EPFO higher pension status: What has happened till now; when will members in service get it?

The Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has till now disposed of over 99.2% applications for higher pension as per the Supreme Court judgement dated November 4, 2022. The Union Minister of Labour and Employment, Mansukh Madaviya, shared this information in a written reply to a query in the Lok Sabha on Monday, March 16, 2026.

The EPFO received around 15.24 lakh applications for higher pension.

"To implement the directions contained in Hon’ble Supreme Court Judgement dated 04.11.2022 in a time bound manner, an online facility was provided and around 15.24 lakh applications for Validation of Joint Option/ Joint Options were forwarded by employers to EPFO till last date i.e., 31.01.2025. As on 09.03.2026, more than 99.2 per cent of applications received in EPFO have been disposed of," Mandaviya said.

Current status

According to the minister, demand letters have been issued to eligible applicants. Subsequently, Pension Payment Orders (PPOs) have been issued to retired applicants who have deposited the demand amount and have submitted form 10D for availing pension.

The minister said that in case of members continuing in service, PPOs on pension on higher wages will be issued as and when the member will submit claim form after attaining the age of 58. "Once demand letter is issued for remitting the dues, pensioners can remit the dues within three calendar months starting from the month of issuance of demand letter," he added.

More about EPS

The Employees' Pension Scheme, 1995 (EPS 95) is a 'Defined Contribution-Defined Benefit' Social Security Scheme. The EPS corpus of the following:

• Contribution by the employer @ 8.33 per cent of wages

• 1.16 per cent contribution from Central Government on wages up to ₹15,000 per month.

All benefits under EPS are paid out of such accumulations. The fund is valued annually as mandated under paragraph 32 of EPS, 1995.

At present, the Government is providing a minimum pension of ₹1000 per month to the pensioners under the EPS, 1995 through budgetary support, which is in addition to the budgetary support of 1.16 per cent of wages provided annually towards EPS to EPFO.