Correspondence with SAIL re EPS and SAIL Circular 040223

Please click on either of these two SAIL EPS 95 links:

http://223.31.174.136/epfo_sail/login.aspx,

http://10.139.0.30/epfo_sail/login.aspx

and proceed.

By e-mail

FORSE/SAIL-C/0323

03/02/2023

To

Ms Soma Mondal,

Chairperson,

Steel Authority of India Ltd,

Ispat Bhavan, Lodhi Road, 

New Delhi – 110 003.

Sub: Request to expedite submission of Joint option by all SAIL EPS 95 pensioners for Higher Pension.

Ref:  FORSE letter No. FORSE/SAIL-C/2322 dated Dec 30, 2022 & Jan 09, 2023 and No. FORSE/SAIL-C/0223 dated 01/02/2023 

Madam,

This is to bring to your kind information that in spite of our various communications, as given in the above references, on the subject issue, SAIL appears to be going slow in providing link with uploaded data for submission of joint option by all the SAIL EPS 95 Pensioners.

A good number of Exempted Establishment employers esp. the PSUs have circulated instructions alongwith appropriate Joint option Forms. Attached herewith in email page are the three circulars - from HMT, BHEL & LIC - for Joint option declaration by their respective EPS 95 pensioners. HMT & BHEL have fixed 10^th Feb 2023 for submission of declaration to their respective HR departments which will forward the same after scrutiny etc to EPFO by 20^th Feb 2023. LIC has fixed 15^th Feb 2023.

Silence of SAIL, on this score, is deafening to the old-aged pensioners as it is not clear when they will be allowed to submit options and when it will be scrutinized / verified by SAIL units. No doubt that this may cause further delay in their landing in EPFO offices in the last minute, causing tension to SAIL Pensioners.

In view of the time constraint, I request you to kindly advise the concerned SAIL personnel/ Nodal Officers to do the needful to expedite the submission of Joint option by all SAIL EPS 95 pensioners for Higher Pension.

With thanks and kind regards,

Yours faithfully,

For & on behalf of Federation of Retired SAIL Employees

(V.N.Sharma)  Chairman

(Ram Agar Singh)  General Secretary

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

 

By e-mail

FORSE/SAIL-C/0223

01/02/2023

To

Ms Soma Mondal,

Chairperson,

Steel Authority of India Ltd,

Ispat Bhavan, Lodhi Road, 

New Delhi – 110 003.

Sub: Request to allow all EPS 95 SAIL (1) pre-01/09/2014 EPS 95 & (2) post- 31/08/2014 Pensioners to submit Joint option for Higher Pension.

Madam,

This is to bring to your kind notice that when Govt/ EPFO provided opportunity to employees to submit joint option for full pension, SAIL/ SAIL Unit PF Trusts failed to inform and guide the employees and the pensioners to take the benefit of the amended scheme. This resulted in long time loss of full/ higher pension under EPS 95 to serving and retired employees of SAIL. It will also be interesting to note that our sister company RINL did a good publicity on this count, got the joint option submitted by large number of the Employees/ Pensioners which got ultimately rejected by EPFO Visakhapatnam. But today they are in a position to reap the benefits of the Supreme Court Order dated 04^th Nov 2022.

As a follow up of the above, we request you to kindly take this up with EPFO and, if need be, for a legal recourse in the Supreme Court to get the Supreme Court order dated 04^th Nov 2022 amended to remove cutoff date and permit all desirous pensioners to submit joint option. SAIL may formally/ informally take lead in this matter and take other CPSE Exempted Establishments along for success of this joint move.

We would also like to inform that a good number of CPSE Exempted Establishments viz. HPCL, KUDRAMUKH (KIOCL), STC, etc have allowed their post- 31/08/2014 EPS 95 pensioners to submit joint option. Madras High Court in its order dated 25/01/2023 (Copy of MHC order attached) has also ordered accordingly.

In view of the above we request you to kindly issue circular to all retirees covered under EPF Pension Scheme to exercise joint option prior to 03.03.2023 without waiting for EPFO in order to avoid any eleventh-hour rush and tension to senior citizens. 

