The full form of EPFO is Employee Provident Fund Organisation. EPFO is one of the largest Social Security Organizations in the world in terms of assets under management (more than Rs 11 Lakh Crore ($ 157.8 Billion) assets), and the largest in the world in terms of the number of accounts under management (19.34 crore accounts). Its primary function is to run and supervise the mandatory state pension scheme for the people of India. EPFO, from time to time, recruits eligible citizens of India for the post of Social Security Assistant (SSA). The Last Recruitment Notification for SSA’s was in 2019. The 2021 EPFO Notification may release soon. In this article, we shall see all important information related to EPFO SSA Recruitment 2021 exam such as Exam Date, Eligibility criteria, Syllabus, Application Fee, Apply Online, Exam Pattern, Vacancy, Salary, Job profile, etc. EPFO SSA will be an online examination in three stages.
EPFO SSA Exam Highlights
| Organization Name | Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation |
| Job Type | Central Government Job |
| Job Name | Social Security Assistant (SSA) |
| Total Vacancy | To be announced |
| Job Location | India |
| Last Date for Submission of EPFO application | To be announced |
EPFO SSA Exam Notification
The notification for the post of Social Security Assistant in EPFO can be expected to be released in the coming months. As it is a central government job with a handsome salary, and providing an opportunity to work in a large organization, the competition is high and a large number of candidates are expected to apply for it. The SSA’s are eligible to receive a payment according to the 7th Pay Commission.
EPFO SSA 2021 Exam Syllabus
EPFO SSA 2021 Exam can be considered one of the important exams owing to the attractive pay and other facilities, therefore the exam needs special attention. Thus, to maintain your focus you need to prepare yourself well for the challenge. To start off with the preparation, you will first need the syllabus of the EPFO Social Security Assistant 2021 Exam, so that you know what to study. Refer to the complete syllabus here:
| Quantitative Aptitude | Reasoning Ability | General Awareness | English Language |
| Ratio and Proportion | Inequality | Current Affairs | Grammar |
| Average | Coding-Decoding | Indian Financial System | Vocabulary |
| Time and Work | Syllogism | Indian Banking System | Error Spotting |
| Speed, Distance and Time | Machine Input Output | Monetary Plans | Comprehension |
| Mixture and Allegations | Data Sufficiency | National Institution | Passage Making |
| Stocks and Shares | Circular Arrangement | Banking Terms | Jumble Words |
| Percentage | Linear Arrangement | Fill in the Blanks | |
| Permutation and Combination | Floor Puzzle | Sentence Framing | |
| Algebra | Scheduling | ||
| Trigonometry | Verbal Reasoning | ||
| Data Interpretation | Ordering and Ranking | ||
| Mensuration | Arrangement and Pattern | ||
| Probability | Blood Relations | ||
| Set Theory | Direction and Distance |
EPFO SSA Exam Pattern
The exact date for the recruitment notification for the post of Social Security Assistant in EPFO is available when the EPFO SSA Notification is released. EPFO Assistant 2021 Examination is conducted in online mode, and it has three phases.
- Preliminary Exam (Prelims)
- Main Exam (Mains)
- Computer Skill Test (Computer Data Entry Test)
Phase 1 (Prelims) will have three tests carrying 100 marks and Phase 2 (Mains) will have four tests excluding ‘Descriptive paper of English’. This phase will carry a total of 230 marks. Except for the test on the English Language, all tests will be bilingual.
- There will be sectional cut-off and overall cut-off in both phases.
EPFO SSA Prelims Exam Pattern
The first phase (Prelims) of EPFO Social Security Assistant will be an online exam. The preliminary Exam of EPFO Social Security Assistant 2021 will be an online objective examination with multiple-choice questions. It has three Sections: English Language, Reasoning Ability & Numerical Aptitude. All the sections will be allotted separate sectional timing of 20 minutes each. The total number of questions will be 100 and the total marks will also be 100. Phase 1 of the EPFO Social Security Assistant Examination will be qualifying in nature. There will be both sectional and overall cut-off in Phase 1. There will also be a negative marking of 0.25 marks.
| S.No. | Name of the Test (Objective Tests) | No.of Questions | Max. Marks | Duration |
| 1 | English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 Minutes |
| 2 | Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 Minutes |
| 3 | Numerical Aptitude | 35 | 35 | 20 Minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 Minutes | |
EPFO SSA Main Exam Pattern
All the candidates who qualify for Phase 1, will be called for Phase 2 (Mains). The Main Exam of EPFO Social Security Assistant 2021 will also be an online objective test which will consist of four Sections: English Language, Reasoning/Intelligence, General/Economy/Financial Awareness, and Quantitative Aptitude. All these sections will comprise 150 questions and different sectional timings will be allotted to all the sections. There will also be a Descriptive Paper of English which will have 3 questions worth 30 marks and 45 minutes will be provided for the test. Therefore the total timing will be 2 hours 45 minutes. Phase 2 will also have sectional and overall cut-offs which the candidates will have to qualify in order to get selected. This is the final stage of the selection process.
