Employees' Pension Scheme: Check Eligibility, Documents Required, Application Process

01^st Dec 2025...

Published By : Team 811

Latest Updates

The Ministry of Finance has sent a reminder to qualified Central Government employees and National Pension System (NPS) subscribers that they have until November 30, 2025, to choose the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS). The notice for UPS came out on January 24, 2025, earlier this year.

Key Takeaways

The Employees’ Pension Scheme provides lifelong monthly pension support for employees after retirement, disability, or to their families in case of death.
Eligibility requires EPF membership, a salary within the notified limit, and at least 10 years of pensionable service.
Pension claims can be submitted online or offline through EPFO, with transparent tracking and multiple family protection benefits included.

News Alert | Govt: Amends the Employees Pension Scheme (EPS) 1995; details

@AkshitMaheshw20

https://x.com/AkshitMaheshw20/status/1806737461978026267?s=20

What is the Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS)?

The Government of India started the "Employees' Pension Scheme" on November 16, 1995. It is a social security program that is run under the Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952. The plan makes sure that employees and their families will be financially secure once they retire, become disabled, or pass away.

Some of the main perks are the superannuation pension, the early pension, and the family pension. Employees who qualify must be members of the Employees' Provident Fund Scheme, 1952, and their monthly remuneration must not be more than ₹15,000. The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) runs the program. You can apply for this program online or in person at EPFO portals and regional offices.

Who Benefits from the Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS)

The primary beneficiaries of the employee pension scheme are the government employees who have retired, or are about to do so. But the secondary beneficiaries are also the spouse of the government employee in case the primary beneficiary passes away. The list of all beneficiaries is:

Retired Employees
Early Retirees
Family members
Disabled Employees

Features & Benefits of Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS)

Here are some of the benefits of the Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS):

You can get your superannuation pension when you turn 58 and have worked for at least 10 years. It is calculated as (Pensionable Salary × Pensionable Service) / 70.
You can get it between the ages of 50 and 58 if you have 10 years of service. It goes down by 4% for each year before 58.
The monthly member's pension is equal to (Pensionable Salary × Pensionable Service) / 70.
₹1,000 a month (after any deductions that apply).
The widow's pension is either half of the member's pension or ₹450 per month, whichever is higher.
25% of the widow's pension for each child, up to two children.
If there is no surviving spouse, the pension is 75% of the widow's pension for up to two orphans.
Members who become disabled while on duty get at least ₹250 a month.
This is paid to anyone who leaves the military before completing 10 years.

At Kotak, we believe that retirees have the right to enjoy their life, which is why we have 811 Zero Balance Bank accounts, so they don’t burden themselves with the thought of maintaining a minimum bank account balance, and spend their pension as they wish.

Eligibility Criteria

So, what are the eligibility criteria for the Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS)? Well,it varies based on category.

Category	Who Can Apply / What’s Needed
Basic Eligibility	You should be part of the EPF Scheme, 1952 (or an exempted establishment), earn up to ₹15,000 per month unless contributing the extra 1.16%, have at least 10 years of service, and made EPS contributions.
Superannuation Pension	Available if you are 58 or older and have completed at least 10 years of eligible service.
Early Pension	Can be claimed if you have 10+ years of service and choose to retire between 50 and 58 years of age.
Family Pension	Spouses or children of a deceased EPF member must show proof of relationship and the member’s death, and the member should have contributed for at least one month.
After Selection / Next Steps	Submit all required documents and follow EPFO rules to receive your pension smoothly.

Disbursement Conditions

There are some conditions for the disbursement of the Pension, which are as follows:

Pension payments start the day after the person retires, becomes disabled, or dies.
For each year the age is less than 58, the early pension goes down by 4%.
The deferred pension goes up by 4% for each year after 58, up to 60 years.
The family pension stops when the widow gets married again or dies.

Required Documents

These documents are required for the application to the scheme:

Identity Proof (Aadhaar/Passport/Voter ID)
Bank Account Details (Cancelled cheque/passbook copy)
Proof of Date of Birth (Birth certificate/School leaving certificate)
Death Certificate (for family pension)
relationship proof (for family pension)
Disability Certificate, from EPFO-approved doctors (for disablement pension)
Service Proof (EPF passbook/employment records)

How to Apply for EPS (Step-by-Step)

Below is the step-by-step guide for registering and applying to the employee pension scheme:

Registration

Go to the EPFO Unified Portal.
Click "For Employees" and then "Member UAN/Online Services (OCS/OTCP)."
Type in your UAN, cellphone number, and CAPTCHA code.
Click "Request OTP."
Type in the OTP that was sent to your registered phone and click "Validate OTP."
Make a password that is 8 to 12 characters long and has at least one uppercase letter, one number, and one special character.
Choose "KYC" under "Manage" and submit your Aadhaar, PAN, and bank details.
After verification (which takes 3–5 business days), the KYC status will say "Approved."

Application

Visit the EPFO Unified Portal. Click "Member e-Sewa" and type in your UAN, password, and CAPTCHA. Click "Log In."
You will go to the member dashboard.
Choose "Pension on Superannuation/Retirement (Form 10D)" from the "Online Services" menu.
The form to apply for a pension will open.
Fill out all of the required fields. To look over entries, click "Save & Preview."
Upload scanned copies (PDF, JPEG, or PNG; no more than 2MB each).
To continue with OTP verification, click "Submit."
Enter the one-time password (OTP) that was provided to your registered email and phone number.
Press "Validate OTP & Submit."
You will see a success message with a number to confirm it.
Keep the acknowledgement number and a screenshot of the submission confirmation for later.How to Check Application Status

There are two ways you can check the application status:

Method 1: Go to the EPFO Portal and click on "Track Claim Status." You will need your UAN and acknowledgement number.

Method 2: Send the text "EPFOHO <UAN> ENG" to 7738299899.

Benefit Disbursal

You receive the pension directly in your bank account every month after all the due processes are taken care of.

Conclusion

The EPS is a step ahead in providing a pension to retirees. EPS helps employees and their families get long-term financial stability and peace of mind by making it easy to apply online and having straightforward qualifying requirements.

FAQs

1. Who is eligible to apply for the Employees’ Pension Scheme?

Any employee who is a member of the Employees’ Provident Fund Scheme, 1952, with a monthly pay of up to ₹15,000 and at least 10 years of eligible service.

2. How can I track the status of my pension application?

You can track it online via the EPFO portal using your UAN and acknowledgement number, or by sending an SMS “EPFOHO <UAN> ENG” to 7738299899.

3. What documents are needed to apply for a family pension?

You need identity proof, bank account details, the death certificate of the member, and relationship proof (spouse/child).

4. How can I check the status of my EPS pension claim online?

You can check your EPS pension claim status online via the EPFO portal using your UAN and acknowledgement number.

5. Can international workers avail benefits under the EPS?

Yes, international workers are eligible for EPS benefits under specific social security agreements.

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This Article is for information purposes only. The views expressed in this Article do not necessarily constitute the views of Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd. (“Bank”) or its employees. Bank makes no warranty of any kind with respect to the completeness or accuracy of the material and articles contained in this Newsletter. The information contained in this Article is sourced from empanelled external experts for the benefit of the customers and it does not constitute legal advice from Kotak. Kotak, its directors, employees, and contributors shall not be responsible or liable for any damage or loss resulting from or arising due to reliance on or use of any information contained herein.