The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has made phenomenal progress for its members in the processing of applications for higher rights in the Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS) of 1995. As on January 28, 2025, EPFO has issued 21,885 Pension Payment Orders (PPOs) against eligible members and provided them with increased pension benefits. 1,65,621 members have also been notified to deposit additional dues to be eligible for higher pensions.
Background and Application Process
The EPFO website will launch an online application facility at this point in time on February 26, 2023, after appointing the deadline for extensions for submission several times to allow applicants time without losing the deadlines. The final date was January 31, 2025, for employers to send in joint applications. This development was following a Supreme Court pronouncement on November 4, 2022, enabling qualifying employees to opt for a higher pension by contributing on their actual salaries rather than against the statutory wage ceiling.
Final Status of Applications
The total number of applications filed before members and pensioners for higher pensions amounted to 17,48,768. Out of these, demand notices have been issued to 1,65,621 members to deposit their balance amounts required for eligibility. Further, EPFO is in constant touch with the pending applications’ processed status and has issued instructions for clarifications to field offices with regard to expediting cases in this regard.
How to Track Your Application Status
Higher pensioners can track their application status online through the EPFO’s unified member portal:
- Go to 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, your UAN number, or your PPO number.
- Fill the caption code, tick the consent box and click on ‘Get OTP.
- Put in the OTP received and click ‘Get status’.
- Your application status will be displayed on the screen thereafter.
Impact on Members of EPFO
This process of issuing PPOs in so many volumes to more than 21,000 members shows another leap forward in the aspect of having greatly improved retirement benefits for members. Those members whose other sums have been indicated for payment should pay those sums without delay so that they can enjoy the higher pension benefits. It would be advisable for all applicants to check their application statuses and compliance with any other requirement laid down for them by the EPFO regularly.
Conclusion
The ongoing efforts of EPFO at processing applications for higher pensions indicate a sign of commitment to improvement in financial security for members. Eligible members are urged to remain updated and proactive about accomplishing all the necessary steps in the revised EPS guidelines so that they may receive the benefits owed to them.