Should you opt for Higher Pension?
- What was the Supreme Court Ruling? Historically, EPS pension contributions were capped at a salary of ₹15,000 per month, meaning the max pension anyone could get was ₹7,500/mo. The ruling allowed employees to retroactively opt to contribute on their actual basic salary, unlocking much higher monthly pensions.
- The Catch (Loss of Lumpsum): Money does not appear out of thin air. If you opt for the higher pension, the EPFO will recalculate your historical contributions. A massive amount of money (with interest) will be forcefully transferred from your EPF account (which you can withdraw as a lumpsum) into the EPS account (which can never be withdrawn, only paid as a monthly pension).
- The Risk: EPS pensions are fixed and not indexed to inflation. ₹50,000/month sounds great today, but its purchasing power will be halved in 12 years. Also, upon your demise, your spouse only receives 50% of the pension, and after their demise, the children receive nothing (the capital is gone). If that money stayed in EPF, it could be invested in equity to beat inflation and passed down as an inheritance.