The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has processed a significant number of applications for higher pensions under the Employees' Pension Scheme (EPS-95), but a notable backlog persists. As of August 5, 2026, out of 15,24,365 applications received, 11,595 cases are still awaiting resolution.
These figures were recently disclosed in the Lok Sabha by Labour and Employment Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje on August 10, in response to inquiries regarding the status of these crucial pension applications.
Understanding the Higher EPS Pension Option
The provision for a higher EPS pension stems from a landmark Supreme Court judgment on November 4, 2022. This ruling allowed eligible EPS members, who had contributed to their provident fund on their actual basic salaries above the statutory wage ceiling, to opt for a higher pension, subject to specific conditions.
Following the judgment, EPFO established an online portal for members to submit applications for the validation of joint options. The government has since issued directives to regional EPFO offices to streamline the processing of these applications.
Application Status Across Regions
Across all EPFO zones, a total of 15.24 lakh applications had been received by August 5, 2026. Telangana, particularly its Hyderabad regional office, recorded the highest number of applications at 1,65,331. Mumbai-1 (Bandra) followed with 1,26,444 applications, and Maharashtra (excluding Mumbai) registered 1,26,311.
Regions with Highest Pending Cases
Despite the large volume of applications processed, 11,595 cases remained pending as of August 5. The data reveals significant disparities in the backlog across different regions:
- Punjab & Himachal Pradesh: 3,004 pending cases (out of 44,946 received)
- Delhi, Uttarakhand & Jammu: 1,389 pending cases (out of 95,419 received)
- Maharashtra (excluding Mumbai): 1,380 pending cases (out of 1,26,311 received)
- Orissa/Bhubaneswar: 1,341 pending cases (out of 49,234 received)
- Kerala & Lakshadweep: 1,251 pending cases (out of 81,665 received)
Conversely, regions like Bengaluru showed remarkable efficiency, with only 9 pending cases out of 1,09,307 applications.
Government's Response to Delays
Minister Karandlaje assured that EPFO is actively working to implement the Supreme Court's directives in a timely manner. The ministry has periodically issued instructions to regional offices to expedite the disposal of higher EPS pension applications. Furthermore, regular video conferences are being held with zonal and regional EPFO offices to monitor the progress and address any bottlenecks in the application processing.
What Higher EPS Pension Means for Subscribers
Under the standard EPS framework, an employer contributes 8.33% of an employee's basic pay, up to a specified wage ceiling. The higher pension option allows eligible members to contribute based on their actual basic salary and dearness allowance, rather than being limited by this ceiling.
Since pension calculations consider the average pensionable salary over the last 60 months of service, a higher pensionable salary directly translates into a higher monthly pension for eligible subscribers upon retirement at 58, provided they have at least 10 years of eligible service.