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EPFO has extended time till January 31, 2025 for employers to upload wage details regarding 3.1 lakh pending applications for pension on higher wages.
Many representations have been received from Employers & Employers’ Associations, requesting extending the time further.
EPFO Higher Pension Scheme Latest News: Retirement fund body EPFO has extended the time till January 31, 2025, for employers to upload wage details, etc regarding 3.1 lakh pending applications for pension on higher wages.
Online Facility for Validation
An online facility was made available by EPFO for submitting applications for validation of options/joint options for pension on higher wages, a labour ministry statement said.
Initial Launch and Timeline
The facility was for eligible pensioners or members in compliance with the Supreme Court order on November 4, 2022. It was launched on February 26, 2023, and was to remain available only till May 3, 2023.
Extension of Timeline for Employees
However, considering the representations of employees, the time was extended to June 26, 2023, to provide complete four months to eligible pensioners/members for filing applications.
Final Opportunity for Submission
A last opportunity of 15 days was further given to remove any difficulty faced by them.
Accordingly, the last date for submission of applications was extended to July 11, 2023, and a total of 17.49 lakh applications were received from pensioners/members till July 11, 2023.
Multiple Extensions for Employers to Submit Wage Details
Given representations received from Employers & Employers’ Associations, wherein requests were made to extend the time for uploading the wage details, employers were given multiple opportunities to submit wage details etc. online till September 30, 2023, again till December 31, 2023 and thereafter till May 31, 2024.
Pending Applications Despite Extensions
Despite so many extensions, it has been observed that more than 3.1 lakh applications for validation of options / joint options are still pending with employers.
Final Opportunity for Employers
Many representations have been received from Employers & Employers’ Associations, requesting extending the time further.
Therefore, the ministry said a “final opportunity” is being given to the employers till January 31, 2025 to ensure that they process and upload these pending applications.
Additional Information Requested by EPFO
Employers are also requested to submit replies/update the information by January 15, 2025, in over 4.66 lakh cases where EPFO has sought additional information/ clarification in respect of applications that have been received and examined by EPFO.
