EPFO Pension: Will working abroad cause you to lose your EPS funds? Learn the new PF and pension rules.

Employee Pension Scheme: Working abroad does not negatively impact your EPS pension. Under EPFO ​​regulations and Social Security Agreements (SSAs), service rendered in certain countries can be counted towards EPS eligibility.

EPS Pension Rules: If you have worked in India for a few years—contributing to EPF and EPS—and subsequently moved abroad for work, you might be wondering how this affects your EPS pension. The good news is that moving from India to work abroad does not adversely affect your EPS status. However, it is important to understand the rules regarding EPFO ​​and India's Social Security Agreements (SSAs).

If your contributory EPS service in India is less than 10 years, service rendered in certain other countries can be added to meet the eligibility criteria. Let us look at the key rules regarding this in detail...

What are the rules for EPS pension?

To qualify for an EPS pension, a minimum of 10 years of contributory service is required.
This refers to the period during which regular contributions were made to your EPF and EPS accounts.
If the 10-year service requirement is not met in India, you may not be eligible for the pension in certain cases.

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How does overseas employment help?

This facility applies only to countries with which India has a Social Security Agreement (SSA).
This process is known as "Totalization."
For instance, if you worked for 7 years in India and 4 years in an SSA-compliant country, the total service period of 11 years can be considered to meet the eligibility criteria.
This can make you eligible for the EPS pension.

How is the pension amount determined?

Your EPS pension will be calculated based solely on the contributory service rendered in India.
For example, if you have 7 years of service in India and 4 years abroad, the pension amount will be calculated based only on the 7 years of Indian service. Service rendered abroad does not increase the pension amount.

Will the pension stop if one lives abroad?

If your EPS pension has already commenced, moving abroad to live or work will not affect it.
Whether you started an early pension at age 50 or a regular pension at age 58, you will continue to receive the pension in either case.
Thus, whether you reside in India or in any other country, your EPS pension will continue for your lifetime.