Ministry of Labour & Employment

EPFO facilitates multiple options for submission of Digital Life Certificate by EPS pensioners

16 NOV 2020

All pensioners of Employees Pension Scheme 1995 (EPS’95) are required to submit Jeevan Pramaan Patra (JPP) / Digital Life certificate (DLC) each year to continue drawing pension . In the current scenario of COVID-19 pandemic, the Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) has facilitated multiple options for EPS pensioners to submit their DLC, close to their home or at their door step. JPP submitted through all these modes/agencies are equally valid.

In addition to the 135 regional offices and 117 district offices of EPFO, EPS pensioners can now submit DLC at pension disbursing bank branch and nearest post offices. DLC can also be submitted at nation-wide network of over 3.65 lakh Common Services Centers (CSC). Apart from this, EPS pensioners can also submit DLC using the UMANG app.

Recently, India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) has launched the doorstep Digital Life Certificate (DLC) service for pensioners. EPS pensioners can now submit online request for availing doorstep DLC service on payment of a nominal fee. A postman from the nearest Post Office will visit a pensioner and complete the process of generating DLC at the home of the pensioner only.

As per fresh guidelines, EPS pensioners can now submit DLC at any time during the year, as per their convenience. The life certificate will remain valid for one year from date of submission of DLC. The pensioners who have been issued Pension Payment Order (PPO) in 2020 need not upload JPP till completion of one year.  Earlier, all EPS pensioners were required to submit the DLC in the month of November. This resulted in difficulties faced by pensioners due to long queues and generated rush for submission of Digital Life Certificate. This pro-pensioner step has been taken to provide hassle free social security cover to EPS pensioners.

Central Government pensioners need not visit office of Pension department or pension disbursing agency for submission of Life Certificate

Senior citizens are at a higher risk for severe illness from Corona virus. During this difficult time of Covid-19 pandemic, EPFO stands with its pensioners by ensuring timely release of pension and bringing services at their doorstep. These initiatives will benefit approximately 67 lakh EPS pensioners out of which about 21 lakh are widow/widower, children and orphan pensioners.

PIB

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Digital Pramaan Patra

Ministry of Labour & Employment

EPFO to allow EPS pensioners to submit their Digital Pramaan Patra at any time during the year as per their convenience

Goa EPFO to collect life certificate from home for bedridden pensioners

06 NOV 2020
Goa, 6 November 2020

In the present scenario of COVID-19 Pandemic, Employees Provident Fund Organization desires that all the Pensioners should stay safe and stay at home in the prevailing Pandemic situation. Therefore, EPFO has proactively partnered with Common Service Centre( CSC) to provide facilities to submit Digital Jeevan Pramaan Patra. Further Post offices have also started collection of Digital Jeevan Pramaan. A multi- agency model adopted by EPFO empowers EPS pensioners with choice and autonomy to select the service delivery agency as per their convenience.

In this regard, a key policy change has been brought by EPFO to allow EPS pensioners to submit their Digital Pramaan Patra at any time during the year as per their convenience and not just during the months of November & December. The Life Certificate will remain valid for One year from the date of submission. For example, The Digital Life Certificate submitted in November/ December 2019 is valid for release of monthly pension for one year i.e up to November / December 2020, respectively. This pro -pensioner step has been taken to provide hassle free Social Security cover to EPS pensioners.

EPS Pensioners are hereby requested to avoid visiting PF Offices and instead submit Aadhar based Biometric Digital Life Certificate for Jeevan Pramaan Patra at respective Bank branches, nearest Post Offices or at Common Service Centers, for details about nearest Common Service Centre use link https://locator.esecloud.in. Pensioners only need to carry their mobile, Bank pass book, Pension Payment Order number and Aadhar number. They can also avail this service by contacting their local Postman/ Nearest Post Office. There are 254 post offices and 100 Common Service centers all over Goa providing services of Jeevan Praman Patra.

For bed ridden pensioners or those suffering for infirmity, Goa Office shall make arrangement to collect Life Certificate from their home for availing such facility, Pensioner/his her family members should send a request through email at ro.goa@epfindia gov.in with complete details.

Therefore, EPFO strongly advises the pensioners to visit their Pension disbursing Banks, nearest Post Offices, Common Service Centers to submit the Digital Life Certificate/ Jeevan Pramaan Patra, in this COVID-19 Pandemic situation in order to stay safe.