With thanks and kind regards,

Yours faithfully,

For & on behalf of Federation of Retired SAIL Employees

(V.N.Sharma)  Chairman

(Ram Agar Singh)  General Secretary

 

Correspondence with SAIL re EPS 95

 

By e-mail: chairman.sail@sail.in

FORSE/SAIL-C/2322-1

Jan 09, 2023      

To

Ms. Soma Mondal,

Chairperson,

Steel Authority of India Ltd,

Ispat Bhavan, Lodhi Road, 

New Delhi – 110 003.

Sub: Request to provide detailed guidance to Retirees to process EPS 95 pension documents as per EPFO Circular dated 29/12/2022 (copy attached)

Ref: Our letter No. FORSE/SAIL-C/2322 dated 30/12/2023

Madam,

We understand that SAIL is waiting for further update from EPFO and also that it has requested all its units to retrieve the required data related to EPS 95 Pensioners to be in readiness. We appreciate the effort. However, it is important to mention that the process needs to be expedited as it is only 8 weeks’ time given to Pensioners for completing the formalities for depositing of joint option and the payment to RPFCs. That is, 23^rd Feb 2023 will be the last date.

In view of this, the process needs to be expedited. Therefore, we reiterate that “under the guidance of SAIL Corporate Office a core group should be formed and trained in each SAIL plant/ unit to guide both the Serving and Retired Employees to process the required joint option forms and documents etc.” FORSE and its Member Associations may be taken into confidence to provide necessary help, if and when required.

In the meantime, a few Circulars issued by PSUs and RPFC, Patancheru on the subject has come to our hand which are attached herewith and which may be helpful to concerned SAIL personnel in formulating the process/ guidelines.

With thanks and kind regards,

Yours faithfully,

For & on behalf of Federation of Retired SAIL Employees

(V.N.Sharma)  Chairman

(Ram Agar Singh)  General Secretary

Encl: Circulars from PSUs and RPFC

***********************

By e-mail: chairman.sail@sail.in

FORSE/SAIL-C/2322

Dec 30, 2022      

To

Ms. Soma Mondal,

Chairperson,

Steel Authority of India Ltd,

Ispat Bhavan, Lodhi Road, 

New Delhi – 110 003.

Sub: Request to provide detailed guidance to Retirees to process EPS 95 pension documents as per EPFO Circular dated 29/12/2022 (copy attached)

Madam,

We would like to draw your kind attention to the long awaited EPFO Circular for implementing the EPS 95 Pension Scheme as per Supreme Court Order dtd 04/11/2022. We have gone through it and many of both the Serving and Retired Employees find it difficult to process it to take advantage of the Order. As it stands, SAIL as the Employer is also to play active role in providing and authenticating documents etc. and respond to queries from RPFCs.

In view of the above, we suggest that under the guidance of SAIL Corporate Office a core group should be formed and trained in each SAIL plant/ unit to guide both the Serving and Retired Employees to process the required joint option forms and documents etc.

We request you to kindly accede to our above suggestion to help the Employees of all categories by providing the much-needed necessary help. FORSE and its Member Associations assure you that we will provide all support/ assistance to help for its success as and when called for.

With thanks and kind regards,

Yours faithfully,

For & on behalf of Federation of Retired SAIL Employees

(V.N.Sharma)  Chairman

(Ram Agar Singh)  General Secretary

Encl: EPFO Circular dtd 29/12/2022.

Request to grant de jure recognition to FORSE

 

Link for validation of joint options

 EPS 95 Link for Registration+ form for validation of joint options is: 

https://unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in/memberinterface/

Click on blinking NEW on the right side and proceed step by step as advised.
The process will be completed if the individual pensioner of pre 01/09/2014 fulfils the terms and conditions of Supreme Court Order dated 04/11/2022 and circulars of EPFO dated 29/12/2022 and corrigendum dated 04/01/2023 given below.

The last date for submission of the Joint Option is 03/03/2023

For better appreciation and understanding of the contents of the EPFO portal please go through the following.

Application Form for validation of Joint Options

[From the employees who had retired before 01.09.2014 and exercised joint option under Para 11(3) of EPS Scheme prior to

01.09.2014]

To be exercised by eligible members of EPS-1995 on or before 03rd March 2023 with reference to Para 44(ix) read with para 44(v) & 44(vi) of

order dated 4.11.2022 of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in SLP No. 8658-8659 of 2019

Disclaimer

I have gone through Supreme Court Judgement dated 04.11.2022 in SLP (c) No. 8658-8659 of

2019 and I am registering the application in terms of directions contained in the said judgement. I

undertake that the pension will be calculated subject to formula determined under the Scheme.

