Big relief in EPFO Higher Pension!

Centre has extended the time to submit joint options to claim higher provident fund pension till June 26. The deadline to submit the applications was on May 3.

The process was initiated to implement a Supreme Court verdict on November 4 on higher PF pension. This is the second time that the Centre extended the date for submissions. Earlier, the date was March 3 and it was extended to May 3. The decision is based on the representations received from various Central Trade Unions and pensioners’ organisations demanding extension of date.

EPFO said more than 12 lakh applications have been received till date. “The online facility was to remain available only till May 3, 2023. In the meantime, many representations have been received from various quarters seeking extension of time. The issue has been considered and it has been decided that in order to provide a larger window of opportunity and in order to enable all eligible persons to file their applications, the timeline for filing applications would now be till June 26, 2023,” the EPFO said in a release.

It added that the timeline is being extended to facilitate and provide ample opportunity to the pensioners and members so as to to ease out any difficulty being faced by them. “This has been decided after sympathetically considering the various demands received from employees, employers and their associations,” it said.

Step-by-step guide to EPFO HIGHER PENSION apply

Step 1: Visit Member E-Swea portal at https://unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in/memberinterface/. There is an option for “Pension on Higher salary click on it.”

Step 2: It will take you to another page where you need to click at “Exercise of Joint Option for employees who were in service prior to 01.09.2014 and continued to be in service after 01.09.2014 but could not exercise joint option under erstwhile proviso to para 11(3) of EPS-1995.”

Step 3: Fill in the required details to get the Aadhar-based authorization pin. For that you need to fill in your UAN, Name, DOB, Aadhaar, mobile number captcha. You will then receive an OTP on your Aadhaar-based mobile number which you need to submit for validation purpose.

Step 4: Once you validate yourself you will be directed to the third stage where you need to submit all personal and PF related details.

The page is auto filled in accordance with data available with EPFO. However, if you have worked with multiple employers all EPF accounts might not be mentioned as digitalisation in EPFO happened a few years ago only. So, for PF information not provided you have to manually enter all the details. It is recommended to download passbook or collect old salary slips for missing PF details 

You will also be needed to upload documents such as a passbook and undertaking to deposit contributions along with interest in case there is insufficient balance.

Finally, you need to accept the declaration and submit an application to move to the last stage. 

Step 5: After submitting the application, acknowledgement number will be generated which will be needed for future correspondence.  

Step 6:  After submission of the application the field officer separately will review the applications . If all requirements are met, the employers’ wage details will be cross-checked with data from the field offices. If the details match, the dues will be calculated and APFC/RPFC-II/RPFC-I will issue an order to transfer/deposit the dues. If there is a discrepancy, the employer and employee/pensioner will be informed and given one month to provide the necessary information. If the employer does not approve the submitted application form/joint option, they will be given a chance to provide additional proof or correct any errors before the form is rejected. This opportunity will be given for one month and the employees/pensioners will be informed of it.

In November 2022, the Supreme Court allowed employees who missed the earlier deadline to submit fresh options within four months. The deadline has now been extended until May 3, 2023. However, the process for submitting a joint application was complicated, especially due to a mandatory requirement in the form that requests details of the option under para 26(6) of the Scheme, 1952. The Kerala High Court recently exempted this requirement and instructed EPFO to make adequate provisions in the online system for pensioners to submit options without producing copies of option under para 26(6) of the Scheme, 1952. If the online system cannot be modified, the Court directed EPFO to make necessary arrangements for filing, including allowing the submission of hard copies of the options.