All you need to know about the EPS 95 Scheme – Eligibility For Higher Pension

The EPS 95 (Employee Pension Scheme 1995) is a pension scheme for employees who are members of the Employees Provident Fund Organization (EPFO). The scheme came into force in 1995 to provide pension benefits to employees who were members of the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) scheme. Under this scheme, a certain portion of the employee’s salary is deducted every month and contributed towards the pension fund. The contribution is made by both the employee and the employer, with the employer contributing a higher percentage of the total contribution. This article will further discuss about the EPS 95 Scheme and eligibility for higher pension.  

Some Glimpses of EPS 95 Scheme

The EPS 95 is a pension scheme for employees who are members of the EPFO and who were eligible to join the scheme on or before September 1, 2014. It is a social security scheme for employees working in the organized sector in India. It is managed by the EPFO and is a part of the overall EPF Scheme. 

The EPS 95 scheme was introduced in 1995. To provide a pension to employees who retire after completing a minimum of 10 years of eligible service. The pension amount is calculated based on the pensionable salary and the number of years of eligible service. The scheme also provides disability pension to employees who become disabled due to illness or injury and are unable to continue working.

The EPS 95 scheme provides two types of pension benefits:

• Superannuation Pension: This pension benefit is provided to employees who retire at the age of 58 years and have completed a minimum of 10 years of eligible service.
• Early Pension: This pension benefit is provided to employees who retire between the ages of 50 and 58 years and have completed a minimum of 10 years of eligible service.

In addition to pension benefits, the scheme also provides family pension to the spouse and children of employees who die while in service. The scheme also allows employees to nominate their family members as beneficiaries to receive the pension benefits in case of their death. To be eligible for this scheme, an employee must be a member of the EPF scheme. It must have completed a minimum of 10 years of eligible service. The scheme is mandatory for employees earning a monthly salary of up to Rs. 15,000 and optional for those earning more than Rs. 15,000 per month.

The EPS 95 scheme provides social security to employees and their families by ensuring financial stability during retirement, disability, and death. It also helps in promoting savings and financial planning among employees and provides tax benefits to those who contribute towards the scheme.

Purpose of EPS 95 Scheme

The purpose of the EPS 95 is to provide social security to employees working in the organized sector in India. The scheme is managed by the EPFO and a part of the overall EPF scheme. The main purpose of this scheme is to provide pension to employees who retire after completing a minimum of 10 years of eligible service. 

The pension amount is calculated based on the pensionable salary and the number of years of eligible service. It also provides disability pension to employees who become disabled due to illness or injury and are unable to continue working. The disability pension is calculated based on the pensionable salary and the number of years of eligible service.

To pension benefits, the scheme provides family pension to the spouse and children of employees who die while in service. The scheme also allows employees to nominate their family members. As beneficiaries to receive the pension benefits in case of their death. The scheme provides social security to employees and their families by ensuring financial stability during retirement, disability, and death. It also helps in promoting savings and financial planning among employees. This scheme provides tax benefits to those who contribute towards the scheme.

Eligibility criteria for Higher Pension in EPS 95 Scheme

To be eligible for higher pension in the EPS 95 Scheme, an employee must meet the following criteria:

• The employee must have completed 20 years of eligible service: Eligible service refers to the years of service during which the employee was a member of the EPS 95 scheme and contributed towards it. The eligible service should also include any past service rendered under the old pension scheme (EPS 1995).
• The employee must have attained the age of 50 years: To be eligible for higher pension benefits, the employee must have attained the age of 50 years. However, the employee can apply for a scheme certificate even before attaining the age of 50 years.
• The employee must apply for a scheme certificate: To avail higher pension benefits, the employee must apply for a scheme certificate from the Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO). The scheme certificate will be issued if the employee is eligible for higher pension benefits.
• The amount of higher pension that an employee is eligible for is calculated based on the pensionable salary. The number of years of eligible service completed by the employee. The pensionable salary is the average monthly pay drawn during the last 12 months of service before leaving the scheme. The higher pension amount is calculated as per the formula specified by the EPFO.
• It is important to note that an employee who opts for higher pension. Its benefit will not be entitled to a lump-sum withdrawal of the pension amount. The employee will only receive a monthly pension for the rest of their life. Therefore, it is important to consider the pros and cons before opting for higher pension benefits.