| S. no. | Name of the Test (Objective Tests) | No. of Questions | Max Marks | Duration |
| 1. | Reasoning/ Intelligence | 40 | 60 | 35 minutes |
| 2. | General/ Economy/ Financial Awareness |
40 | 40 | 20 minutes |
| 3. | English Language | 30 | 40 | 30 minutes |
| 4. | Quantitative Aptitude | 40 | 60 | 35 minutes |
| Total | 150 | 200 | 2 hours | |
| 5. | Descriptive Paper (English Language with emphasis on comprehension and analysis) | 3(letter,précis’,comprehension) | 30 | 45 minutes |
| Grand Total | 153 | 230 | 2 hours 45 minutes | |
Computer Skill Test
The Phase 3 Exam of EPFO Social Security Assistant is a Computer Skill Test (Computer Data Entry Test) where the candidate’s speed and accuracy for data entry work will be tested. It will be qualifying in nature and there will be a minimum eligibility requirement of 5000 key depressions per hour. There will not be any such marks allotted to this section.
EPFO SSA 2021 Exam Dates
EPFO Social Security Assistant Recruitment Notification 2021 will be out soon. The EPFO SSA registration process will start once the notification is out. Refer to the table below for more details.
| Exam Events | Date |
| EPFO Apply Online Begins | To be notified later |
| Last Date to Apply Online | To be notified later |
| EPFO Admit Card Download | To be notified later |
| EPFO Assistant Exam Date (Prelims) | To be notified later |
| EPFO Assistant Result | To be notified later |
EPFO SSA Salary
EPFO provides one of the best growth opportunities for one’s career along with good status and an attractive pay package. An EPFO Social Security Assistant will receive salary under Level 4 of the pay matrix under the 7th Pay Commission.
- The starting salary of an EPFO Assistant will be around Rs 25,500/-
- An EPFO SSA will also receive benefits and allowances as per the Government’s and EPFO’s guidelines.
| Post | Salary |
| EPFO SSA | Rupees 25,500/- per month (approx) |
EPFO SSA 2021 Vacancy
EPFO notification for the post of Social Security Assistant will be released in the upcoming months. The number of vacancies varies by the category of the candidate. The EPFO SSA official notification will have all the details regarding vacancies and their region-wise breakup. Given below are the previous year’s vacancies. For the latest vacancies, a candidate has to wait for the official notification.
| Region | State/Union Territory covered under the Region | Category-wise Vacancies | Total | Horizontal Reservation | |||||||||
| Persons with Benchmark Disability(PwBD) | Ex- SM | ||||||||||||
| SC | ST | OBC – NCL | EWS | UR | |||||||||
| Category – A | Category -B | Category- C | Category –D & E | ||||||||||
| Andhra Pradesh Region | Andhra Pradesh | 0 | 0 | 24 | 5 | 31 | 60 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | |
| Bihar Region | Bihar | 6 | 0 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 32 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | |
| Chattisgarh | Chattisgarh | 9 | 32 | 0 | 11 | 8 | 60 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 9 | |
| Delhi Region | Delhi | 32 | 8 | 72 | 14 | 16 | 142 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 44 | |
| Gujarat Region | Gujarat, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, | 0 | 46 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 70 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | |
| Goa Region | Daman & Diu Goa | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| Himachal | Himachal | 19 | 2 | 11 | 5 | 20 | 57 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | |
| Haryana | Haryana | 43 | 0 | 61 | 22 | 105 | 231 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 27 | |
| Karnataka | Karnataka | 15 | 8 | 68 | 18 | 73 | 182 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 18 | |
| Kerala & Lakshadweep | Kerala, Lakshwadeep | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 21 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
EPFO SSA Eligibility Criteria
EPFO is one of the largest organizations of India. It offers great work opportunities along with other facilities. Most of the job aspirants must be interested in applying for a job in EPFO. A large number of candidates would be applying for the EPFO SSA exam. To ensure that you are able to fill the application form successfully and are able to achieve what you wish to, you should first make sure that you are eligible for the job post, according to all the requirements mentioned in the notification. All candidates need to follow the mentioned criteria and if fail to do so, you will not be able to apply or appear in the EPFO Assistant Exam.