PPO Details

PPO Number

PPO Date

Name (As per PPO)

Gender

Date Of Birth

Father's/Spouse

Name

UAN N.A. Member ID

Date Of Exit EPS

EPFO Regional

Office by which PPO

was issued

Date of

superannuation /

retirement

 

Service Details

 

Member ID * DOJ FPS DOE FPS DOJ EPS DOE EPS

 

Joint Option Details

Date from which employer's contribution was received on wages exceeding

statutory wage ceiling of Rs.5000 in EPF prior to 01.06.2001 from the day

his salary exceeded Rs.5000? (applicable only if date of joining is prior to

01.06.2001) *

Whether Employer's contribution was received on wages exceeding statutory

wage ceiling of Rs.6500 in EPF prior to 01.09.2014 from the day his salary

exceeded Rs.6500? (applicable only if date of exit is on or after

01.06.2001) *

Yes

No

Date of filing joint option under the provision to Para 11(3) of EPS

Scheme? *

Please attach the copy of joint option form. (applicable only if date of filing

joint option is before 01.09.2014) * Only PDF file of size 250 KB is allowed.

Date of rejection of joint option by EPFO

 

Member Details

Email Id of Member *

Aadhaar Linked Bank

Account Number *

IFSC

Code *

 

Contribution Details

Whether member wants to use accumulation available in his / her PF account

for payment of due contribution for this option? *

Yes

No

Whether member is giving undertaking to deposit the contributions along

with interest due till date of payment through his last employer [only when

PF account has no / insufficient balance]? *

Yes

No

Other documentary evidence as per para 7(vi) of circular dated 29.12.2022

(Please upload all documents in a single PDF) Only PDF file of size 250 KB

is allowed.

 

Declaration

1. I hereby declare that I have read and understood the Supreme Court Judgement in SLP

(c) no.8658-8659 of 2019.of the Hon’ble Supreme Court and I am registering this

application in terms of the directions contained in the said judgement.

2. I understand and agree that as a member of the Employees’ Pension Scheme, my rights to

claim pension are limited to the scope of judgement and within the EPF & MP Act, 1952

and the Schemes framed thereunder.

3. I further understand that the central government is empowered to amend the scale of

benefits, commensurate with the contributions made, either prospectively or

retrospectively, on which the pension payable to me shall be computed.

4. I do hereby agree that the details of contribution and interest given by my employers are

essential for the computation of dues payable for this application, and this is the full and

final submission.

5. I hereby certify that the services details in the above form are correct and no material fact

has been mis-represented or hidden by me.

6. I hereby agree to pay due contribution in a single tranche as specified by EPFO, along

with interest at rates declared under Para 60 of EPF Scheme 1952 or at the rate declared

by the concerned trust of such establishment, from time to time, whichever is higher, if

any.

7. I hereby jointly apply along with my employer to pay full amount of contribution on

salary exceeding wage ceiling under erstwhile para 11(3) (since deleted) of EPS 95 along

with interest upto the last date of the month in which payment is made, in accordance

with the judgement dated 04.11.2022 of the Hon’ble Supreme Court through my last

employer within such period as directed by EPFO after validation of my application. If

the full amount payable is not deposited by my last employer within such period as

directed by EPFO after validation of my application, this application shall be treated as

Null and Void.

8. I undertake that all the facts are true. If the details submitted by me or my employer are

found to be incorrect at any point of time, this application shall be treated as Null and

Void.

9. I am aware that in case of false declaration and willful mis-representation, appropriate

penal action may be taken by EPFO against me.

Place *

I agree. SAVE AS DRAFT SUBMIT APPLICTION

Full text of SC Judgement on EPS 95

 Full text of SC Judgement on EPS 95 Pension case can be read in this link 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BNOisKQVORyoOh9gb9h6u7FTcbpkAJvr/view  

SAIL Mediclaim Policy 2022-23

Alternatively, please Click on the link to see SAIL Mediclaim Policy 2022-23 

https://tinyurl.com/medi2223

OBITUARY for Dr. V.Krishnamurthy

 

For de jure recognition and meeting on Mediclaim policy