EPF Form 10c Benefits Eligibility Procedures

EPF Form 10C

The Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) is a retirement benefits scheme managed by the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO). The scheme benefits all salaried individuals in India. It comprises a small portion of the employee’s basic pay every month and a similar employer contribution.

EPF Form 10C is one of the application forms used in the EPF scheme. It facilitates the withdrawal of funds from your PF account. As an individual who is part of the EPF, you need to understand what EPF Form 10C is, the application process, eligibility criteria, contents, benefits, documents required, and more.

What is EPF Form 10C?

EPF Form 10C is an essential document used to withdraw funds from your Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS) or to attain a scheme certificate. An 8.33% portion of the 12% contributed to the EPF account is diverted to pension in the EPS account. The form facilitates the withdrawal of the pension amount collected by the employee during their employment period.

Using Form 10C, individuals can access the pension component of their EPF account. While the EPF account consists of contributions made by the employee and the employer, the EPS account, comprising the pension component, is funded solely by employer contributions.

You can fill out Form 10C if you meet its eligibility criteria, such as retirement, leaving employment before completing a specific number of years of service or encountering permanent disablement. You can submit the form online on the official EPFO website or offline at the nearest EPFO branch. It entitles you to claim pension benefits based on the rules and regulations formulated by the EPFO.

EPF Form 10C is an individual’s formal application and declaration to withdraw their pension amount. You can also use it to apply for other services, such as applying for a disablement pension or attaining a scheme certificate, based on their requirements.

When to use Form 10C?

Form 10C is used for different objectives related to the EPS account. Employees can use it for the easy processing of the following requests:

1. Scheme certificate

   The document verifies your membership and accumulated service within the EPS. You need this certificate when you shift to a new employer and need to transfer your EPS benefits.

2. Employer contribution refund

   If you have not completed 10 years of service and are currently unemployed, you can claim a refund of your employer's contributions to your EPS account by filling out the EPF Form 10C.

3. EPS balance withdrawal

   Form 10C allows individuals to request the withdrawal of the accumulated EPS balance. You must fulfil the eligibility criteria to initiate an early withdrawal request.

How to fill 10C Form?

Here is the step-by-step process for the EPF Form 10C online application:

• Step 1: Visit EPFO’s unified portal.
• Step 2: Log into your account by accurately inputting your Unique Account Number (UAN), password, and captcha code.
• Step 3: Under the menu for ‘Online Services,’ click on ‘Claim (Form-31, 19, 10C & 10D).’
• Step 4: You will see an online claim form. Under the section for ‘Member Details,’ information like name, father’s name, date of birth, contact information, and bank account details will be auto-filled. You only need to enter the last four digits of your bank account number for verification.
• Step 5: Click ‘Yes’ on the ‘Certificate of Undertaking’ to consent to proceed further.
• Step 6: On the next screen, click ‘Proceed for Online Claim.’
• Step 7: In the claims section, you will see your details for UAN, Permanent Account Number (PAN), and mobile number.
• Step 8: Select the claim type as ‘Only Pension Withdrawal (Form 10C)’ or ‘Only PF withdrawal (Form 19),’ depending on your requirements.
• Step 9: Complete the form by filling in the relevant details.
• Step 10: An OTP will be sent to your registered mobile number. Fill out the form with this OTP and submit it.
• Step 11: Once you submit successfully, you will receive an SMS on your registered mobile number.
• Step 12: The pension amount requested will be credited to your bank account after processing.

Benefits of EPF 10C Form

EPF Form 10C allows employees to claim various benefits, including:

1. Withdrawal benefit: This benefit applies to employees who have completed less than 9.5 years of service and are aged below 50 at the time of application. These individuals are not yet eligible for pension, but they can claim a refund of their pension fund contributions.
2. Scheme certificate for member retention: The scheme certificate is helpful for applicants who, at the time of application, have an employment term of over 9.5 years and have not yet turned 50. The certificate enables members to retain their prior employment period when rejoining the workforce, whether in a different or the same organisation. Employees can withdraw their Provident Fund (PF) contributions while receiving the scheme certificate.
3. Employer share refund: This benefit allows employees to receive a refund on the pension fund contributed by the employer. It can apply when the applicant wants to withdraw the accumulated amount or is not eligible for pension benefits.

