Dear All,
Due to frequent changes in EPF and a lot of technical glitches faced in using the PF portal, I am experiencing confusion and inconvenience regarding PF matters. This includes tasks ranging from the generation of UAN numbers to the remittance of PF contributions, as well as assisting employees in obtaining their passbooks and SMS messages. Support from the PF Office is minimal. Therefore, I kindly request my HR fraternity in this forum for detailed guidelines.
Thank you.
From India, Bangalore
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28Due to frequent changes in EPF and a lot of technical glitches faced in using the PF portal, I am experiencing confusion and inconvenience regarding PF matters. This includes tasks ranging from the generation of UAN numbers to the remittance of PF contributions, as well as assisting employees in obtaining their passbooks and SMS messages. Support from the PF Office is minimal. Therefore, I kindly request my HR fraternity in this forum for detailed guidelines.
Thank you.
From India, Bangalore
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Latest EPF Amendments 2016-17
The Employee Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) has made several useful amendments in 2017 that are beneficial to EPF subscribers contributing to the employee provident fund scheme. These amendments are advantageous not only for employees but also for employers.
1. Special Drive to Rejoin Left Out EPF Subscribers
The Employee Provident Fund has initiated a special drive to rejoin left out EPF subscribers in the EPF scheme. As part of this drive, the administrative charges for employers are waived.
2. New EPF Composite Claim Forms
EPFO has introduced new EPF composite claim forms, such as the EPF composite claim form non-Aadhaar and EPF composite claim form Aadhaar, replacing the previous PF form 19 and 10 C. These forms are simple and very useful for EPF subscribers. By using the EPF composite claim form Aadhaar, EPF subscribers can claim their EPF amount without employer attestation.
3. Introduction of New Unified PF Portals
EPFO recently introduced unified EPF portals for both ECR Challan generation and the UAN member portal.
4. EPF Interest Rate Reduced
EPFO has reduced the EPF interest rate to 8.65% from 8.80%.
5. EPF Member Passbook Site Changed
The UAN member passbook download site has been changed by the Employee Provident Fund Organization. Previously, EPF subscribers could download the member passbook statement from the UAN member portal. Now, the download passbook option is not available on the UAN member portal. Members can download the EPF passbook at Download EPF Pasbook.
6. EPF Administration Charges Reduced
EPF administration charges have been reduced to 0.65% from 0.85%.
7. EDLI Admin Charges Abolished
Employee Deposit Linked Insurance admin charges of 0.01% have been abolished. Now, there is no need to pay EDLI admin charges.
8. Introduction of Composite Declaration Form (F-11)
In exercise of powers conferred under para 36(7) read along with the provisions of para 34 and 57 of the EPF Scheme, 1952, and para 24 of the Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995, the introduction of the Composite Declaration Form (F-11) is ordered with immediate effect, replacing the existing New Form-11. This will also replace Form No. 13 in all cases of PF auto transfer as per order No. Manual/Amendment/2011/13326 dated 20.09.2017.
9. Automatic PF Account Transfer
The PF account will be automatically transferred to the new employer when the employer submits Form 11 - PF declaration while the employee joins the organization on the portal. In certain 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.
b) UAN was Aadhaar seeded but not verified.
c) EPF transfer from or to an exempted establishment.
10. Aadhaar Submission Requirements
Submission of Aadhaar will be optional up to 30th September 2017 for members who already have UAN prior to 1st July 2017 and need to re-register. Submission of verified Aadhaar will be mandatory for all such members from 1st October 2017. However, Aadhaar will not be mandatory for International Workers as well as workers from Nepal and Bhutan.
11. Interest on Inoperative PF Accounts
Inoperative PF accounts of a member will earn interest up to the age of 58 years.
12. Online PF Claims Settlement
EPFO has initiated the settlement of PF claims online without the need for employer intervention. Accordingly, a new facility has been launched in the employee's Member Interface of the Unified Portal for employees/members to submit Online Claims based on the 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 is available only to those PF members who have seeded their KYC’s (Aadhaar Number and Bank Details) against their UAN, which have been verified digitally by the employer and also from the UID database, with service details available on the Unified Portal. EPFO has instructed EPF field offices to settle online claims within 5 days.
13. Amendments to Paragraphs 68-J and 68-N
The Ministry of Labour & Employment has amended Paragraph 68-J and Paragraph 68-N of the Employees’ Provident Fund Scheme, 1952, which 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 of advance under the EPF Scheme in case of illness of members/dependents and also in case of differently-abled members.
14. Loyalty-Cum-Life Benefit
The Board of Employees Provident Fund Organisation has decided to pay PF members a 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. New Paragraph 68 BD in EPF Scheme
The Employees’ Provident Funds (EPF) Scheme, 1952, will 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 percent from the Fund for the purchase of a dwelling house/flat or construction of a dwelling house/acquisition of site.
16. Discontinuation of Physical Form 9 Submission
EPFO discontinues the submission of Physical Form 9 for PF with effect from 01/10/2017. However, for employees whose joining date is prior to 01/10/2017, employers still need to submit Form 9 in hard copy with their respective PF office.
17. NEFT Payments Without Revenue Stamp
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. Private Banks to Collect PF Funds
The Ministry of Labour and Employment has amended the 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. Death Case Claims Settlement
EPFO has been instructed to ensure that all death case claims of PF submitted by the spouse/nominee/legal heir of an EPF member are invariably settled within a period of 7 days from the date of submission of the claim form in the concerned field office.
