The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has taken significant steps to ensure better pension benefits for its members under the Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS) 1995. As of January 28, 2025, the EPFO has issued 21,885 Pension Payment Orders (PPOs) to eligible members, allowing them to receive a higher pension. Additionally, 1,65,621 members have been asked to deposit additional dues to qualify for increased pension benefits.
Background and Application Process
To help employees opt for higher pensions, the EPFO launched an online application facility on February 26, 2023. The deadline for submitting joint applications was extended multiple times, with the final date set as January 31, 2025.
This decision follows a Supreme Court ruling on November 4, 2022, which allowed eligible employees to contribute pension amounts based on their actual salary instead of the statutory wage ceiling. This means employees can receive a higher pension if they contribute more towards EPS.
Current Status of Applications
The EPFO has received a total of 17,48,768 applications for higher pensions. Out of these:
- 1,65,621 members have been asked to deposit additional amounts to qualify.
- The EPFO is working continuously to process the remaining applications as quickly as possible.
- Field offices have been instructed to speed up the verification and processing of pending applications.
How to Check Your Higher Pension Application Status
Employees who have applied for a higher pension can track their application status online by following these steps:
- Visit the EPFO unified member portal.
- Click on ‘Track application status for pension on higher wages’.
- On the next page, click on ‘Click here’ under the same tab.
- Enter your application acknowledgement number, UAN number, or PPO number.
- Fill in the captcha code, tick the consent box, and click ‘Get OTP’.
- Enter the OTP received on your registered mobile number and click ‘Get status’.
- Your application status will be displayed on the screen.
Impact on EPFO Members
With over 21,000 PPOs already issued, the EPFO has significantly improved retirement benefits for employees. However, members who have been asked to deposit additional amounts should do so without delay to ensure they receive higher pension benefits.
Employees who have applied for a higher pension should also regularly check their application status and follow any further instructions from the EPFO.
Conclusion
The EPFO’s efforts to process higher pension applications show a strong commitment to financial security for employees. Eligible members must stay updated and complete all necessary steps under the revised EPS guidelines to receive their entitled benefits.