Dear All, Due to frequent changes in EPF and lot of technical glitches face in using PF portal, I am facing lot of confusion and inconvenience on PF matters starting from generation of UAN Number to remittance of PF Contribution and helping employees in getting pass book and SMS messages. Support from PF Office is minimum. Hence, request my HR fraternity in this forum for detailed guidelines.
From India, Bangalore
27From India, Bangalore
## Latest EPF Amendments 2016-17
Employee Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) has made some useful amendments in the year 2017 which are very helpful to the EPF subscribers, who are contributing to employee provident fund scheme. These latest amendments are not only useful for employees, they are also useful for employers.
1.Special Drive To Rejoin Left Out EPF Subscribers :
Employee Provident Fund has run a special drive to rejoin left out EPF subscribers in EPF scheme. As per this drive the admin charges of employers are waived.
2.New EPF Composite Claim Forms :
EPFO has introduced new EPF composite claim forms like EPF composite claim form non aadhar and EPF composite claim form Aadhar in place of previous PF form 19 and 10 C. These forms are simple and very useful for EPF subscribers. By using EPF composite claim form aadhar, EPF subscribers can claim EPF amount with out employer attestation.
3.Introduction Of New Unified PF Portals :
EPFO recently introduced unified EPF portals for both ECR Challan generation and UAN member portal.
4.EPF Interest Rate Reduced :
EPFO has reduced EPF interest rate to 8.65% from 8.80%.
5.EPF Member Passbook Site Changed:
The UAN member passbook download site was also changed by Employee Provident Fund Organization. Earlier EPF subscribers used to download member passbook statement from UAN member portal. But now download passbook option is not available in UAN member portal. Now members can download EPF passbook at Download EPF Pasbook
6.EPF Administration Charges Reduced:
EPF administration charges reduced to 0.65% from 0.85%.
7.EDLI Admin Charges Abolished :
Employee Deposit Linked Insurance admin charges of 0.01% have abolished. Now there is no need to pay EDLI admin charges.
8. In exercise of powers conferred under para 36(7) read along with the provisions of para 34 and 57 of EPF Scheme, 1952 and para 24 of Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995, the introduction of Composite Declaration Form (F-11) is ordered with immediate effect by replacing the existing New Form-11 will also replace Form No. 13 in all cases of PF auto transfer vide order No. Manual/Amendment/2011/13326 dated 20.09.2017.
9.PF account will be automatically transferred to the new employer when the employer submit Form 11- PF declaration while employee joins the organisation on the portal.
In case following circumstances the member needs to apply for transfer in Form-13 as the existing procedure for physical transfer would be followed.
a) the earlier UAN was not seeded with Aadhaar or
b) UAN was Aadhaar seeded but not verified or
c) EPF transfer from or to an exempted establishment.
10.Submission of Aadhaar will be optional up to 30th September 2017 for those members who already have UAN prior to 1st July 2017 and has to go for re-registration. Submission of verified Aadhaar will be mandatory for all such members from 1st October 2017.However, Aadhaar would not be mandatory for International Workers as well as workers from Nepal and Bhutan.
11.Inoperative PF account of a member will earn interest up to the age of 58 years.
12.EPFO has initiated to settle PF claims online without the need for intervention of the employers. Accordingly, a new facility has been launched in employee’s Member Interface of Unified Portal for the employees/members to submit Online Claims based on Composite Claim Form (Aadhaar) for availing the benefits under EPF (Form- 19), Pension (Form- 10C) and PF Part Withdrawals (Form- 31).
For online submission of claim forms, the facility would be available only to those PF members who have seeded their KYC’s (Aadhaar Number and Bank Details) against their UAN which have further been verified digitally by the employer and also from the UID database, and service details are available on the Unified Portal.
EPFO has also instructed EPF field offices to settle online claims with 5 days.
13.Ministry of Labour & Employment has amended Paragraph 68-J and Paragraph 68-N of Employees’ Provident Fund Scheme, 1952 and It will come into force from the date of its publication in the official Gazette. According to it, a member would only be required to submit a self-declaration, which has already been included in the composite claim form, to avail advance under the EPF Scheme in case of illness of members/ dependent and also in case of differently able members.
