pension is met but the required service period has not been completed, Form 10D may be applicable for claiming a reduced pension, subject to EPFO rules.
If an EPFO member dies at the age of 58 or above without completing 10 years of service, an eligible legal heir or nominee may be able to claim the applicable withdrawal benefit.
What Benefits Does Form 10C Offer?
The primary purpose of Form 10C is to help eligible members claim EPS withdrawal benefits when they have not completed the required service period for a pension.
It can also be used to obtain a scheme certificate. This certificate helps preserve pensionable service, which can become important when the member joins another employer covered by EPFO.
Depending on eligibility, Form 10C may therefore provide withdrawal benefits, help retain previous pensionable service and allow a refund of the employer-funded pension component in eligible cases.
How to Apply for Form 10C Online
Eligible members can submit their claim through the EPFO’s Unified Member Portal. The online process generally involves the following steps:
- Log in with your UAN, password and captcha.
- Open Online Services and select Claim (Form-31, 19, 10C & 10D).
- Check the personal and membership details displayed on the claim page.
- Enter the last four digits of your bank account number for verification.
- Provide consent under the Certificate of Undertaking.
- Select Proceed for Online Claim.
- Choose Only Pension Withdrawal (Form 10C).
- Enter the required information.
- Enter the OTP received on your registered mobile number.
- Submit the claim.
After the claim is submitted successfully, an SMS confirmation is sent to the registered mobile number. Once EPFO processes the claim, the eligible pension amount is credited to the member’s bank account.
Documents Required for Form 10C
The documents required can vary depending on the type of claim. These may include a cancelled cheque or blank cheque, a birth certificate for children when applying for a scheme certificate, and a death certificate where the claim relates to a deceased member.
Legal heirs may also be required to submit a succession certificate. For certain withdrawal-benefit claims submitted through a bank, a Re. 1 revenue stamp may also be required.
Certification for Offline Claims
In some offline cases, Form 10C may require certification from the employer. If the previous employer has closed the organisation and its authorised signatory is unavailable, certification may be obtained from specified officials.
These can include a gazetted officer, magistrate, postmaster or sub-postmaster, the bank manager of the member’s savings account, certain elected representatives, EPFO officials and the head of a recognised educational institution.
Since eligibility and documentation can depend on factors such as age, service period and the reason for leaving employment, members should check the latest EPFO requirements before submitting Form 10C.