Source: PIB

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11 JUN 2020

In recognition of need to bring service delivery closer to the door steps of EPS pensioners, especially during the challenging times of COVID-19 Pandemic, EPFO has proactively partnered with Common Service Centre (CSC) to provide facility to submit Digital Jeevan Pramaan. By leveraging the last mile network of over 3.65 lakh Common Services Centers, EPFO provides its 65 lakh pensioners facility to submit Digital Jeevan Pramaan closer to their residence. EPS pensioners are required to submit Jeevan Pramaan /Life certificate each year to continue to draw pension.

In addition to CSC centers, EPS pensioners can also submit Jeevan Pramaan through 135 regional offices and 117 district offices and pension disbursing banks. A multi agency model adopted by EPFO empowers EPS pensioners with choice and autonomy to select the service delivery agency as per their convenience.

A key policy change has been to allow EPS pensioners to submit Digital Jeevan Pramaan at any time during the year as per their convenience. The life certificate will remain valid for one year from date of submission. Earlier, the pensioners were required to submit the Jeevan Pramaan in the month of November. This resulted in difficulties faced by pensioners and generated large number of grievances on account of stoppage of pension. Also, in case of belated submission of Life Certificate it remained valid only for a few months up to November. This pro pensioner step has been taken to provide hassle free social security cover to EPS pensioners.

EPFO is committed to facilitate financial independence of its 65 lakh EPS pensioners by ensuring timely disbursement of pension especially during the times of crisis.

PIB

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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 1501
ANSWERED ON: 01.07.2019

EPS Pensioners of 1995

1501.SHRI Ramdas Chandrabhanji Tadas:
SHRI Prataprao Jadhav:

Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state:-

(a)whether the Government proposes to revise the pension laws implemented in the year 1995;

(b)whether the Government is accepting the recommendations made in the report submitted by Bhagat Singh Koshyari Committee in this regard and if so, the details thereof;

(c)whether the Government has taken or proposes to take any steps to provide atleast 7500/- rupees basic pension and dearness allowance thereon to the EPS pensioners of the year 1995 besides providing free of cost health facilities to the pensioners and their families;

(d)whether the Government has also received representatives from the EPS pensioners of the year 1995 regarding their collective demand;

(e)if so, the details thereof; and
(f)the action taken or to be taken by the Government in this regard?

ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

(a): Amendment of the Employees’ Pension Scheme is a continuous process and is done as and when necessitated in consultation with stakeholders.

(b): Due to financial constraints in increase in Government share under Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS), 1995 and to maintain sustainability of the Employees’ Pension Fund, the recommendations of the Koshiyari Committee have not been accepted. However, the Government has started providing a minimum pension of Rs. 1000/- per month to the pensioners under EPS, 1995 from 01.09.2014.

(c): A pilot scheme to extend medical benefits to Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS) 1995 pensioners drawing minimum pension upto Rs. 1000/- per month under EPS, 1995 and residing in Delhi has been drafted. The Scheme would be optional to those pensioners who give their willingness for deduction of Rs.100/- per month from and out of their pension disbursed on monthly basis.

(d) to (f): Representations are received from individual EPS, 1995 pensioners as well as pensioners associations raising various demands like:

(i) To increase the minimum pension to Rs. 2000/ Rs. 3000/Rs. 7500 per month.
(ii) To link the monthly pension with cost of living index.
(iii) Restoration of commuted value of pension.
(iv) Re-introduction of the provision of commutation of pension.
(v) Restoration of the provision of Return of Capital.
(vi) Reduction in the period for calculation of monthly average pensionable salary from 60 months to 12 months.
(vii) Payment of pension on Higher Wages to employees of exempted establishments.

Various representations received were placed before the High Empowered Monitoring Committee constituted by the Government of India for complete evaluation and review of EPS 1995. The committee has submitted its report on 21.12.2018 to the Government.

Source: Loksabha

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All-India EPS-95 Pensioners Sangharsh Samiti will take out a march from the Jantar Mantar to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in Delhi on February 27 for the minimum monthly pension of Rs 7500 under the scheme.

EPS-95 pensioners from all over the country have been agitating on the issue of raising their pension since the last three years, but the Centre has done nothing except giving hollow assurances, a statement said Friday.

“As per a Supreme Court order, EPS pensioners should be given a higher pension. At present they are getting the pension in range of Rs 200 to Rs 2500 per month, which is meagre in view of rising inflation,” the Sangharsh Samiti’s Bhopal coordinator R A Dharkar stated.

He said the pension amount should be raised to minimum Rs 7500 per month apart from the DA (Dearness Allowance).

“A rally will be taken out on February 27 from Jantar Mantar to the office of the Prime Minister for our demands,” the release stated.

The Samiti also seeks better medical facilities to the EPS-95 pensioners and their spouses. It also wanted that those retired employees who are not part of the scheme be brought under its ambit.

