Despite the deadline for validating pension applications for higher pension several times, there are over three lakh applications still waiting to be approved and processed. Therefore, the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has once again extended the deadline to 31 January, 2025. Now, employers have another chance, the last one, to approve pending applications under the Higher EPS Pension Scheme. By this date employers will have to go through the applications to validate options and joint options.
Employers have also been directed by the EPFO to submit responses or clarifications and update information in over four lakh pending cases—where the EPFO has sought more details or additional information or clarifications—by 15 January, 2025.
The deadline for approving pending applications has been extended following requests from various employers’ associations for more time to upload the required wage details of pensioners/members.
This is not the first time the deadline is being extended. The EPFO had introduced an online facility to submit applications for validation of options and joint options for Higher EPS pension. The facility was launched in February, 2023. The last date for submissions was 3 May, 2023, which of course was thought to be insufficient time. Therefore, the deadline was extended to 26 June, 2023, which was again extended to July 2023 and last year too.
Members of EPF can track their application details on the EPFO’s Member Sewa portal using the acknowledgement number.
