Higher EPS Pension: The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has received more than 15.24 lakh applications from subscribers seeking a higher pension under the Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS-95). However, 11,595 applications were still pending as of August 5, 2026, according to the latest government data.
The figures were presented in the Lok Sabha on August 10 by Labour and Employment Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje in response to a question raised by MP MK Raghavan regarding the status of applications submitted for higher EPS pension.
Over 15 Lakh Higher Pension Applications Received
The option for a higher EPS pension stems from the Supreme Court’s November 4, 2022 judgment, which allowed eligible EPS members who had made pension contributions on their actual basic wages above the statutory wage limit to opt for a higher pension, subject to the prescribed conditions.
Following the court’s ruling, EPFO introduced an online facility through which eligible members could submit applications for validation of their joint options. Regional EPFO offices were subsequently directed to process and dispose of these applications.
As of August 5, EPFO had received 15,24,365 applications across its various zones.
The Telangana zone, including Hyderabad, recorded the highest number of applications at 1,65,331. It was followed by Mumbai-1 (Bandra) with 1,26,444 applications and Maharashtra excluding Mumbai with 1,26,311 applications.
11,595 Cases Yet to Be Disposed Of
While a large majority of applications have moved through the processing system, 11,595 cases remained pending as of August 5.
The Punjab and Himachal Pradesh zone had the highest number of pending applications, with 3,004 cases. The Delhi, Uttarakhand and Jammu zone followed with 1,389 pending cases.
Maharashtra, excluding Mumbai, had 1,380 pending applications, while the Orissa/Bhubaneswar zone had 1,341. Kerala and Lakshadweep reported 1,251 pending cases.
The available zone-wise figures are:
| EPFO Zone | Applications Received | Pending Cases |
|---|---|---|
| Punjab & Himachal Pradesh | 44,946 | 3,004 |
| Delhi, Uttarakhand & Jammu | 95,419 | 1,389 |
| Maharashtra, excluding Mumbai | 1,26,311 | 1,380 |
| Orissa, Bhubaneswar | 49,234 | 1,341 |
| Kerala & Lakshadweep | 81,665 | 1,251 |
| Chennai & Puducherry | 72,044 | 631 |
| Telangana, Hyderabad | 1,65,331 | 501 |
| Mumbai-1, Bandra | 1,26,444 | 406 |
| Bengaluru | 1,09,307 | 9 |
Government Says EPFO Monitoring Processing
The government has said that EPFO is taking steps to implement the Supreme Court’s directions within a stipulated timeframe.
According to Karandlaje, regional offices have received repeated instructions to ensure that higher EPS pension applications are processed and disposed of promptly.
The Labour Ministry has also been monitoring the progress through regular video conferences with zonal and regional EPFO offices. These meetings are intended to track the status of applications and address delays in processing.
What Is Higher EPS-95 Pension?
Under the regular EPS structure, the employer contributes 8.33% of basic wages, subject to the applicable statutory wage ceiling.
The higher pension option is available to eligible members who meet the required conditions and allows pension contributions to be considered on actual basic salary and dearness allowance, rather than being limited to the standard wage ceiling.
A higher pensionable salary can potentially result in a larger monthly pension because EPS pension calculations take into account the member’s average pensionable salary during the final 60 months of eligible service.
Generally, an employee needs at least 10 years of eligible pensionable service to qualify for an EPS pension, with the normal pension eligibility age being 58 years.
With more than 15 lakh applications received, the processing of higher EPS pension requests remains an important issue for eligible EPFO members, particularly those whose applications are still awaiting disposal.