Don't Miss Out on Higher Pension Benefits: Check Your EPFO Records Today

If you are a member of the Employees' Pension Scheme (EPS), it is important to ensure that your service history is updated accurately in the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) records. This is because your service period is part of the formula to calculate your pension once you reach 58 years old. A gap in your service history can lower your pension amount.

However, if you were employed before 2014, it is possible that some of your employment history may not show up on the EPFO Member e-Sewa portal, as there was no Universal Account Number (UAN) at the time. In such a situation, you can check your EPF passbook to see if your EPFO records are correctly updated. If there is a mismatch between your EPFO and EPF records, you can file a complaint using the EPF i-Grievance Management System and provide documentary evidence.

To correct or update your employment records with the EPFO, you need to contact your present or previous employers and get it corrected. You can submit the transfer-in form, called Form 13, to your current employer to transfer or update your service history period. The transfer-in process can be done offline if the UAN is not created by the old employer subsequently. Once the records are verified, the transfer process will be completed.

To keep track of your service history for the purpose of EPFO, you can obtain an Annexure-K form from the EPFO or avail a scheme certificate for pension membership from the regional PF office concerned after leaving the service (if EPS transfer not initiated). Another important aspect to keep in mind is that employees are eligible to apply for higher pension under EPS if they were members of the EPF on September 1, 2014, making higher contributions above the prevailing wage limits prior to this date but missed the opportunity to apply for higher contributions under the pension scheme. This is why it is crucial to ensure that the employment records with the EPFO are accurate and up-to-date.

If an EPF member finds any mismatch between the EPFO and EPF records, they can file a complaint using the EPF i-Grievance Management System and provide documentary evidence to support their claim. However, only the employer can rectify any errors in the employment records of the EPFO, and an individual should contact their present or previous employer to get it corrected.

To correct or update the service history period, an individual needs to submit a transfer-in form (Form 13) to their current employer, who will then send it to the EPFO. The regional PF office will verify the employment records based on the EPF account number mentioned on the transfer form, and once the records are verified, the transfer process will be completed.

If an individual wants to keep track of their service history for EPFO purposes, they can obtain an Annexure-K form from the EPFO or avail a scheme certificate for pension membership from the regional PF office concerned after leaving the service (if EPS transfer not initiated). By doing so, they can ensure that their service history is accurately reflected in the EPFO records and receive the correct pension amount once they reach the age of 58.

The author is a Chartered Accountant with 2 decades of experience into Accounting, Taxation, Auditing, Risk & Compliance, Credit Controls, Due diligence. Currently author is founder and managing partner at RRL Global services.