Higher EPS pension: EPFO sets 20 days deadline for field offices for validation of joint application
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Higher EPS pension: EPFO extends deadline to June 26, 2023The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) issued a circular on June 2, 2023 reaffirming that each application for the validation of a joint option will be expeditiously scrutinised. It also ensured that a demand letter or communication to the employer will be issued for any additional proof or evidence or to correct any mistakes or errors in relation to each application for the validation of a joint option or joint option within 20 days of receipt.This move came after it has been observed during regular revives that Demand Letter / Communication to employer has not been issued promptly for cases said to have been scrutinized, the EPFO stated in its circular.
EPFO in a cicular dated June 2, 2023 stated: “the expeditious disposal of the Applications for Validation of Joint Options/Joint Options from pensioners/ members being submitted by employers and forwarded to Field Offices in the same time as it exists for other claims becomes of utmost importance. However, during regular reviews through VC it has been observed that Demand Letter / Communication to employer has not been issued promptly for cases said to have been scrutinized."
Earlier, the EPFO released the circular on April 23, 2023, in response to several challenges that employees/pensioners were encountering when applying for a higher pension under the Employees' Pension Scheme (EPS).
The EPFO field office will review the joint application form when it has been filed, according to the circular. Once all conditions have been met and the employers have submitted the wage information, it will be checked against the EPFO's database. After the information is confirmed, the EPFO will determine the outstanding debt and issue a directive for the deposit or transfer of the debt, as per the circular dated April 23, 2023.
Further, in case of mismatch, if any of the given information is incomplete, appears to be incorrect, or needs to be corrected, EPFO will contact the employers for more information within a month. The EPFO will accept the joint application form if the aforementioned information is submitted. Regarding transferring or depositing dues, the order shall be issued. The EPFO will issue a merit-based order if the whole information is not received within a month.
The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has extended the deadline to apply for higher pension from Employees' Pension Scheme (EPS) to June 26,2023 from May 3, 2023.
As per the Supreme Court's order dated November 4, 2022, an employee is eligible for higher EPS pension if:
a) He/she has retired prior to September 1, 2014 and was making higher contribution to their EPF account. However, their higher EPS pension request was rejected by the EPFO
b) He/she was a member of EPS or EPF on September 1, 2014 and continued to remain the same after.
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This story originally appeared on: India Times - Author:Faqs of Insurances
