As the EPFO has announced recruitment for 2674 social security assistants, you must be wondering about What is EPFO SSA? and how to prepare for EPFO SSA? The EPFO (Employees' Provident Fund Organization) is the country’s largest social security organization, operating under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India. Established in 1951, the organization is responsible for administering the provident fund, pension, and insurance schemes for employees across the country. The EPFO ensures social security for workers and helps them save for their retirement.

EPFO SSA Exam 2023 Overview

Before beginning your EPFO SSA Preparation, you need to understand this position and the structure of the exam. EPFO SSA or EPFO Social Security Assistant (SSA) position serves as an entry-level role in the organization and presents a golden opportunity for aspirants seeking to join a prestigious position in the central government. The Social Security Assistants at EPFO play a vital role in ensuring the smooth functioning of the EPFO's regional offices and maintaining harmonious relationships with all stakeholders.
Name of Recruitment EPFO SSA
Exam conducting Authority Employees’ Provident Fund Organization
Name of the post Social Security Assistant (Group C)
Vacancies 2674
Mode of Application Online
Mode of exam CBT
Selection procedure Stage- I: Computer-Based Examination
Stage II: Computer Typing Test
Official website https://www.epfindia.gov.in/

 

Role and Responsibilities of EPFO SSA

The job profile of an EPFO SSA is quite similar to that of a bank clerk and involves a significant amount of public dealing & paperwork. It requires strong communication and interpersonal skills as you will be regularly interacting with EPF members and employers.
 
Here are the key responsibilities of an EPFO SSA:

• As an EPFO SSA, your main job is to handle various tasks related to the administration of the EPF scheme. This includes processing EPF claims and settlements and reviewing and verifying the documents submitted by EPF members to ensure that they meet the requirements for withdrawals or transfers.

• You will also be responsible for addressing customer queries and complaints related to EPF and guiding them through the process of accessing their EPF benefits.

• Maintaining accurate records and data related to EPF accounts is another important aspect of the job. This includes updating member details, tracking contributions made by employers, and ensuring that the information is properly recorded and organized.

• You will assist in the verification of EPF contributions made by employers by cross-checking the contribution amounts declared by employers.

• Lastly, you will play a role in the administration of pension schemes, which may involve assisting in the calculation and disbursement of pension benefits to eligible individuals.


Overall, the job of an SSA at EPFO is focused on providing efficient and effective support in managing EPF accounts, addressing member concerns, and ensuring the smooth functioning of the EPF scheme.

EPFO SSA Recruitment Process

The last recruitment of the EPFO SSA Exam was conducted in 2019 in three phases – Prelims, Mains, and skill tests. The prelims was the qualifying round and the marks scored in mains were considered to prepare the final merit. However, this year only one round, phase -I or prelims so your EPFO SSA Preparation should be mainly focused on the prelims.
 
This year, the recruitment of Social Security Assistants at EPFO would be done through a two-tiered process:

1. Phase-I Examination (Computer-Based Exam - 600 Marks)
2. Phase II-Computer Skill Test (Computer Data Entry Test)
 

EPFO SSA Phase-I (Computer-Based Exam)

Before attempting the exam, you should understand the structure of the EPFO SSA exam. You should note that:
 
• The marks obtained in Phase–I will be considered for final selection on merit.
 
• There will be a negative marking of one-fourth of the mark assigned to that question for every wrong attempt

• The candidates will be shortlisted for Phase-II in the ratio of 1:10 for the next round.
Name of the Test (Objective Tests) Number of Question Maximum Marks Duration
General Aptitude 30 120 2 hours and 30 minutes (150 Minutes)
General Knowledge/ General Awareness 30 120
Quantitative Ability 30 120
General English with *Comprehension 50 200
Computer Literacy 10 40
Total 150 600

 

EPFO SSA Phase II-Computer Skill Test (Computer Data Entry Test)
 

• Candidates who successfully qualify the phase-I (in a ratio of 1:10) will be called to appear for the Skill Test to assess speed and accuracy for Data Entry Work.

• A typing speed of 35 words per minute in English or 30 words per minute in Hindi on a computer. (35 words per minute and 30 words per minute correspond to 10500 Key Depression Per Hour (KDPH) / 9000 KDPH on an average of 5 key depressions for each word for Data Entry Work.
 
• EPFO SSA Computer Skill Test will be qualifying in nature. Marks obtained in this phase will not be reckoned for merit ranking.
 

Eligibility Criteria for EPFO SSA


Before applying for the post of EPFO SSA, you must check the basic eligibility criteria including educational qualifications, age limit, nationality, and other specific requirements for this post so that you can determine whether you meet the requirements for the job & avoid wasting your valuable time and efforts in EPFO SSA Preparation.
 

Age Limit:

To apply for the post of Social Security Assistant at Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO), a candidate should be between 18 to 27 years as of the Closing Date of the Online Application. However, there is a relaxation of 5 years for SC/ST & 3 years for OBC candidates.
 

Education Qualifications:


To apply for the post of EPFO SSA, here are the essential education qualifications:

• A candidate must possess a Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized university as of the closing date for online registration of application.

