EPFO implements measures to speed up higher pension claims

The Ministry of Labour and Employment informed the Lok Sabha that the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is implementing measures to accelerate the processing of higher-pension applications under the Employees' Pension Scheme (EPS). This follows a November 2022 Supreme Court ruling allowing eligible members to opt for pensions based on actual basic salaries rather than statutory wage ceilings.

To expedite the process, the EPFO has launched an online Joint Option portal for verification and has issued instructions to regional offices to ensure swift resolution. The organization is also conducting regular video conferences with zonal and regional offices to monitor progress.

Despite these actions, the government has not established a new time-bound deadline for clearing the backlog or disbursing pension arrears. As of August 5, 2026, approximately 11,595 applications remain pending out of a total of 1,524,365 received. Disposal rates vary significantly by region, with Bengaluru reporting minimal backlogs compared to other areas.