14.The Board of Employees Provident Fund Organisation has decided to pay PF members loyalty-cum-life benefit of up to Rs 50,000/- at the time of retirement, for contributing to the Employees Provident Fund scheme for 20 years or more. The benefit will also be provided in case of permanent disability even if the members have contributed for less than 20 years.
15.Employees’ Provident Funds (EPF) Scheme, 1952 to add a new paragraph 68 BD under which a member of Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF), being a member of a co-operative society or a housing society having at least 10 members of EPF, can withdraw (PF Loan non- refundable) up to 90 per cent from the Fund for purchase of dwelling house/flat or construction of dwelling house/acquisition of site.
16.EPFO Discontinues Submission of Physical Form 9 for PF with effect from 01/10/2017.But for those employee’s who’s joining date is prior 01/10/2017, for them employer still need to submit Form 9 in hard copy with their respective PF office.
17.EPFO has advised that while payments are made through NEFT, no revenue stamp would be required to affix on submission of PF claim forms by the members.
18.Ministry of Labour and Employment has amended EPF Act to allow private banks to collect PF funds. This will enable employers to pay their monthly contributions through Private Banks online platforms.
19.EPFO has been instructed to ensure that all death case claims of PF submitted by spouse/nominee/legal heir of EPF member be invariably settled within a period of 7 days from date of submission of claim form in concerned field office.
20.The Form 31 is a declaration form used by Provident Fund (PF) members to avail their respective advances/withdrawals for purposes provided in the scheme (i.e. housing, marriage, medical, natural calamity etc.) and required an attestation by their respective employers in order to be validated and processed further. However, as per the circular dated 1st December 2015, claims by employees through their respective UANs would not require attestations from their employers.
Regards,
Amit
From India, Delhi
Employee Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) has made some useful amendments in the year 2017 which are very helpful to the EPF subscribers, who are contributing to employee provident fund scheme. These latest amendments are not only useful for employees, they are also useful for employers.
1.Special Drive To Rejoin Left Out EPF Subscribers :
Employee Provident Fund has run a special drive to rejoin left out EPF subscribers in EPF scheme. As per this drive the admin charges of employers are waived.
2.New EPF Composite Claim Forms :
EPFO has introduced new EPF composite claim forms like EPF composite claim form non aadhar and EPF composite claim form Aadhar in place of previous PF form 19 and 10 C. These forms are simple and very useful for EPF subscribers. By using EPF composite claim form aadhar, EPF subscribers can claim EPF amount with out employer attestation.
3.Introduction Of New Unified PF Portals :
EPFO recently introduced unified EPF portals for both ECR Challan generation and UAN member portal.
4.EPF Interest Rate Reduced :
EPFO has reduced EPF interest rate to 8.65% from 8.80%.
5.EPF Member Passbook Site Changed:
The UAN member passbook download site was also changed by Employee Provident Fund Organization. Earlier EPF subscribers used to download member passbook statement from UAN member portal. But now download passbook option is not available in UAN member portal. Now members can download EPF passbook at Download EPF Pasbook
6.EPF Administration Charges Reduced:
EPF administration charges reduced to 0.65% from 0.85%.
7.EDLI Admin Charges Abolished :
Employee Deposit Linked Insurance admin charges of 0.01% have abolished. Now there is no need to pay EDLI admin charges.
8. In exercise of powers conferred under para 36(7) read along with the provisions of para 34 and 57 of EPF Scheme, 1952 and para 24 of Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995, the introduction of Composite Declaration Form (F-11) is ordered with immediate effect by replacing the existing New Form-11 will also replace Form No. 13 in all cases of PF auto transfer vide order No. Manual/Amendment/2011/13326 dated 20.09.2017.
9.PF account will be automatically transferred to the new employer when the employer submit Form 11- PF declaration while employee joins the organisation on the portal.
