Hi, How is pension calculated under EPS'95. If an employee has changed 4 organzations during his career, will pension be calaculated for 4 companies seperately and then added up or it will be based on the last basic drawn multiplied by the overall service history witinin the UAN. Thanks

Ans: Yes, an employee in India who was receiving a salary of Rs. 15,000 is eligible for EPS 95 Higher Pension, provided they meet the following criteria:
• They must have been a member of the EPS 95 scheme before September 1, 2014.
• They must have filed a joint option form with their employer to contribute 8.33% of their salary to the EPS, even if their salary is above Rs. 15,000.
• They must have completed at least 10 years of service in the EPF scheme.
If an employee meets all of these criteria, they will be eligible to receive a higher pension amount, which is calculated based on their average salary for the last 10 years of service. The higher pension amount is also subject to a minimum pension of Rs. 1,000 per month.
It is important to note that the deadline to file a joint option form for EPS 95 Higher Pension was February 28, 2015. Therefore, employees who were members of the EPS 95 scheme before September 1, 2014, but did not file a joint option form by February 28, 2015, were not eligible for the higher pension amount as per earlier guidelines. However, the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has recently allowed EPF contributors to get a higher pension by following some guidelines even now much after 2015.
The Supreme Court of India ruled in November 2022 that the EPFO's decision to cap the EPS contribution at Rs. 15,000 was illegal. The court ordered the EPFO to allow employees who were members of the EPS 95 scheme before September 1, 2014, to opt for a higher pension by filing a joint option form with their employer.
The EPFO issued a circular clarifying the guidelines for employees who want to opt for a higher pension. The following are the eligibility criteria:
• The employee must have been a member of the EPS 95 scheme before September 1, 2014.
• The employee must have not filed a joint option form to contribute 8.33% of their salary to the EPS even if their salary is above Rs. 15,000.
• The employee must have completed at least 10 years of service in the EPF scheme.
The employee must also submit the following documents to the EPFO:
• A copy of the joint option form that was not filed earlier.
• A proof of salary for the last 60 months.
• A declaration from the employer that the employee was a member of the EPS 95 scheme before September 1, 2014.
The EPFO has then processed the application and decided whether the employee is eligible for a higher pension. If the employee is eligible, the EPFO will start paying the higher pension amount from the date of application.
The deadline to apply for a higher pension was March 3, 2023. Employees who miss the deadline will not be eligible for a higher pension.

Ans: 1. Your EPS pension and salary history:

That's a good question! Yes, your EPS pension can be affected by your salary history. Here's why:

EPS contribution: Both you and your employer contribute a fixed percentage of your salary (capped at Rs. 15,000) towards EPS.
Lower salary, lower contribution: If your salary in the last few years was lower, the EPS contribution would also be lower. This can slightly reduce your final pension amount.
Calculating EPS pension can get complex, but here's a simplified idea:

Formula factors: Your pension considers your average monthly salary during a defined period, service duration, and a factor decided by the EPFO.
Lower average salary: If your average salary over the relevant period is lower due to recent pay cuts, the calculated pension might be slightly affected.
2. Interest on inactive EPF accounts:

Even inactive accounts (no contributions for over 3 years) earn interest. Here's how it works:

Interest accrual: You continue to earn interest on the existing EPF balance.
Interest rate: The interest rate is declared by the EPFO every year.
Age limit: There's no upper age limit for earning interest on your EPF balance.
Remember:

Reactivate accounts: If you rejoin a previous employer, reactivate your old EPF account to avoid creating a new one.
Claim process: You can claim your EPF and interest even after retirement.
Let a CFP help!

A Certified Financial Planner (CFP) can give you personalized advice on managing your EPF and planning for retirement. They can help you understand complex calculations and make informed decisions.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in