A vast percentage of the Indian population is salaried individuals working in the organised sector. The Government of India has taken several major decisions to ensure their social security, especially after retirement. Employees’ Provident Funds Scheme or EPFS is one such initiative that enables employers and employees to contribute equally towards the pension scheme. Traditionally, during retirement, the beneficiary employee can withdraw the amount. Currently, almost 27.74 crore Indians are subject to its benefits (As per the 2021-2022 annual report of EPFO).
Having said that, one must submit Form 10C to the concerned authority to withdraw the amount deposited here. Since submitting this form is a requisite, you need to know about this form in detail. Let’s begin!
What is Form 10C in PF?
Currently, an employee must contribute 12% of the salary to the EPFS, while an employer must also match the same amount. However, the percentage (12%) your employer sends to EPFO is divided into two parts: 8.33% to EPS and 3.67% to EPF. Now, an employee can withdraw the accumulated amount plus the interest accrued once he/she resigns from a job or after retirement.
In any case, the employee needs to fill out PF Form 10C to get hold of his/her savings from this pension scheme. It is a 4-page document that is available on the official website of EPFO for downloading.
Benefits of PF Pension Form 10C
There are 3 types of members who are entitled to leverage pension schemes. They are Member Type 1, Type 2 and Type 3. Depending on your type, the following are the benefits you can avail of by submitting Form 10C:
- The Type 1 members can withdraw the PF amount before taking permanent retirement.
- The Type 2 members are eligible to receive a scheme certificate. Additionally, those who fall under the Type 2(b) category can apply for reduced pension by filling out Form 10D.
- The Type 3 can apply for withdrawal benefits after filling out Form 10C.
Moreover, in case any member has to retire due to physical impairment, he/she is eligible to avail of a disability pension in EPF.
Read More: Different types of PF declaration form
How to Fill Withdrawal Form 10C Online?
You can fill up the withdrawal Form 10C in EPFO in two ways: online and offline. Following are the steps to download this form online:
Step 1: Visit the official website of EPFO.
Step 2: Put in your Universal Account Number (UAN) in the designated place.
Step 3: Enter your password and the captcha code to sign in.
Step 4: Navigate to the Menu bar and click on the ‘Online Services’ tab.
Step 5: On that page, click on ‘Claim (Form-31,19,10C & 10D)’ from the drop-down menu.
Step 6: It will redirect you to the page ‘Member Details’ where you can see all your information auto-filled. Check for any inconsistency with the information.
Step 7: On the new tab, enter the last 4 digits of your bank account number linked with your EPF account.
Step 8: A dialogue box about a certificate of undertaking will appear on the screen. Click on ‘Yes’ to accept it.
Step 9: Next, hit the ‘Proceed for Online Claim’ button.
Step 10: On this page, you can check your UAN, PAN and mobile number and move to the claim type section.
Step 11: You get to select from 2 options: Withdraw Pension Only/Withdraw PF Only.
Step 12: Select the correct claim form and fill it up.
Step 13: Confirm the claim through an OPT authentication received on your registered mobile number.
After the due processing time, the amount will be credited to your linked bank account.
Alternatively, you can also fill up the Form 10C offline by following the steps below:
The official EPFO portal has Form 10C that you can download and submit at the office by visiting physically. Here are the steps:
Step 1: Download the Form 10C from here, or you can also collect it from the nearest EPFO office.
Step 2: Fill up the form and submit it alongside the required documents.
Note that you are not supposed to overwrite the form and must get it attested before submission.
Documents Requirement
Along with the Form 10C, individuals also need to furnish the following documents:
- Photocopy of a cancelled cheque or blank cheque
- The member’s child’s birth certificate (for scheme certificate application)
- Death and success certificate (in case a legal heir is applying after the death of the member)
- A Rs.1 Revenue stamp alongside Form 10C.
You may need to present additional documents in case the need arises.
How to Download Form 10C?
Downloading the Form 10C is simple. All you have to do is visit the website https://www.epfindia.gov.in/site_en/For_Employees.php and download the PDF form of 10C.
Read More: How to upload KYC in EPF online
Who Are Eligible for Form 10C?
The following table demonstrates the eligibility criteria of members applying for EPF Form 10C:
| Criteria I (Type 1) | Criteria II (Type 2) | Criteria III (Type 3) |
|---|---|---|
| Members who resigned from service after 10 year serving period | Members who have not yet completed 50 years but have completed 10 years of service | Legal heir/nominee/family member of a deceased member who has completed 10 years of service but is aged 58 years and above |
| Members who completed 58 years before completing 10 years of service | Members aged 50-58 years and are not ready for reduced pension |
Information Available on Form 10C
Following is the information you can access on Form 10C form.
- Beneficiary Name
- Date of Birth
- Father’s Name or Husband’s Name (if applicable)
- Name and address of the beneficiary’s place of employment before retirement.
- PF number, Establishment Code, Region Code
- Date of joining the previous office
- Date of leaving the previous office
- Date and reason for leaving the job
- Address of the claimant
- Confirmation of getting either a withdrawal benefit or a scheme certificate
- Family details (spouse and children) and details of nominee or legal heir
- Remittance mode: Money order cheque or online payment.
In case of any discrepancy in the information provided, you need to get it corrected to avoid any obligations later.
Conclusion:
Investing in an EPF scheme is a wise decision as it guarantees return without any risk aspect. Moreover, individuals can withdraw 75% of the EPS amount in case of employment of 1 month or more. Form 10C is a crucial piece of document which you need to withdraw money from your EPF account.
