The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), has allowed employers another five months to upload wage details for higher pension. The last date is now 31 May, 2024.
As per the Ministry of Labour & Employment, over 3.6 lakh applications are still pending with employers for validation of option or joint options.
This is not the first time that the deadline is being extended. The retirement fund body had earlier extended the deadline for filing applications to opt for a higher pension from 3 May, 2023 to 26 June, 2023. This was again extended by 15 days to 11 July, 2023. These 15 extra days were at the time allowed to help eligible pensioners or members to handle or overcome any issues faced in the process. Over 17 lakh applications for validation of option / joint options were received from pensioners / members till 11 July, 2023.
Following requests by various employers and associations representing them, the date was further extended till 30 September, 2023 to make it convenient for employers to upload wage details of applicant pensioners and members. This deadline was yet again extended till 31 December, 2023 when employers’ associations again sought more time.
Eligible pensioners and members of EPFO were offered the higher pension scheme as per an order issued by the Supreme Court on 4 November, 2022.