The majority of employees, especially job switchers and those leaving the organized sector, tend to withdraw their Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) balance and think that they have sealed the chapter of their retirement corpus. They are unaware that even after EPF withdrawal, the pension component—Employees' Pension Scheme (EPS)—isn't involuntarily encashed. It still remains with the Employees' Pension Organisation (EPFO) and can be traced, accessed, or utilized to draw pension, depending on your work history.
Understand the split: EPF and EPS
When both employer and you both contribute to EPF, a portion of the employer contribution is contributed to EPS. Whereas the EPF portion earns interest and can be withdrawn, the EPS portion is for your pension and does not earn interest. It can be taken only after 10 years of service to become eligible for pension, and only after reaching 58 years of age for full benefits.
If you withdraw PF before completing 10 years, your EPS contribution is not withdrawn unless you file Form 10C specifically to withdraw the same.
What does EPS do after PF withdrawal?
In most cases, employees withdrawing their PF after five or six years of service, subconsciously leave their EPS component behind. Since EPS doesn't automatically reflect in your bank account and doesn't accrue interest, it simply isn't accounted for.
EPS records are not wiped out. Even after you withdraw your PF, the EPS record remains with the EPFO, linked to your Universal Account Number (UAN). This means that you can:
- Verify your EPS service record
- Check whether your EPS balance remains intact
- Take advantage of a pension in the future (if eligible)
- Transfer the EPS service record to a new employer
Even if your PF has been withdrawn, you can still login to the EPFO Member Portal with your UAN to access your record of service. Here's how you can do it:
- 1. Log in with your password and UAN.
- 2. Move to the "View" section and click on "Service History."
- 3. You'll get to see your employment history, including EPS contribution records.
For those with more than 10 years of qualifying service, EPS contributions entitle you to a pension from the scheme even if you've withdrawn your EPF. You will be required to apply separately for the pension in Form 10D when you attain the age of 58.
If you have worked for fewer than 10 years
If your total service was less than 10 years and you've withdrawn PF but not EPS, you can submit the application for claiming refund of your EPS contributions also through Form 10C. You can access this form on the EPFO website and submit it online if you have Aadhaar linked and full KYC.
What if you don't have UAN?
If you are unaware of your UAN or past PF details, visit the UAN retrieval page and press "Know Your UAN." Enter your Aadhaar-linked phone number, and EPFO will send the details via SMS.
Alternatively, visit your previous employer's HR department, as they would have your EPF account details, or your regional EPFO office.
You withdrawing your PF does not mean your EPS gets lost. It's still there, waiting for you to do something with it—transfer it, claim it, or convert it into a pension. Understanding the difference can help you get back what is yours and better prepare for retirement.
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