The Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) has further simplified the process for opting for higher pensions to ensure no eligible employees are left out of this one-off opportunity. It means that eligible employees who do not have proof of joint request or an undertaking from the employer can also apply.

In a circular this week, EPFO supplied a list of documents and the joint pension application form required to be submitted by eligible employees who do not have proof of joint request for higher pensions. It also laid down the rules for accepting such applications by field offices.

As per rules, a joint request or an undertaking is required on a higher salary whose basic pay exceeds the wage limit to contribute to the EPF account. For cases that do not have the undertaking, the EPFO has now set the procedures for accepting higher pension applications.

What EPFO Field Offices Can Do

The field offices must verify if the employer’s PF contribution has been remitted on the employee’s pay from the day the salary exceeded the wage ceiling, or Nov 16, 1995. Also, they need to check if the employer remitted the administrative charges on the higher wage and whether the employee’s EPF account has been updated with interest based on the contribution.

They must also ensure one of the following documents is submitted besides the joint application form: salary slip or letter from the employer, copy of a joint request from the employer, and letter from the PF office issued before 4.11.2022 showing PF contribution on higher wages.

Furthermore, employees who haven’t submitted proof of joint declaration while applying for a higher EPS pension can submit it at the time of final claim settlement through their last employer. The pensioners or the members can submit the employer undertaking under Para 26(6) at any time before the grant of pension on higher wages.

The EPFO brought these changes after the Kerala High Court directed it to allow eligible employees to opt for higher EPS pensions without certain documents. The ruling came after many eligible employees were reportedly unable to apply for higher pensions due to the lack of proof of joint request.

The EPFO has also allowed the deletion of any higher pension application form submitted earlier, provided it is not verified by the employer, and re-submit it.

The last date to apply for a higher EPS pension is June 26, 2023.