Form 10C: What It Is, Benefits, And How To File Form 10C?

What is Form 10C?

Form 10C is a form that employees need to complete and submit, either online or offline, when they wish to claim benefits under the Employee Pension Scheme (EPS). The EPS is a retirement benefit plan where both the employee and employer contribute a portion of the employee’s monthly wage to the EPS account.

You can either withdraw or transfer your pension amount when changing employment by submitting the EPS certificate. Additionally, if you are unable to secure a new job, you can request a withdrawal of funds by submitting Form 10C, provided you have completed 180 days of continuous service and the withdrawal is made before the completion of the 10-year service period.

Eligibility to file Form 10C

You can withdraw funds from the EPS scheme in emergencies. However, your application will be rejected if you do not meet the eligibility criteria as follows:

• You can submit a Form 10C application if you leave your job before completing ten years of service and have reached 58 years of age.
• Anyone with at least 10 years of service who is under 50 years of age, or a member between 50 and 58 years of age who is dissatisfied with a reduced pension, may submit a Form 10C application.
• In the case of a member who passed away before completing ten years of service and was older than 58 at the time of death, the nominee or family member may also submit Form 10C.

Documents required to file Form 10C

You are required to attach the following documents with your application:

• A copy of a blank or canceled cheque
• Birth certificate of the member’s children, if applying for a Scheme Certificate
• Death certificate, in case of the member’s demise
• Succession certificate, if the application is submitted by a legal heir
• A revenue stamp of ₹1 must be affixed to the form.

How to submit Form 10C Online

Steps to Submit a Claim on the EPF Portal

• Visit the official Employees’ Provident Fund portal.
• Log in using your Universal Account Number (UAN) and password.
• Go to the “Online Services” tab.
• Select “Claim Form (Form-31, 19, 10C & 10D)” from the drop-down menu.
  
  
• You’ll be redirected to a new page displaying your member details, service history, and KYC information.
  
  
• Click on “Continue Online Claim” to proceed.
• On the claims section page, you’ll find details such as your PAN, mobile number, account number, and UAN.
• Choose the type of claim you wish to file by selecting either “Withdraw PF Only” or “Withdraw Pension Only.”
• Carefully fill out the claim form with the required information.
• Once the form is completed, an OTP will be sent to your registered mobile number.
• Enter the OTP to confirm and submit your claim.
• After successful submission, you will receive a confirmation notification on your registered mobile number.
• The processing of your request may take a few days.
• Once the claim is approved and processed, the amount will be credited directly to your bank account.

Benefits of Form 10C and Scheme Certificate

The Form 10C and scheme certificate offer several advantages as follows:

• The service period with the previous employer is counted when you take up a job in a new establishment.
• If a member does not secure new employment, their family can claim a family pension in the event of their death before reaching 58 years of age. If the member survives, they are eligible for withdrawal benefits.
• This certificate is issued to members with less than 10 years of service and under 50 years of age at the time of application. However, withdrawal benefits are not available if the membership period is less than 180 days, excluding any non-contributory duration.
• When changing employment, you can transfer your EPS funds to a new account using the scheme certificate. However, the pension amount can only be transferred if your service tenure is 10 years or more.
• The scheme certificate contains comprehensive information about the member, including their service history, family details, and nominees. As it documents the member’s employment record, it also serves as their official service history.