EPFO Extends Deadline to Apply for Higher Pension till July 11

EPFO on Monday extended the deadline to apply for higher pension for members till July 11.

This is the second extension of the deadline for applying for a higher pension. Earlier, it was extended from May 3, 2023, to June 26, 2023.  The last opportunity of 15 days is being given to remove any difficulty faced by the eligible pensioners/ members, the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation said in a statement.

“Accordingly, the last date for submission of Applications for Validation of Option/ Joint Options by employees is extended to July 11, 2023,” it added.

“Online facility has been made available by EPFO for submitting Applications for Validation of Options/Joint Options for pension on higher wages. The facility is for eligible pensioners/members in compliance with the Hon’ble Supreme Court order dated November 04, 2022,” the statement said.

Raghunathan KE, Member representing Employers, Central Board of Trustees, EPFO, said timeline for applying for higher pension has been extended by 3 months for the employer and 15 days for the employee (member).

A lot of verification needs to be done as these are involving financial transactions, he added.

“We are happy and complement EPFO for three months time for employers and also 15 days for employees. EPFO once again proves to be considerate and compassionate to field issues,” he said. Any eligible pensioner/member who on account of any issue in the updation of KYC, faces difficulty in submitting an online application for validation of option / joint option, may immediately lodge such grievance on EPFiGMS for resolution, as per the statement.

“The grievance may please be submitted by selecting the grievance category of ‘Higher Pensionary benefits on higher wages’. This will ensure proper record of such a grievance for further action,” it added.

The EPFO is country’s principal organization responsible for providing social security benefits to the organized/semi-organized sector workforce covered under the statute of EPF & MP Act, 1952.

Retirement fund body EPFO added 17.20 lakh members on a net basis in April this year, according to payroll data released earlier this month.

“Out of 17.20 lakh members added during the month, around 8.47 lakh new members have come under social security coverage of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) for the first time,” a labour ministry statement said.

(With PTI inputs)