In case following circumstances the member needs to apply for transfer in Form-13 as the existing procedure for physical transfer would be followed.
a) the earlier UAN was not seeded with Aadhaar or
b) UAN was Aadhaar seeded but not verified or
c) EPF transfer from or to an exempted establishment.
10.Submission of Aadhaar will be optional up to 30th September 2017 for those members who already have UAN prior to 1st July 2017 and has to go for re-registration. Submission of verified Aadhaar will be mandatory for all such members from 1st October 2017.However, Aadhaar would not be mandatory for International Workers as well as workers from Nepal and Bhutan.
11.Inoperative PF account of a member will earn interest up to the age of 58 years.
12.EPFO has initiated to settle PF claims online without the need for intervention of the employers. Accordingly, a new facility has been launched in employee’s Member Interface of Unified Portal for the employees/members to submit Online Claims based on Composite Claim Form (Aadhaar) for availing the benefits under EPF (Form- 19), Pension (Form- 10C) and PF Part Withdrawals (Form- 31).
For online submission of claim forms, the facility would be available only to those PF members who have seeded their KYC’s (Aadhaar Number and Bank Details) against their UAN which have further been verified digitally by the employer and also from the UID database, and service details are available on the Unified Portal.
EPFO has also instructed EPF field offices to settle online claims with 5 days.
13.Ministry of Labour & Employment has amended Paragraph 68-J and Paragraph 68-N of Employees’ Provident Fund Scheme, 1952 and It will come into force from the date of its publication in the official Gazette. According to it, a member would only be required to submit a self-declaration, which has already been included in the composite claim form, to avail advance under the EPF Scheme in case of illness of members/ dependent and also in case of differently able members.
14.The Board of Employees Provident Fund Organisation has decided to pay PF members loyalty-cum-life benefit of up to Rs 50,000/- at the time of retirement, for contributing to the Employees Provident Fund scheme for 20 years or more. The benefit will also be provided in case of permanent disability even if the members have contributed for less than 20 years.
15.Employees’ Provident Funds (EPF) Scheme, 1952 to add a new paragraph 68 BD under which a member of Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF), being a member of a co-operative society or a housing society having at least 10 members of EPF, can withdraw (PF Loan non- refundable) up to 90 per cent from the Fund for purchase of dwelling house/flat or construction of dwelling house/acquisition of site.
16.EPFO Discontinues Submission of Physical Form 9 for PF with effect from 01/10/2017.But for those employee’s who’s joining date is prior 01/10/2017, for them employer still need to submit Form 9 in hard copy with their respective PF office.
17.EPFO has advised that while payments are made through NEFT, no revenue stamp would be required to affix on submission of PF claim forms by the members.
18.Ministry of Labour and Employment has amended EPF Act to allow private banks to collect PF funds. This will enable employers to pay their monthly contributions through Private Banks online platforms.
19.EPFO has been instructed to ensure that all death case claims of PF submitted by spouse/nominee/legal heir of EPF member be invariably settled within a period of 7 days from date of submission of claim form in concerned field office.
20.The Form 31 is a declaration form used by Provident Fund (PF) members to avail their respective advances/withdrawals for purposes provided in the scheme (i.e. housing, marriage, medical, natural calamity etc.) and required an attestation by their respective employers in order to be validated and processed further. However, as per the circular dated 1st December 2015, claims by employees through their respective UANs would not require attestations from their employers.
Regards,
Amit
From India, Delhi
Dear Mr. Amit,
Thanks for this information. In the last parliamentary session a Pvt member bill was introduced for some amendments to EPF, including increasing minimum pension to 3000/ Can you or any one else on this board throw light on what has happened further on this?
From India, Thane
Thanks for this information. In the last parliamentary session a Pvt member bill was introduced for some amendments to EPF, including increasing minimum pension to 3000/ Can you or any one else on this board throw light on what has happened further on this?
From India, Thane
Community Support and Knowledge-base on business, career and organisational prospects and issues - Register and Log In to CiteHR and post your query, download formats and be part of a fostered community of professionals.
PF Transfer Request Letter - FOR RPF Office.doc