EPFO Social Security Assistant Educational Criteria
EPFO Social Security Assistant is an important job role and will be applied by a large number of candidates. The registration process will start once the notification is out. Before you start applying for EPFO Social Security Assistant 2021 Exam, you should first check if you possess the required educational qualifications that are needed in order to appear for the exam. EPFO mentions particular educational criteria where it specifies the educational qualifications that one needs to possess in order to be eligible for the post. A candidate who wants to apply for the post should possess a Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university or equivalent. Also, the candidate needs to possess a typing speed of at least 5000 key depressions per hour. Read the details below:
| Post | Educational Criteria |
| Social Security Assistant in EPFO | Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university or equivalent |
EPFO Social Security Assistant Age Criteria
To be able to fill the application form for EPFO Assistant 2021 Recruitment, you need to follow the age criteria mentioned by EPFO. To be eligible for the post, you should not be less than 18 years and not more than 27 years, as on the date mentioned in the official notification. These age criteria will be applicable to all the categories except few.
| Post | Age Criteria |
| Social Security Assistant in EPFO | Minimum: 18 years/Maximum: 27 years |
EPFO Social Security Assistant Age Relaxation
Except for the age criteria mentioned in the notification, there is also a provision of age relaxation for some of the categories. This advantage is provided to only a certain category of candidates. The relaxation period may differ depending on the various categories. It is advised to all the candidates who wish to apply for the exam, to read the complete notification properly and then fill the form. There will be categories like SC/ST/OBC and others that will be offered this facility of relaxation in the upper age limit while applying for the EPFO Social Security Assistant 2021 Exam.
| Category | Age Relaxation |
| SC/ST | up to 5 years |
| OBC – NCL | up to 3 years |
| Employees of Central Government & departmental candidates i.e employees of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organization. |
|
| A person with Disabilities |
|
EPFO SSA How to Apply
The notification for EPFO Social Security Assistant 2021 Recruitment online link will be active once the notification is out. The application will have to be done only in online mode. To make sure you do not make any mistakes while filling the form, you should know the complete process in advance. The application process is divided into a few simple steps:
- Candidates should visit the official website of EPFO: www.epfindia/.gov.in and click on the option ‘APPLY ONLINE FOR RECRUITMENT TO THE POST OF SSA – 2021 IN EPFO’.
- To start the registration, you need to click on “Click here for Registration’’ where you will have to enter all the basic details like name, contact, email id, etc.
- A provisional registration number and password will be generated which should be saved by you for future reference. In case you are unable to complete the application, you can revisit the website and with the help of this registration number and password, you can log in and complete the application.
- Make sure you enter all correct details and click on the “Save & Next” button thereafter.
- You will also have to upload your scanned photograph, signature, and handwritten declaration according to the specifications mentioned by EPFO.
- After all the details have been filled in and uploaded, you need to make the online fee payment. Click on the ‘payment’ tab and choose one of the online options provided there.
- Click on the ‘Submit’ button.
EPFO SSA Application Fee
The candidates will have to pay the online application fee after the EPFO Social Security Assistant 2021 Exam application form has been completed. Candidates can make the payment through any of the online options provided. The fee amount will be different according to the categories. Women are also provided a facility of reservation under this exam. They are exempted from the general application fee amount but have to pay a lesser fee. Refer to the table given below for the fee details
| Category | Fees |
| SC/ST/PWD/ Departmental Candidates, Female Candidates,
Economically Weaker Section |
Rs. 250 |
| Other Category | Rs. 500 |
EPFO SSA Exam Centre
The examination for EPFO Social Security Assistant 2021 Recruitment will be conducted online across the country. Candidates will have the option of choosing the exam center while filling the application form. Once the selection of center is made, you cannot change your preference. EPFO though reserves the right to add or remove any center at its discretion. EPFO will release a complete list of the exam centers allotted throughout the country. The centers for Phase 3 (Computer Skill Test) will be decided by EPFO later.
| S. No. | Name of State/Union Territory | S. No. Centre | Examination Centre | Code |
| 1 | Andaman & Nicobar Island | 1 | Port Blair | 101 |
| 2 | Andhra Pradesh | 2 | Guntur | 102 |
| 3 | Arunachal Pradesh | 3 | Itanagar | 103 |
| 4 | Assam | 4 | Guwahati | 104 |
| 5 | Bihar | 5 | Patna | 105 |
| 6 | Chhatisgarh | 6 | Raipur | 106 |
| 7 | Delhi | 7 | Delhi | 107 |
| 8 | Goa | 8 | Panjim | 108 |
| 9 | Gujarat | 9 | Ahmedabad | 109 |
| 10 | Vadodara | 110 | ||
| 11 | Surat | 111 | ||
| 10 | Haryana | 12 | Faridabad | 112 |
| 11 | Himachal Pradesh | 13 | Shimla | 113 |
| 12 | Jharkhand | 14 | Ranchi | 114 |
| 13 | Karnataka | 15 | Bangalore | 115 |
| 16 | Gulbarga | 116 | ||
| 14 | Kerala | 17 | Thiruvanathpuram | 117 |
| 15 | Madhya Pradesh | 18 | Bhopal | 118 |
| 19 | Indore | 119 | ||
| 20 | Mumbai | 120 |
EPFO SSA Exam Admit card
After the registration process of EPFO Social Security Assistant 2021 is completed, the admit card for Phase 1 will be released which will be available online on the EPFO website. Candidates will have to download their admit cards from the website. The admit card will contain all the details related to the exam venue, date, time, and other instructions. You should carefully read complete instructions and follow them on the day of the exam.