Centralized Pension Payment System

About Centralized Pension Payment System:

• It provides a national-level centralized system allowing pension payouts through any bank or branch in India.
• This replaces the current decentralized pension disbursement system, where each EPFO Zonal/Regional Office maintains individual arrangements with just three to four banks.
• Who is eligible for pension?
  • Individuals have to fulfil the following criteria to be eligible for availing benefits under the Employees' Pension Scheme (EPS).
  • Should be a member of EPFO
  • Should have completed 10 years of service
  • Has reached the age of 58
• They can also withdraw the EPS at a reduced rate from the age of 50 years, and can also defer the pension for two years (up to 60 years of age) after which they will get a pension at an additional rate of 4% for each year.
• This facility will be launched as part of EPFO’s ongoing IT modernization project Centralized IT Enabled System (CITES 2.01) from 1st January 2025.
• Benefits: The CPPS would also ensure disbursement of pension throughout India without any need for transfer of Pension Payment Orders (PPO) from one office to another even when the Pensioner moves from one location to another or changes his bank or branch.
• It is estimated to benefit more than 78 lakh EPFO EPS pensioners, and will particularly benefit retirees who relocate to their hometown after retirement.

Q1: What is the PFRDA (Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority)?

The Pension Fund Regulatory & Development Authority Act was passed on 19th September, 2013 and the same was notified on 1st February, 2014. PFRDA regulates NPS, subscribed by employees of Govt. of India, State Governments and by employees of private institutions/organizations & unorganized sectors. 

Source: EPS Pensioners to get pension from any bank, any branch, anywhere in India from 1st January 2025: Dr. Mandaviya