• A typing speed of 35 words per minute in English or 30 words per minute in Hindi on a computer. (35 words per minute and 30 words per minute correspond to 10500 Key Depression per Hour (KDPH) / 9000 KDPH on an average of 5 key depressions for each word for Data Entry Work.
 

Nationality / Citizenship:

 
A candidate must be either –

1. A Citizen of India or
2. A subject of Nepal or
3. A subject of Bhutan or
4. A Tibetan Refugee who came over to India before 1st January 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India or
5. A  person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania (formerly Tanganyika and Zanzibar), Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, and Vietnam intending to permanently settle in India, provided that a candidate belonging to categories (ii), (iii), (iv) & (v) above shall be a person in whose favour a certificate of eligibility has been issued by the Government of India.
 

EPFO SSA Salary and Benefits


The Social Security Assistants at EPFO shall be eligible to receive Level-5 (Rs.29, 200-92,300) in the Pay Matrix. In addition to the basic pay, an SSA is also entitled to various allowances, such as:

• Dearness Allowance (DA)
• Housing Rent Allowance (HRA) (for x city 24%, for y city 16%, for z city 8%)
• Fixed medical allowance for non-CGHS city (2000 per month)
• Transport allowance
• Education Allowance
• Leave Travel Concession (LTC)
• Uniform Allowance, etc

After combining all the allowances, the gross salary for EPFO SSA would be around 50,000, and in hand salary would be around 46,000 for a month.

EPFO SSA Career Growth

As an EPFO SSA, you can expect good career growth and ample opportunities for advancement within the organization. The Employees' Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) offers a structured career progression path, allowing you to climb the ladder and take on higher responsibilities.



If you join as an EPFO SSA, you have the potential to progress and achieve higher positions within the organization. One of the highest positions you can aspire to is that of Regional PF Commissioner-I (Regional Provident Fund Commissioner-I).

How to prepare for EPFO SSA Exam?

The structure of the EPFO SSA (Social Security Assistant) exam differs from regular bank exams. In bank exams, there are usually two computer-based exams: prelims and mains, with 100 and 200 marks respectively. However, in the EPFO SSA exam, there is only one test, which carries a total of 600 marks. Therefore, your EPFO SSA Preparation requires a different strategy.

Practice Mock Tests and Previous Years' Papers

To begin your EPFO SSA Preparation, it is always beneficial to go through the previous year's papers for the EPFO SSA exam as this will give you an understanding of the exam's structure and the level of difficulty you can expect. Once you are familiar with the exam pattern, attempting EPFO mock tests becomes crucial. By practicing with EPFO SSA mock tests based on the latest pattern, you can gain valuable insights into the types of questions asked in the EPFO SSA Exam, the time management techniques required, and the overall exam strategy.

Attempt a free EPFO Mock Test Now!

Focus on Fundamental Concepts

To successfully crack the EPFO SSA exam, it is crucial to prioritize your EPFO SSA Preparation, with a particular focus on the General English section as this section carries the highest weightage of 200 marks, making it essential to allocate ample time and effort towards mastering it.
 
It is also important to concentrate on the fundamental concepts of mathematics, as they will be tested in two different sections: general aptitude and quantitative ability and a strong understanding of basic mathematical concepts is essential to perform well in both of these sections. Apart from this, you should stay updated with Current Affairs and General Knowledge related to EPF and its schemes.
 
To enhance your EPFO SSA Preparation & proficiency in different sections asked in EPFO, Smartkeeda provides topic-wise tests that cover a wide range of concepts. These tests allow you to practice each concept individually, improve your understanding of the required concepts and increase your confidence in tackling the respective sections of the EPFO SSA exam.
 
You can attempt topic-wise quizzes for different topics of English language & Quantitative Aptitude here:
 

English Language Quantitative Aptitude
Reading Comprehension Simplification
Find the Error Number Series
Sentence Correction Approximation
Misspelled Words Data Interpretation
Sentence Rearrangement Problems on Ages
 

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FAQ’s

Yes, EPFO SSA offers an excellent opportunity to work with a prestigious central government organization. It provides attractive perks, a good pay scale under the 7th Pay Commission, and job security, ensuring a stable career path.

Yes! EPFO SSA is a central government job.

The full form of EPFO SSA is Employees' Provident Fund Organization Social Security Assistant.

The roles and responsibilities of EPFO SSA include: • Processing EPF claims and settlements. • Handling customer queries and complaints related to EPF. • Maintaining records and data of EPF accounts. • Assisting in the verification of EPF contributions made by employers.

To become an EPFO SSA, you need first apply for the EPFO SSA recruitment exam. Next, you need to prepare for and qualify the computer-based test, which assesses your knowledge in areas like General English, quant, and general awareness. Additionally, you also need to pass a data entry skill test to get selected for the role.

Yes, EPFO SSAs (Social Security Assistants) can provide financial advice or investment recommendations related to the EPF schemes. Their primary role is to assist in the administration of the EPF (Employees' Provident Fund) scheme and handle tasks related to EPF accounts, claims, settlements, and member services.