Benefits of the EPS 95 Scheme

The EPS 95 (Employee Pension Scheme 1995) provides several benefits to employees who are members of the scheme. Some of the benefits of the EPS 95 scheme are:

• Pension Benefits: The EPS 95 scheme provides pension benefits to employees who retire after completing a minimum of 10 years of eligible service. The pension amount is calculated based on the pensionable salary and the number of years of eligible service. The pension amount is guaranteed and provides financial security to retired employees.
• Disability Pension: The EPS 95 scheme also provides disability pension to employees who become disabled due to illness or injury and are unable to continue working. The disability pension is calculated based on the pensionable salary and the number of years of eligible service.
• Family Pension: The EPS 95 scheme also provides family pension to the spouse and children of employees who die while in service. The family pension is calculated based on the pensionable salary and the number of years of eligible service.
• Nomination Facility: The EPS 95 scheme allows employees to nominate their family members as beneficiaries to receive the pension benefits in case of their death.
• Tax Benefits: The contributions made by employees towards the EPS 95 scheme are eligible for tax deduction under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act.
• Social Security: The EPS 95 scheme provides social security to employees and their families by ensuring financial stability during retirement, disability, and death.

Calculation Formula for Pension under EPS 95 Scheme

The formula for calculating the pension under the EPS 95 scheme is as follows:

Pension = (Pensionable Salary x Pensionable Service) / 70

Where, Pensionable Service is the number of years of eligible service, subject to a maximum of 20 years.

Therefore, to be eligible for a higher pension under the EPS 95 Scheme. An employee must have completed at least 20 years of eligible service. It attained the age of 58 years at the time of superannuation, and have a higher pensionable salary.

EPS 95- Procedure to Apply Online for Higher Pension

To apply online for higher pension under the EPS 95, you can follow the steps given below:

• Visit the official website of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) at www.epfindia.gov.in.
• Click on the “Services” tab on the homepage and select the “For Employees” option from the drop-down menu.
• On the next page, click on the “Member UAN/Online Service (OCS/OTCP)” option.
• Enter your Universal Account Number (UAN), password, and captcha code to log in to your account.
• Once you have logged in, click on the “Online Services” tab and select the “Claim (Form-31, 19 & 10C)” option from the drop-down menu.
• On the next page, select the type of claim you want to make, which is “Pension (Withdrawal Benefit/SC/DB)” in this case.
• Fill in the required details such as your bank account details, pension amount, and other relevant information.
• Under the “I Want to Apply for” section, select the “Scheme Certificate (10C)” option.
• In the “Purpose for Scheme Certificate” section, select the “For higher pension” option.
• Fill in the required details such as your pensionable salary, date of joining the EPS 95 scheme, date of leaving the scheme, and other relevant information.
• Upload the necessary documents such as your Aadhaar card, bank passbook, and other relevant documents.
• Review the details and submit the application.

Once you have submitted the application, the EPFO will verify the details. It issues a scheme certificate if you are eligible for higher pension benefits. The scheme certificate uses to claim higher pension benefits when you reach the age of superannuation or opt for early pension. You can also track the status of your application on the EPFO website.

Takeaway

This scheme provides social security to employees and their families by ensuring financial stability during retirement, disability, and death. It also helps in promoting savings and financial planning among employees. The scheme provides tax benefits to those who contribute towards the scheme. Overall, the scheme is an important social security scheme for employees in India. It helps in promoting financial stability and security among the working population. The EPS 95 scheme provides pension benefits, disability pension, family pension, nomination facility, tax benefits, and social security to employees who are members of the scheme. It is an important social security scheme for employees in India. The scheme helps in promoting financial stability and security among the working population.

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