The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has received a total of 17,48,768 applications from members and pensioners seeking higher pensions under the Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS) 1995.
This scheme allows individuals to receive a higher pension by making increased contributions. The Minister of State for Labour & Employment, Shobha Karandlaje, shared this information in a written reply to the Lok Sabha on February 3.
Over 1.65 Lakh Demand Notices Issued
As of January 28, 2025, EPFO has issued demand notices to 1,65,621 members. These notices serve as formal requests, asking eligible members to deposit the additional amount required to qualify for higher pension benefits.
Alongside this, the organization has issued 21,885 Pension Payment Orders (PPOs) to applicants who have completed the necessary procedures.
Efforts to Speed Up Pending Cases for Higher Pension
The government is closely monitoring the processing of outstanding applications. Field Offices have been provided with clear guidelines to help speed up the approval process.
The Ministry is focused on ensuring that all pending cases are addressed efficiently. This push follows the Supreme Court’s decision on November 4, 2022, which clarified the rules for higher pension eligibility.
Online Application System in Place
To simplify the application process, EPFO introduced an online system for submitting validation and joint option forms. This feature became available to members, pensioners, and employers on February 26, 2023.
Initially set to close in July 2023, the deadline was extended multiple times to accommodate more applicants, with the last extension given until May 31, 2024.
Final Deadline Set for January 31, 2025 for Higher Pension
Employers were initially asked to forward joint applications for higher pensions by September 30, 2023. This deadline was later extended to May 31, 2024.
A final opportunity was provided, allowing all employers to submit applications by January 31, 2025.
This is the last chance for applicants seeking higher pensions under the EPS 1995 scheme.
Note: We are also on WhatsApp, LinkedIn, Google News, and YouTube, to get the latest news updates, Subscribe to our Channels. WhatsApp– Click Here, Google News– Click Here, YouTube – Click Here, and LinkedIn– Click Here.