Member type 2: Eligibility Criteria to Apply for EPF Form 10C

Three types of members can fill out EPF Form 10C for its benefits. The eligibility criteria vary for the different member types.

The following criteria apply for member type 2:

• The applicant must be over 50 and under 58 years of age.
• The applicant must have completed an employment tenure of 10 years before turning 50.

The benefits received by this group include:

• If you fulfil both criteria, you can receive a scheme certificate.
• Employees meeting only the first age-related criteria can submit Form 10D to withdraw a reduced pension.

The criteria for the other two member types are as follows:

Member type 1:

• The applicant must have resigned before completing 10 years of service.
• The applicant must have turned 58 before completing an employment term of 10 years.

The benefits received by this group include:

• The employee can withdraw the EPF account balance before retiring permanently by filing Form 10C.

Member type 3:

• A deceased member’s legal heir or nominee can apply if the member was 58 or older and did not complete a ten-year employment tenure.

The benefits received by this group include:

• The applicant can receive withdrawal benefits by filling out Form 10C.

Contents in EPF Form 10C

Form 10C comprises four pages. The first two pages ask for general information, while the third page requires details of any advances against the account. The fourth page is for administrative use, and the applicant need not fill in any details.

The contents of the first page include:

• Name
• Father/Husband’s name
• Date of birth
• Employer address
• PF account number
• Date of joining the employer
• Date of leaving the employer and reason for exiting
• Complete address

The second page requests you to fill out the following information:

• Payment mode
• Details of family/nominees
• Date and signature, along with details of the recipient’s age and account information

On the third page, you need to provide information about advances, including:

• Sum received
• Details about members’ wages and non-contributory service
• Date and signature

Procedures for Certification

The EPF Form 10C requires attestation or certification from either the employer or both the employee and the employer, depending on the scenario. The list below describes the different cases for certification:

1. If the employee applies offline in paper format, the previous employer must certify the form.
2. If the form is downloaded online, it must be attested by the employer and the employee.
3. If the previous organisation has shut down and the authorised signatory is unavailable, the form must be attested by the following officials with proper office seal:
   1. Gazetted Officer
   2. Magistrate
   3. Post / Sub-Post Master
   4. Chairman / Member of Municipal / Secretary / District Local Board
   5. President of Village Union
   6. President of the Village Panchayat in case the Union Board is unavailable
   7. Member of Legislative Assembly / Parliament
   8. Member of Regional Committee of EPF / Central Board of Trustees
   9. Bank Manager in which the individual has a savings account
   10. Head of any reputable educational institution

Documents required

You must submit the following documents with Form 10C for a successful application:

• Birth certificate of children (when applying for scheme certificate)
• Member’s death certificate (in case the member is deceased)
• Succession certificate for legal heirs
• If applying for withdrawal benefits through a bank, a revenue stamp of Re. 1
• A cancelled cheque or a copy of a blank cheque

FAQs

What is claim Form 10C in EPF?

The claim Form 10C in EPF is for the premature withdrawal of accumulated pension by employees who are no longer in employment or those who fulfil the prescribed conditions.

Who is eligible for Form 10C?

You can file Form 10C to withdraw the EPS pension amount if you have completed service for less than 10 years. Legal heirs or family members of deceased individuals who died after 58 but did not complete 10 years of service can also apply.

How can I claim my 10C refund?

If you fulfil the eligibility criteria of Form 10C, you can submit the form online on EPFO’s website to claim a refund of the pension amount in your bank account. You can also submit the duly signed and filled form at the nearest EPFO office.