Why Is My EPFO Pension Less Than Expected? Seeking Help After No Response from Chennai RPFC

I attained 58 years on March 31, 2019, and received a pension under EPS 95. My date of birth is March 21, 1961. I joined the service on November 5, 1987, and my retirement date was March 31, 2019. My past service before November 15, 1995, was 8 years, with no break in the contributory period. I have 23 years of pensionable service, including 2 bonus years, totaling 25 years.

Pension Calculation
According to the Excel sheet provided in this forum (the calculation is attached), my calculated pension amount is as follows: Pension for past service: Rs 519, Pension as per EPS 95: Rs 5054, Total pension: Rs 5573.

However, I have only received Rs 3370 from EPFO. I have written to the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner's Office in Chennai but have not received a reply yet. Can anyone explain why I am receiving a pension amount less than the calculated sum?

Regards, Parameswaran

Thank you very much, sir. I need the following calculation in an Excel sheet:

Higher Wages File Requirements

1. The Higher Wages file should be in text format only.
2. The file size should not exceed 2 MB. If the file size is greater than 2 MB, a single text file in ZIP format will be accepted.
3. Monthly Wage Details should be added only for months that fall under the period of service details declared by the member while opting for a pension on higher wages. The wage month should be between the Date of Joining EPS-95 and the Date of Exit EPS-95 or up to the previous wage month, as declared by the member.
4. Each line in the text file should contain details of a single month only.
5. The separator between fields should be #~# (Hash Tilda Hash).
6. In case a member has active service, wage details will be available until the previous month.
7. Column Number 4 should be 8.33% of Column 3, "Wages on which PF contribution was paid."
8. Column Number 5 should be 1.16% of the difference between EPF wages and 15,000, for wage months on or after September 2014. If the PF contribution paid (Column 3) is below 15,000, then the value should be 0 or will be ignored even if provided.
9. For wage months prior to September 2014, Column 5, "Pension Contribution from employee @ 1.16% due on such wages with effect from 01/09/2014," should be 0. Any entry given in this field will be ignored if the wage month is prior to September 2014.

Possible Reasons for Pension Discrepancy

Your pension discrepancy could arise from several factors. Here are a few possibilities to consider:

Wage Ceiling Applied

EPS 1995 uses a maximum pensionable salary of ₹15,000 (if no higher salary was opted for pension contribution). If your calculation used a higher pensionable salary, this could explain the difference.

Errors in Calculation

EPFO may have applied different service years, bonus years, or past service slabs. Double-check your service records and calculations with EPFO rules.

Past Service Pension Adjustment

Past service pension before 15.11.1995 is calculated separately and may vary based on specific service slabs for that period.

Incorrect Records

There could be discrepancies in the data EPFO holds, such as your contributions, service tenure, or wages.

Communication Gap

The EPFO office may not have updated your records correctly after retirement.

Suggested Actions

- File a Grievance Online: Use the EPFO grievance portal to escalate your issue (epfigms.gov.in).
- Request Calculation Details: Write to the Regional PF Commissioner requesting a detailed pension calculation for transparency.
- RTI Application: If no response is received, file an RTI application seeking clarification and calculation records.
- Legal Assistance: Consult a legal expert or union specializing in EPFO issues if you face prolonged delays.

Documentation and persistence are key to resolving such issues.

Regards, Yasmin Begum HR Advisor