Parliament Question: Pending Claims on the Higher Pension Option under EPFO

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3573 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.08.2026 PENDING CLAIMS ON THE HIGHER PENSION OPTION UNDER EPFO

3573. SHRI M K RAGHAVAN:

Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state:

(a)the details of number of pending claims under the higher pension option of the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) in the country, State/UT-wise, particularly in Kerala;

(b)the details of number of applications received, processed, approved and pending along with the reasons for the delay;

(c)whether any directions have been issued by the Government to Regional EPFO offices and employers to expedite verification and processing of pending applications and if so, the details thereof;

(d)whether the Government proposes to introduce a time-bound mechanism for disposal of pending cases and release of pension arrears; and

(e)the details of measures taken by the Government to simplify the higher pension process, resolve employer-related issues and ensure timely disbursal of enhanced pension benefits to eligible pensioners in the country, particularly in Kerala? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)

(a) & (b): The zone-wise disposal details of the higher pension application of the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) are annexed at Annexure.

(c) to (e): EPFO has taken action to implement the directions contained in the Hon'ble Supreme Court Judgment dated 04.11.2022 in a time-bound manner. An online facility was provided and applications for validation of Joint Options processed in accordance with the applicable provisions.

Instructions were issued time to time to Regional Offices for timely disposal of Pension on Higher Wages. Regular VCs were also held with all Zonal and Regional Offices.

The Government remains committed to ensuring maximum benefits for workers under the EPS-2026 Scheme while taking into consideration the health of the Fund and the future liabilities thereon. * *****Annexure Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) & (b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question no. 3573 for

10.08.2026.

Zone wise disposal details of the higher pension applications as on 05.08.2026 Total No. of Applications Applications pending for Zonal Office Received in FO disposal ANDHRA PRADESH

(VIJAYWADA) 56,799 115 BENGALURU

(BENGALURU) 1,09,307 9 GUJARAT

(AHMEDABAD) 96,889 45 HARYANA 31,738 4 RAJASTHAN 38,788 25 TAMIL NADU(EXCLUDING CHENNAI) 77,147 4 TELANGANA

(HYDERABAD) 1,65,331 501 DELHI, UTTARAKHAND & JAMMU 95,419 1389 CHENNAI & PUDUCHERRY

(CHENNAI) 72,044 631 MAHARASHTRA(EXCL UDING MUMBAI)(PUNE) 1,26,311 1380 MUMBAI-1 (BANDRA) 1,26,444 406 KARNATAKA (OTHER THAN BENGALURU) & GOA (HUBLI) 91,699 237 ORISSA

(BHUBANESWAR) 49,234 1341 WB, A&N ISLANDS & SIKKIM (KOLKATA) 57,906 327 UTTAR PRADESH 65208 236 BIHAR & JHARKHAND(PATNA) 29,944 134 MUMBAI-2 (THANE) 28,987 148 MADHYA PRADESH & CHATTISGARH

(BHOPAL) 67,605 392 NORTH-EASTERN REGION (GUWAHATI) 10,954 16 KERALA & LAKSHADWEEP (THIRUVANANTHAPUR AM) 81,665 1,251 PUNJAB & HIMACHAL PRADESH 44,946 3,004 Grand Total 15,24,365 11,595 *****