The Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) is a retirement benefits scheme that is available to all salaried employees in India, managed by the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO). One of the forms that is used in the EPF scheme is Form 10C. In this article, we will discuss what is Form 10C its benefits, eligibility criteria, how to download it, how to fill it, and the documents required.
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What is Form 10C?
The Employee Provident Fund (EPF) scheme presents a valuable retirement savings option for salaried individuals. Employer contributions to the EPF are divided into two components: the EPF account and the Employee Pension Scheme (EPS). The EPS is a dedicated pension account funded solely by employer contributions. To claim benefits from your EPS account, you can utilise Form 10C. This form can be submitted either in person at your nearest EPFO branch or electronically through their website.
When to use Form 10C?
Form 10C serves as the official claim form for various purposes related to your Employee Pension Scheme (EPS) account. It facilitates the processing of the following requests:
- Employer contribution refund: If you are no longer employed and have not completed ten years of service, you may be eligible to claim a refund of your employer's contributions to your EPS account.
- Scheme certificate: This document serves as verification of your membership and accumulated service within the EPS. It is crucial if you wish to transfer your EPS benefits to a new employer who also participates in the scheme.
- Withdrawal of EPS balance: Under specific circumstances, Form 10C allows you to initiate a claim for the withdrawal of your accumulated EPS balance. This may be applicable if you meet the eligibility criteria for early withdrawal.
Please note: The current version of the EPFO claim process may utilize a composite claim form instead of separate forms like the 10C. It's advisable to consult the EPFO website for the latest claim procedures.
Eligibility to apply for Form 10C
The eligibility criteria for the three types of members are illustrated in the table below.
Sr No. |
Eligibility criteria I |
Eligibility criteria II |
Eligibility criteria III |
1 |
If you have left your job before completing 10 years of service |
If you have completed 10 years of service when leaving your job but are under 50 at the time of applying |
Family /nominee/legal heir of a member who passed away after turning 58 before completing 10 years of service. |
2 |
If you turned 58 before completing 10 years of service |
If you are between the age of 50 to 58 years and do not want a reduced pension |
- |
Benefits of Form 10C
Scheme certificate
If you have worked for over 9.5 years and are under 50 years old, you can obtain a scheme certificate. This certificate preserves your past service record when you switch jobs, even between different organisations.
Withdrawal benefit
If you have worked for less than 9.5 years and are under 50, you can apply for a Withdrawal Benefit. This allows you to access your pension funds since you do not yet qualify for a pension.
Note: Withdrawal Benefit is not applicable if you have been a member for less than 180 days (excluding any non-contributing period).
How to download Form 10C?
Form 10C can be downloaded from the official website of the EPFO. Here are the steps to download Form 10C:
- Go to the official website of the EPFO.
- Click on the ‘Downloads’ tab.
- Click on the "Claim Forms" option.
- Click on the ‘Form 10C’ option.
- The form will be downloaded in PDF format.
Also read: What is Form 10E
How to fill Form 10C online?
To fill Form 10C online, follow these steps:
- Log in to the EPF member portal using your UAN and password.
- Navigate to the "Online Services" menu and select "Claim (form – 31, 19, and 10C)."
- Provide the last 4 digits of your bank account number and click "Verify."
- Sign the "Certificate of Undertaking" and affirm your agreement by clicking "Yes" to the terms and conditions.
- Choose "Only Pension Withdrawal (Form 10C)" in the "I want to apply for" section.
- Complete your address details and click the "Get Aadhaar OTP" button.
- Enter the OTP sent to your Aadhaar-registered mobile number, then click "Validate OTP and Submit Claim Form."
- Your pension claim form will be submitted, and after EPFO verification, the funds will be disbursed to your bank account.
Documents required
The following documents are required to be submitted along with Form 10C:
- A copy of blank or cancelled cheque
- Birth certificate of children (for scheme certificate applications)
- Member's death certificate (in case the member passes away)
- Succession certificate for legal heirs
- Rs. 1 stamp (if applying for withdrawal benefit through a bank)
Attestation procedures
PF Form 10C attestation depends on the situation and can be done by either the employer or both (employer and employee). The requirements vary based on different cases.
Case |
Attestation requirement |
If an individual applies using a form obtained from a center |
Needs to be attested by the employer of the previous establishment |
If the individual downloads EPF Form 10C online |
Needs to be attested by both the employers and employees |
If the previous establishment is a closed organisation |
Attestation can be done by officials such as a Magistrate, Postmaster, Chairman or Secretary of District Local Board, Gazetted Officer, Bank manager related to the individual’s savings account, or President of Village Union or Panchayat. |
Also read: PF Transfer Form
Contents in EPF Form 10C
The EPF Form 10C typically includes the following fields:
- Claimant's name
- Date of birth
- Father's name
- Husband's name (in case of married women)
- Address and the company's name where the member worked before retirement
- Region code, establishment code of last company, and individual PF account number
- Joining date in the previous establishment
- Reason and date of leaving service
- Claimant's complete address
- Preference for a scheme certificate instead of withdrawal benefits
- Family details, including spouse (if any) and children (if any) and nominee
- In the case of a deceased member, the date of death, the applicant's name, and their relationship with the late member
- Mode of remittance: (1). Postal Money Order or (2). Cheque or electronic payment
Conclusion
Form 10C is a key to unlocking pension benefits in the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) framework. This article aims to educate on the process of availing pension and covers eligibility criteria, the online filing process, and pension withdrawals. With this knowledge, you can confidently approach the Form 10C withdrawal process.
Also read below articles related to EPF
Frequently asked questions
No, you do not need to visit the PF office if you have applied to withdraw the amount online. You can initiate the claim using Form 10C online by visiting the EPF member e-SEWA portal.
No, it is not compulsory to fill out Form 10C each time you change jobs. However, if you want to transfer the same EPS account to your new employer, you can use Form 10C to do so.
An EPS scheme certificate is a document that shows the amount of pension that a member is entitled to. The scheme certificate can be used to transfer the service period of the member to another establishment.
The processing time for Form 10C varies depending on the circumstances. However, it usually takes around 5-30 days to process the form.
Yes, Form 10C is typically filled for pension withdrawal from the Employee Provident Fund (EPF) account.
Form 10C may be rejected due to incomplete or inaccurate information, mismatched details with records, or failure to meet eligibility criteria. It's crucial to ensure all required fields are correctly filled and supporting documents are provided accurately.
There is not actually a deduction associated with Form 10C. It is a form used to claim benefits from the Employee Pension Scheme (EPS) in India, which is part of your Employee Provident Fund (EPF).
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