### EPFO Pension Eligibility: What Happens If You Leave After 10 Years?
The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) in India manages the Employees' Pension Scheme (EPS), which provides a monthly pension to eligible members upon retirement. If you've completed **at least 10 years of contributory service** (across one or multiple EPF-covered jobs) and then leave your company, **yes, you will receive a pension**—but it's not immediate or a lump-sum payout. Here's a breakdown of how it works, based on official EPFO rules.
#### Key Eligibility Rules for EPS Pension
- **Minimum Service Requirement**: You need **10 years or more** of eligible service under EPS to qualify for a monthly pension. Service is calculated based on your total contributions to the pension fund, not just time at one employer.
- **Pension Types**:
- **Superannuation Pension**: Full monthly pension starting at age 58 (or upon retirement, whichever is later).
- **Early Pension**: Reduced monthly pension if you retire between ages 50–58 (reduction of 4% per year before 58).
- **No Pension Before 50**: If you leave before age 50 with 10+ years, your pension is deferred until 58—no early withdrawal allowed.
- **What If You Have Less Than 10 Years?** For comparison, if you leave with under 10 years, you can withdraw your EPS contributions as a lump sum using Form 10C, but you forfeit future pension eligibility.
#### What Happens When You Leave After 10 Years?
1. **No Lump-Sum Withdrawal**: Your pension contributions are "locked in." You cannot claim the EPS amount as a one-time payment. Instead, EPFO issues a **Scheme Certificate** (via Form 10C) that records your service and pensionable salary.
2. **Pension Starts at Age 58**: At 58, you can apply for your monthly pension using the certificate. The amount is calculated as:
- **Formula**: (Pensionable Salary × Pensionable Service) / 70
- Pensionable Salary: Average of your last 60 months' salary (capped at ₹15,000/month unless higher contributions were made post-2014).
- Example: For 10 years of service at ₹15,000 pensionable salary, you'd get about ₹2,143/month (₹15,000 × 10 / 70).
3. **If You Join Another Job**: Any additional service adds to your total, increasing your pension amount. The new employer transfers your PF balance, including EPS.
| Scenario | Service Years | What You Get | When? |
|----------|---------------|--------------|--------|
| Leave after <10 years | Less than 10 | Lump-sum withdrawal (EPS amount) | Immediately (via Form 10C) |
| Leave after 10+ years (under 58) | 10 or more | Deferred monthly pension | Starts at age 58 |
| Retire at 58 with 10+ years | 10 or more | Full monthly pension | Immediately upon application |
#### How to Claim Your Pension
- **Application**: Submit Form 10D online via the EPFO portal (unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in) or offline at your regional EPFO office. You'll need your UAN, Aadhaar, bank details, and the Scheme Certificate.
- **Processing Time**: Usually 20–30 days; pension is credited monthly to your bank account.
- **Family Pension**: In case of your death, your spouse or eligible family gets 50% of your pension.
#### Important Notes
- **Recent Updates (2025)**: EPFO has streamlined online claims, but the 10-year rule remains unchanged. Higher salary contributions (above ₹15,000) from September 2014 onward are now fully pensionable.
- **Tax Implications**: Pension is taxable as income, but you can claim deductions under Section 80C for contributions.
- **Advice**: Always check your EPF passbook on the EPFO app for accurate service records. If in doubt, contact your regional EPFO office or use the helpline (1800-118-005).
This scheme ensures long-term financial security for members who've built up substantial service. If your situation involves multiple jobs or specific salary details, consult EPFO directly for personalized calculations.
Right now, only employees who earn up to Rs 15,000 a month have to be covered under the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and Employees Pension Scheme (EPS). The new plan wants to bump that limit up to Rs 25,000, which would be the first update since 2014.
Once this goes through, a much bigger slice of India’s workforce will get EPF and EPS benefits. That means more people with retirement and pension security—something millions miss out on today.
Here’s how the current system works. Both the employee and the employer pay in 12 percent of the employee’s monthly salary to the Provident Fund. The employer’s share gets split: 3.67 percent goes to EPF, and 8.33 percent is set aside for the EPS.
Anyone earning more than Rs 15,000 a month right now can choose to skip EPF coverage, which shrinks the pool of people getting social security.
