The government has announced four measures to expedite processing of higher-pension applications under the Employees' Pension Scheme (EPS), as reported by Business Standard. These measures were outlined in the Lok Sabha amid questions over delays in processing applications for pension on higher wages. The higher-pension exercise follows the Supreme Court's November 2022 judgement, which allowed eligible employees and pensioners to opt for pension contributions based on higher wages, subject to applicable conditions. Despite the government's statement that EPFO is implementing the Supreme Court's directions in a "time-bound manner," no new universal deadline has been announced for clearing all pending higher-pension claims.
According to Mint, EPFO has issued 1,49,806 pension payment orders for higher contributions to retired applicants following the November 2022 Supreme Court order. As reported by Mint, MoS Shobha Karandlaje informed Parliament that the ministry received 15,24,365 claims under contribution for higher wages for higher pension, of which 11,595 were pending till 5 August. The total number of pensioners under the Employees' Pension Scheme (EPS) as of 31 March is 85,84,604, with total disbursed under EPS till 31 March being ₹15,819.28 crore. The government has not set a fresh deadline for clearing appeals or paying arrears, with the process involving checking contribution records and coordinating with employers before a claim is finalised.
According to Business Standard, the government's four measures include online facility for higher-pension applications through which eligible employees and pensioners can submit applications for validation of Joint Options. The facility was created to implement Supreme Court directions and simplify the process. Verification of applications is being processed according to applicable provisions, involving checking salary and contribution records and obtaining information from employers. Regular video conferences with EPFO's Zonal and Regional Offices have been introduced to review progress of higher-pension applications, with these reviews intended to monitor disposal and identify issues affecting processing. Directions to regional offices have been issued for timely disposal of pension-on-higher-wages cases, with EPFO previously using additional manpower and staff redistribution to deal with higher-pension cases.
To tackle the operational backlog and clear pending joint option applications, the government has implemented four principal administrative interventions. As reported by Essential Business Intelligence, EPFO launched a dedicated digital portal allowing eligible pensioners and active members to submit Joint Option applications online, replacing paper-heavy documentation and providing a centralised repository for claim tracking. The organisation has instituted systematic and rigorous verification protocols involving structured cross-verification between employer submissions and EPFO database records to confirm previous wage patterns. Binding directives have been issued to Zonal and Regional EPFO offices regarding timely settlement of higher wage pension applications, with regional managers empowered to resolve local employer discrepancies and expedite claim clearances within defined timelines.
As reported by Mint, EPFO members can track their pension claims via four methods: the Umang app, online portal, SMS, and missed call services. For the Umang app, users need to register with Aadhaar-linked mobile number and set a 4-digit M-PIN, then search for EPFO under 'Employee Centric Services' and select 'Track Claim' option. The online portal at unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in requires logging in and selecting 'Track Claim Status' under Online Services. SMS tracking involves sending 'EPFOHO UAN Language code' to 7738299899, while missed call or toll-free calls to 9966044425 or 1800 118 005 provide automated replies with claim status. The government emphasized that enhanced pension will be fixed and paid only after the verification is completed, with each application subject to prescribed verification process including verification of contribution records and coordination with employers.
A day after the EPFO announcement, BJP Rajya Sabha member K Laxman asked the Centre to consider enhancing minimum pension benefits through a special mention in Parliament, as reported by Mint. He stated that "statutory minimum pension remains ₹1,000 while the cost of food, medicines and healthcare has increased substantially over the years" and sought attention to "millions of retired workers across the country." Laxman suggested that workers' unions have represented that the minimum pension may be enhanced linked to inflation through an appropriate mechanism, also seeking affordable healthcare support for pensioners and spouses. The government currently provides minimum pension of ₹1,000 per month under EPS 1995, with 1.16% of wages provided annually towards EPS by the Centre and employers contributing 8.33% of wages up to ₹15,000 per month.
