Higher EPS pension: What is government doing on pending application for higher EPS pension; here's what union minister said

In most cases, employers contribute to an employee’s EPS account as per the wage ceiling of Rs 15,000. But in many cases, employees can contribute as per their actual basic salary to get a higher Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS) pension at the time of retiring or exiting from the scheme.

Such employees got the option of a higher pension after the Supreme Court, in a decision dated November 4, 2022, allowed eligible employees who contributed on the basis of actual basic salaries above the wage ceiling to opt for a higher EPS pension.

After the order, a number of employees applied for the higher EPS pension option. While most got the pension payment order (PPO) for a higher pension, cases of many Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS-95) are still pending.


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The issue of such pending cases of higher EPS pension came for a discussion in Lok Sabha on Monday (August 10, 2026) when MK Raghavan, member of Parliament, asked Shobha Karandlaje, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, about the number of pending claims under the higher EPS pension option of the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) in the country.

Raghavan also asked about the details of the number of higher EPS pension applications received, processed, approved and pending along with the reasons for the delay.

Replying to the query, Karandlaje said that as on August 5, 2026, as many as 15.24 lakh applications were received for higher EPS pension, with the highest coming from Hyderabad, Telangana (1,65,331), Mumbai 1, Bandra (1,26,444), Maharashtra, excluding Mumbai (1,26,311), and Bengaluru (1,09,307).

Also Read: Higher EPS-95 pension: Government clarifies rule for employees of exempted, unexempted establishments

Karandlaje further says that the total number of pending cases as on August 5, 2026, were 11,595, with the highest being in Punjab & Himachal Pradesh (3,004), Delhi, Uttarakhand & Jammu (1,389), Maharashtra (excluding Mumbai, 1380), Orissa, Bhubaneswar (1,341) and Kerala & Lakshadweep (1,251).

Government’s direction on pending higher EPS pension cases

Raghavan also asked whether the government has issued any directions to regional EPFO offices and employers to expedite verification and the processing of pending higher EPS pension applications.

He also asked if the government has proposed introducing a time-bound mechanism for the disposal of pending higher EPS pension cases and the release of pension arrears?

Karandlaje said that the EPFO has taken action to implement the directions contained in the Supreme Court’s judgment dated November 4, 2022, in a time-bound

manner.

“An online facility was provided and applications for the validation of joint options processed in accordance with the applicable provisions,” the minister explained.

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Karandlaje further revealed that after the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision of higher EPS pension, the government has issued instructions from time to time to regional EPFO offices for the timely disposal of higher EPS pension applications.

“Regular VCs were also held with all zonal and regional EPFO offices,” Karandlaje says.

What is the Employees' Pension Scheme?

The Employees' Pension Scheme provides pensionary benefits to eligible employees of establishments covered under the Act. The scheme ensures a monthly pension to its members on superannuation, early retirement, permanent disability, and also offers family pension in case of the EPS member’s demise.

Employers contribute 8.33% of the basic pay of an employee, while the central government contributes 1.16% (subject to wage ceiling) towards the EPS pension fund of an employee.

Members with a minimum service of 10 years are entitled to get EPS pension after retiring at the age of 58. Members with a service period of less than 10 years may opt for withdrawal benefits of the EPS scheme.

What is a higher EPS-95 pension?

The higher EPS pension scheme is an option provided by the EPFO to EPS subscribers. The scheme is not limited to the standard wage ceiling of Rs 15,000 for EPS contributions and allows eligible employees to contribute 8.33% of their actual basic salary and dearness allowance toward their pension.

A higher contribution based on the actual basic salary allows an EPS subscriber to be eligible for a higher pension amount as pension calculations take into account the average pensionable salary of the last 60 months.

Any higher contribution can result in a significantly higher monthly payout to EPS subscribers after retirement.

Higher EPS pension cases (application received and pending cases)

Zonal Office	Total 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
Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh	67,605	392
West Bengal, Andaman & Nicobar Islands & Sikkim	57,906	327
Karnataka (other than Bengaluru) & Goa	91,699	237
Uttar Pradesh	65,208	236
Mumbai-2 (Thane)	28,987	148
Bihar & Jharkhand	29,944	134
Andhra Pradesh (Vijayawada)	56,799	115
Gujarat (Ahmedabad)	96,889	45
Rajasthan	38,788	25
North-Eastern Region (Guwahati)	10,954	16
Bengaluru (Bengaluru)	1,09,307	9
Haryana	31,738	4
Tamil Nadu (excluding Chennai)	77,147	4
Grand Total	15,24,365	11,595