Can I Merge My Old PF Scheme Certificate with My Current Account to Avoid Two Accounts?

Dear Seniors,

I am from Chennai. My work experience is as follows:

1. I worked for a Chennai-based company for 12 years and 6 months.
2. Subsequently, I worked for an Ajmer-based company for 8 months.
3. After that, I rejoined the Chennai-based company where I have completed 5 years now.

Upon leaving the first Chennai company, I submitted the PF Claim form and received the settlement amount. A Scheme certificate was issued towards Pension, as far as I understand. I briefly worked in the Ajmer company, and my PF Claim from there was transferred to my current employer, which is again the same Chennai company I rejoined 5 years ago. The Chennai company then created a new account for me, and the Ajmer PF amount was credited to this new account.

Current Query: Merging Scheme Certificate with Current PF Account

My current query is whether the Scheme Certificate issued by the Chennai PF Authorities can be merged with my current PF Account. I prefer not to maintain two separate PF accounts, one with the old scheme certificate and the ongoing PF account, especially since both accounts belong to the same employer.

I would appreciate any advice on this matter. Thank you in advance.

Regards,
S. Mani, Chennai.

I only wish you hadn't withdrawn your PF and pension before 6 years. I hope you have been allotted the UAN number and that the formalities pertaining to your KYC verification and data accuracy of your account are complete. If not, you can do it online by logging into the EPF website using your UAN number.

Anyways, you have the scheme certificate since you had worked for more than 10 years earlier. This can be submitted to the current PFO along with Form 3A and Form 5 from the current employer with a request to merge the account. Ideally, you should personally go and contact the concerned PFO or APFO under whom your company falls. Submit an application with a photocopy of the scheme certificate and the other forms, requesting him to merge the old account (related to the scheme certificate) with the new one (with the UAN). It should not be difficult.

Regards,
Abhijit

Thank you, Mr. Abhijit, for your detailed response. Actually, I had withdrawn the PF amount from my current (and first employer). Only the EPS amount is pending, for which I believe a Scheme Certificate was issued. Yes, a UAN number was generated now by the current employer/EPO, and I had done online registration of it by confirming my details and mobile number. I will try to submit Forms 3A and 5 as suggested by you (duly attested by my employer) by personal visit.

Just out of curiosity, I would like to know whether these forms can be submitted online to EPO, Ambattur, Chennai (my area office), or can a request be made through the UAN website? I need to avail one full day leave for this task, hence this request. Hope you will not misunderstand.

Thanks and Regards,

S. Mani, Chennai [Phone Number Removed For Privacy Reasons]

PF Submission and Transfer Guidelines

You joined your current organization five years ago. The online ECR and challan generation came into existence effective from January 1, 2013, while the PF portability through the UAN number was implemented just three months ago. The facility for the transfer of PF has been made available through the online submission of requests. However, for all other submissions, we still do not have any intimation from the Central PFB. Hence, you need to submit all other forms in physical form until the PFO comes out with specific guidelines.

Forms 3A & 5 Submission

The forms 3A and 5 are to ascertain your continuity of employment after leaving your previous establishment and the contribution of PF for the specific period. Since your UAN is active, I think you will not have any issues getting your work done through the PF officials.

Regards,
Abhijit

Linking Pension Certificate Before UAN Implementation

I collected my pension certificate until 2012 before the implementation of UAN from Mumbai. From 2013 to 2017, I worked in a Kolkata-based company, which closed in 2017. Now, when I try to link the pension certificate online, the certificate collected is not appearing, and I am unable to link it. I am now settled in Chennai and have attained the pensionable age. Please advise on how to link the certificate collected before the UAN period and start my pension.

I have a Scheme Certificate from my old company until 2007 (pre-UAN/Aadhar era), which was provided only in 2010. From 2007 to 2014, I worked in another company that created a new EPF account (later linked to Aadhar & UAN). After leaving that employment to start my own business, I received an EPS refund for the period between 2007 and 2014. Now, I would like to link my Aadhar/UAN to the old Scheme Certificate. Please advise.