New Delhi: Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS-95) pensioners are waiting for progress on their higher pension applications as the issue has once again come under government scrutiny. Following the Supreme Court’s earlier ruling, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has initiated a review of the matter, while the Government Assurance Committee has sought a detailed status report from the Ministry of Labour.
The issue was also raised in Parliament by MP Ajit Gopichand, bringing renewed attention to delays in processing higher pension claims.
Despite the large number of applications submitted to the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), many employees and pensioners are still waiting for their cases to be resolved.
EPS 95 Higher Pension: What Did the Supreme Court Decide?
In November 2022, the Supreme Court delivered an important judgment concerning higher pensions under EPS-95.
The ruling allowed eligible employees to opt for pension contributions calculated on their actual basic wages, rather than being restricted to the earlier salary ceiling, subject to the prescribed conditions.
This provision offered eligible employees an opportunity to receive higher pensions after retirement by contributing more towards the pension scheme during their service.
However, the implementation process has moved slowly. According to the figures provided, only around 1.5 lakh applicants had received higher pension orders by March 31, highlighting the gap between applications received and cases processed.
More Than 11,000 Higher Pension Applications Still Pending
EPFO has reportedly received approximately 15.24 lakh applications from employees seeking higher pensions under EPS-95.
Out of these applications, 11,595 cases were still awaiting processing, according to the figures cited in the report.
The situation has also become complicated for employees working in exempted establishments. Following an EPFO circular issued in January 2025, the processing of certain applications from employees of exempted establishments has reportedly faced delays.
Pensioners’ organisations have therefore demanded the withdrawal of this circular, arguing that it is creating difficulties for eligible applicants.
Section 26(6) Creates Additional Challenges
Another major issue in the higher pension process relates to Section 26(6) of the EPF Scheme.
The provision concerns the conditions under which employees and employers can contribute to the provident fund on wages exceeding the prescribed wage ceiling.
Its documentation and compliance requirements have reportedly created administrative and technical difficulties for both employers and employees seeking higher pension benefits.
As a result, there have been demands for a simpler and more consistent procedure to reduce complications in processing applications.
Pensioners Demand Uniform Rules and Faster Processing
Pensioners’ organisations have also raised concerns about differences in the implementation of higher pension provisions across companies, trusts and exempted establishments.
They are seeking a transparent and uniform system so that eligible employees receive equal treatment regardless of whether they worked in private-sector, public-sector or exempted organisations.
Meanwhile, the reported increase in the EPFO salary limit to ₹25,000 has generated further discussion about pension-related eligibility and differences in benefits.
For thousands of employees and pensioners, the main concern remains the timely disposal of pending applications and clarity on the rules governing higher pension payments.
The PMO’s review and the request for a detailed report from the Labour Ministry have brought the issue back into focus. However, pensioners are still waiting for concrete progress on their pending claims.
Disclaimer: This article is intended for general informational purposes only. EPS-95 pension eligibility, higher pension calculations and application procedures are governed by EPFO rules, government notifications and applicable court judgments. Figures and developments mentioned are based on the information provided and should be verified through official EPFO notifications. Pensioners should consult EPFO or a qualified pension adviser regarding their individual claims.