Higher EPS pension deadline: The EPFO is giving one last chance to the employers to upload wage details of the employees by January 31, 2025, so that 3.1 lakh pending applications can be processed

Higher EPS pension: EPFO asks employers to process 3.1 lakh pending applications by January 31, 2025; how to track pension application If you are EPF member or EPS pensioners who have applied for the higher EPS pension, then here is a step by step guide to track your application status

The Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has given one last chance to employers to approve the pending pension applications under the Higher EPS Pension scheme by January 31, 2025. According to a press release by the EPFO dated December 18, 2024, there are over 3.1 lakh pending applications under Higher EPS Pension. The EPFO has also asked the employers to submit replies and update information in 4.66 lakh pending cases by January 15, 2024, where clarification has been sought by the EPFO.

According to EPFO’s press release, “In spite of so many extensions, it has been observed that more than 3.1 lakh applications for validation of options/joint options are still pending with employers. Many representations have also been received from Employers & Employers’ Associations wherein requests have been made to extend further time period for uploading wage details of applicant pensioners/members. Therefore, a final opportunity is being given to the employers till 31.01.2025 to ensure that employers process and upload these pending Applications for Validation of Option / Joint Options. Employers are also requested to submit replies/update the information by 15.01.2025, in over 4.66 Lakh cases where EPFO has sought additional information/ clarification in respect of applications that have been received and examined by EPFO.”

The deadline to upload wage details by employers has been extended many times by EPFO. The employers were given multiple opportunities to submit wage details etc. of EPS pensioners and EPF members online till September 30, 2023, again till December 31, 2023 and thereafter till May 31, 2024, to ensure that employers are able to process the higher pension applications.

How EPF members, EPS pensioners can track pension application
An EPF member or EPS pensioner who has applied for a Higher EPS pension can track their application details on the EPFO’s Member Sewa portal. To track the application status, an individual must keep the acknowledgement number handy.

Follow the steps below to track the pension application status:

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When you finish the higher EPS application process on the EPFO portal, you will be sent an acknowledgement receipt. After you submit the form, the EPFO provides a URL to follow your application. You can follow the development of pension claims for higher income.
Step 1: Visit https://unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in/memberInterfacePohw/
Step 2: Click on ‘track status of EPS higher pension applications’
Step 3: On the next page, enter the following details - Acknowledgement number, UAN, PPO Number and Captcha code. An individual currently working will be required to enter UAN. On the other hand, EPS pensioners will be required to enter PPO numbers.
Step 4: Click the check box to give consent to provide my Aadhaar Number, Biometric and/or one-time PIN (OTP) data for Aadhaar-based authentication for the purpose of establishing my identity.
Step 5: Click on ‘Get OTP’.
A one-time password will be sent to the mobile number linked to Aadhaar. Enter the OTP to track the status of the pension application.

What is a higher pension scheme under EPS?
An individual who is a member of the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) on August 31, 2014, or has retired on or before August 31, 2014, has the option to contribute to the Employees Pension Scheme on the actual wage (basic salary) instead of the limit specified (Rs 6,500/Rs,5000) under the EPF scheme. If the individual opts to contribute higher wages to the EPS, then at the time of retirement, he/she will be entitled to receive the pension at the average of actual last drawn wages (basic salary) instead of the specified limit (Rs 15,000 currently).

How Higher EPS Pension application to be processed

Once the employee/pensioner opted for the higher EPS pension, the employer was required to verify the details and approve the application for the higher pension under the Employees Pension Scheme (EPS). As many details of employees were required to be verified, many employers requested extra time to upload wage details to the EPFO.
The EPFO provided an online facility to submit applications for validation of options and joint options for Higher EPS pension. The online facility was launched on February 26, 2023, and was to remain available only till May 03, 2023. However, considering the representations of the employees, the time limit was extended to June 26, 2023, in order to provide a complete four months time to eligible pensioners/members for filing applications.

"A last opportunity of 15 days was further given to remove any difficulty faced by the eligible pensioners and EPF members. Accordingly, the last date for submission of Applications for Validation of Options/Joint Options by employees was extended to July 11, 2023," said the press release. According to EPFO, “A total of 17.49 lakh applications for Validation of Option/Joint Options were received from pensioners/members till 11.07.2023."

This story originally appeared on: India Times - Author:Faqs of Insurances