Hey, what is PF and when it is to be dedcuted from the salary?

The Employees' Provident Fund, India
Location : 14, Bhikaiji Cama Place,
Bhavishya Nidhi Bhawan, New Delhi-110 066 India
e-mail : cpfc-epfo@nic.in

The Constitution of India under "Directive Principles of State Policy" provides that the State shall within the limits of its economic capacity make effective provision for securing the right to work, to education and to public assistance in cases of unemployment, old-age, sickness & disablement and undeserved want.The EPF & MP Act, 1952 was enacted by Parliament and came into force with effect from 14th March,1952. A series of legislative interventions were made in this direction, including the Employees' Provident Funds & Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952. Presently, the following three schemes are in operation under the Act:

1. Employees' Provident Fund Scheme, 1952
2. Employees' Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme, 1976
3. Employees' Pension Scheme, 1995 (replacing the Employees' Family Pension Scheme, 1971

The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation, India, is one of the largest provident fund institutions in the world in terms of
members and volume of financial transactions that it has been carrying on.

1) Who will be covered by the Pension Scheme?

Every member of the ceased Family Pension Scheme 1971 and anyone who joins any covered establishment on or after 16-11-95 is compulsorily to join this scheme, provided his/her salary/wage is less than Rs. 6500/- per month at the date of appointment.

2) What is a covered establishment?
Covered establishment is an establishment belonging to the class of industries / other establishments, which has been listed in the schedule appended to the Employees' Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1952 and where 20 or more persons are employed.

3) If employee was a Family Pension Scheme member. He/She has left on 13-12-93 and he/she is 54 years old. He/She has taken his withdrawal benefit. Can he/she join the new scheme?
Yes, by refunding withdrawal benefit together with interest. Thereafter, he/she will be entitled to receive pension from age 58, if he/she completes atleast 10 years of contributory service by then.

4) If employee is a Family Pension Scheme Member and he/she has retired after 58 years of age on 15-01-94. Can he/she join the new scheme?
Yes, anyone who has retired by reaching age 58 between 01-04-93 and 15-11-95 may join the scheme by returning the withdrawal benefit along with interest. He will be paid pension with immediate effect, from date of exit provided he has rendered 10 years of contributory service.

5) If employee is not a Family Pension Scheme member and he/she is 56 years of age, Can he/she join Family Pension?
Yes, by diverting from his/her Provident Fund balance, Family Pension Scheme contribution from date of his/her joining or 01-03-71, whichever is later.

6) Whether the Family Pension Scheme member who has attended the age of 58 years before 01-04-93 and has left employment after 01-04-93 will be admitted to the scheme as member of Family Pension Scheme, 1971?
Yes, he will be deemed to have retired after 01-04-93. On repayment of that withdrawal benefit which was paid, Pension will be paid from same date, provided he has rendered 10 years of contributory service.

7) In case Family Pension member has attained the age of 58 years between 01-04-93 and 16-11-95 then in that case whether arrears of monthly Member Pension become payable for the period earlier than 16-11-95 i.e. from the date of his/her attaining the age of 58 years which is prior to 16-11-95?
No, he/she will be deemed to have retired from 16-11-95 and pension paid accordingly.

8) Is employee the only beneficiary of Fund?
Benefit will be paid to him/her and in his/her absence to his/her family.

9) What is meant by Family?
Family means employees' spouse and children below 25 years of age.

10) Suppose an employee does not have a Family and he/she dies before receiving benefit. Does his/her pension get lost?
No, if he/she does not have a family, benefits will be paid to his/her nominee, who will receive the benefit in his/her absence.

11) Suppose member has not nominated anyone.
The pension / ROC will be paid to the dependent parents.

12) Can member change his/her nomination?
He/She can change his/her nomination whenever he/she decides within the framework of rules for such nomination. In other words if he/she has a family, nomination should be in favour of a member(s) of the family. If he/she has no family he/she can nominate anyone he/she wishes.

13) How many years service is required to be eligible to receive member pension?
Minimum 10 years eligible service will entitle for member pension.

14) Employee is a member of Employees' Pension Scheme. He/She has left employment at 48 yrs. of age and 8 yrs. of service. When shall he/she receive his/her pension?
He/She can take either withdrawal benefit or can take scheme certificate so that the 8 years service can be added to any future service that he / she may put in, in any other covered establishment. By virtue of being a holder of a scheme certificate, if the member dies before 58 years widow / widower and children shall be entitled for pension.

15) What is past service pension?
This pension is for the period of membership of the Employees' Family Pension Scheme, 1971.

16) When does an employee become eligible to become a member of Employees' Provident Fund Scheme, 1952 and Employees' Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme, 1976?

An employee becomes a member of Employees Provident Fund (Employees' Provident Fund) Scheme, 1952 / Employees Deposit Linked Insurance (Employees' Deposit Linked Insurance) Scheme, 1976 immediately on joining an establishment covered under the Employees Provident Funds & Miscellaneous Provision Act, 1952.

17) What is nomination?
Every member has to give the details of himself & details of the nominee for Employees' Provident Fund & Employees' Deposit Linked Insurance Schemes and details of family for Employees Pension Scheme, 1995 in form no. 2.

A member if, is having a family can nominate any one or more persons to receive the Provident Fund on his death. In case of him having no family he can nominate any other person.

Family for the purpose of Employee Provident Fund Scheme'52 means wife/husband, children, whether married or unmarried, including adopted children, if adoption is recognized and dependant parents of member.

Employees Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme benefit will be paid to the nominee under Employees Provident Fund Scheme, 1952.

For the purpose of Employees Pension Scheme,1995 the member has to furnish the details, such as name, relationship & age of all the family members in the form no. 2. Family for the purpose of Employees Pension Scheme, 1995 means wife/husband & children. Whenever member wants to make a change in the nomination already made for Provident Fund, or to update the details of family for Employees Pension Scheme,1995, he has to send a revised form no. 2. The form no.2 is routed through the employer.

http://epfindia.nic.in/

All the best:)