Dharkar claimed the Central government had only given hollow assurances to pensioners.

EPS or Employee Pension Scheme, which was brought into force in the year of 1995, is a guaranteed pension plan supported by the government, wherein the stipulated amount will be remitted to the employee upon retirement, without any changes to the same.

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In 2015-16, EPFO disbursed approximately Rs. 47,630 crore as member benefits and Rs. 8,200 crore as monthly pensions.

To monitor the status of enrolment of contractual employees especially in municipalities, EPFO has taken steps towards putting in place a system where principal employers including government bodies who enroll workers directly or through contractors can view details of contractors including the amount paid towards PF dues on real time basis. Now, EPFO will be in a position to compare the PF dues reimbursed to contractors and the PF dues actually remitted by contractors. Mismatch in the amounts would indicate possible specific evasion that can be followed up towards seeking compliance. A facility already exists in public domain wherein all principal employers can check the amounts remitted by contactors’ establishments. Any person through this report can also check if her / his name appears in the list of employees submitted by contractor to EPFO on a monthly basis. EPFO is also in the process of digitizing compliance reporting system. It is expected that reporting in Compliance area shall be online and real time by the second quarter of this financial year.

The process of seeding EPS pensioners’ data with Aadhaar is underway in EPFO. While seeding the data, it has been noticed that in certain cases there is data mismatch between EPF data and Aadhaar data in respect of date of birth and name of pensioner. To rectify it, pensioners / members are being advised to correct either their details provided to EPFO offices or to correct the details given in Aadhaar, whichever is correct.

It is also seen that a number of online transfer applications by members are pending with the employers for attestation and verification of member details by the employers Field offices of EPFO have been directed to take up the matter with employers to clear this on priority.

On the occasion of International Labour Day, EPFO launched a special mission consolidation drive “One –Employee-One – EPF Account”. The drive is to consolidate multiple accounts of members so that they are able to access variety of IT enabled services such as e-mail / SMS alerts, access to e-passbook at their leisure. Shri Bandaru Dattatreya, Union Minister of State for Labour & Employment (Independent Charge) while presiding over the function marking International Labour Day stated that this drive would result in EPF members having lifelong one EPF account and multiple conveniences. The Universal Account Number (UAN) that is Aadhaar seeded will consolidate multiple past service accounts, across various spells of employment of an EPF member.

The month of April also saw withdrawal of notification dated 10th February 2016 on amendment in Paragraph 68 NN, 68-O and 69 and insertion of new Para 68 –NNNN in the EPF Scheme, 1952. The interest rate of 8.8% to be credited to members’ accounts for the financial year 2015-16 was also finalized by the Government as recommended by the Central Board of Trustees, EPF.

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Press Information Bureau,
Government of India
Ministry of Labour & Employment

12-May, 2015

EPS pensioners assured of minimum pension of Rs. 1000 per month

EPFO settles 11.77 lakh claims in April 2015: 77% of EPF claims settled within 10 days.

The Employees Provident Fund Organisation(EPFO) has settled 11.77 lakh claims were settled in the month of April itself. This fact emerged while reviewing the performance of EPFO in the first month of the new financial year 2015-16. According to Shri K.K. Jalan, CPFC showing an improvement in the time taken for settlement, 48% of the claims were settled within 03 days and 77% were settled within 10 days. More than 15 crore annual accounts were updated in the first two working days of the financial year which is a historical first and this was made possible by the adoption of new updated software by the organization.

A decision was also taken regarding continuation of minimum pension of Rs 1000 to the pensioners of EPS, 1995 on a perpetual basis. This move is expected to benefit more than 19 lakh pensioners who would otherwise draw less than Rs. 1000 as pension under EPS, 1995.

Grievance redressal continued to be given top most priority. More than 14,000 grievances were settled in the month of April leaving a balance of 3,354 grievances pending. Of these more than three-fourths were pending for less than 15 days. As grievance monitoring is being done at the highest level in the government under PRAGATI programme, comprehensive guidelines were also issued to further minimize the number of pending grievances.

A conference of the ten Zonal Addl. CPFCs also took place in last month. Several important decisions directly affecting the working of the organization were taken. Top priority is to be accorded to activation of UAN and also to activate e-life certificate, “Jeevan Praman Patra” for EPS pensioners.Use of e-governance tools has to be adopted in all functional areas including compliance management. This would help the organization in better monitoring and also foster a conducive compliance environment It was also decided to initiate efforts for making the members’ passbook on the portal, available in vernacular languages also, for the benefit and convenience of the PF subscribers.

***

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