20. Form 31 Declaration Form
Form 31 is a declaration form used by Provident Fund (PF) members to avail of 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, Surat
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The Employee Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) has made several useful amendments in 2017 that are beneficial to EPF subscribers contributing to the employee provident fund scheme. These amendments are advantageous not only for employees but also for employers.
1. Special Drive to Rejoin Left Out EPF Subscribers
The Employee Provident Fund has initiated a special drive to rejoin left out EPF subscribers in the EPF scheme. As part of this drive, the administrative charges for employers are waived.
2. New EPF Composite Claim Forms
EPFO has introduced new EPF composite claim forms, such as the EPF composite claim form non-Aadhaar and EPF composite claim form Aadhaar, replacing the previous PF form 19 and 10 C. These forms are simple and very useful for EPF subscribers. By using the EPF composite claim form Aadhaar, EPF subscribers can claim their EPF amount without employer attestation.
3. Introduction of New Unified PF Portals
EPFO recently introduced unified EPF portals for both ECR Challan generation and the UAN member portal.
4. EPF Interest Rate Reduced
EPFO has reduced the EPF interest rate to 8.65% from 8.80%.
5. EPF Member Passbook Site Changed
The UAN member passbook download site has been changed by the Employee Provident Fund Organization. Previously, EPF subscribers could download the member passbook statement from the UAN member portal. Now, the download passbook option is not available on the UAN member portal. Members can download the EPF passbook at Download EPF Pasbook.
6. EPF Administration Charges Reduced
EPF administration charges have been reduced to 0.65% from 0.85%.
7. EDLI Admin Charges Abolished
Employee Deposit Linked Insurance admin charges of 0.01% have been abolished. Now, there is no need to pay EDLI admin charges.
8. Introduction of Composite Declaration Form (F-11)
In exercise of powers conferred under para 36(7) read along with the provisions of para 34 and 57 of the EPF Scheme, 1952, and para 24 of the Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995, the introduction of the Composite Declaration Form (F-11) is ordered with immediate effect, replacing the existing New Form-11. This will also replace Form No. 13 in all cases of PF auto transfer as per order No. Manual/Amendment/2011/13326 dated 20.09.2017.
9. Automatic PF Account Transfer
The PF account will be automatically transferred to the new employer when the employer submits Form 11 - PF declaration while the employee joins the organization on the portal. In certain 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.
b) UAN was Aadhaar seeded but not verified.
c) EPF transfer from or to an exempted establishment.
10. Aadhaar Submission Requirements
Submission of Aadhaar will be optional up to 30th September 2017 for members who already have UAN prior to 1st July 2017 and need to re-register. Submission of verified Aadhaar will be mandatory for all such members from 1st October 2017. However, Aadhaar will not be mandatory for International Workers as well as workers from Nepal and Bhutan.
11. Interest on Inoperative PF Accounts
Inoperative PF accounts of a member will earn interest up to the age of 58 years.
12. Online PF Claims Settlement
EPFO has initiated the settlement of PF claims online without the need for employer intervention. Accordingly, a new facility has been launched in the employee's Member Interface of the Unified Portal for employees/members to submit Online Claims based on the 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 is available only to those PF members who have seeded their KYC’s (Aadhaar Number and Bank Details) against their UAN, which have been verified digitally by the employer and also from the UID database, with service details available on the Unified Portal. EPFO has instructed EPF field offices to settle online claims within 5 days.
13. Amendments to Paragraphs 68-J and 68-N
The Ministry of Labour & Employment has amended Paragraph 68-J and Paragraph 68-N of the Employees’ Provident Fund Scheme, 1952, which 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 of advance under the EPF Scheme in case of illness of members/dependents and also in case of differently-abled members.
14. Loyalty-Cum-Life Benefit
The Board of Employees Provident Fund Organisation has decided to pay PF members a 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. New Paragraph 68 BD in EPF Scheme
The Employees’ Provident Funds (EPF) Scheme, 1952, will 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 percent from the Fund for the purchase of a dwelling house/flat or construction of a dwelling house/acquisition of site.
16. Discontinuation of Physical Form 9 Submission
EPFO discontinues the submission of Physical Form 9 for PF with effect from 01/10/2017. However, for employees whose joining date is prior to 01/10/2017, employers still need to submit Form 9 in hard copy with their respective PF office.
17. NEFT Payments Without Revenue Stamp
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. Private Banks to Collect PF Funds
The Ministry of Labour and Employment has amended the 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. Death Case Claims Settlement
EPFO has been instructed to ensure that all death case claims of PF submitted by the spouse/nominee/legal heir of an EPF member are invariably settled within a period of 7 days from the date of submission of the claim form in the concerned field office.
20. Form 31 Declaration Form
Form 31 is a declaration form used by Provident Fund (PF) members to avail of 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, Surat
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Dear Mr. Amit,
Thank you for this information. In the last parliamentary session, a Private Member Bill was introduced for some amendments to EPF, including increasing the minimum pension to 3000. Can you or anyone else on this board shed light on what has happened further on this?
From India, Thane
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Thank you for this information. In the last parliamentary session, a Private Member Bill was introduced for some amendments to EPF, including increasing the minimum pension to 3000. Can you or anyone else on this board shed light on what has happened further on this?
From India, Thane
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