New Delhi, Dec 18 (PTI) Pension Fund EPFO has extended the time till January 31, 2025 for employers to upload wage details etc in respect of 3.1 lakh pending applications for pension at higher wages.
EPFO has made available an online facility for submitting applications for validation of options/joint options for pensions at higher wages, a statement from the Labor Ministry said.
The facility was meant for eligible pensioners or members in accordance with the Supreme Court order dated November 4, 2022. The facility was launched on February 26, 2023 and would remain available only till May 3, 2023.
However, taking into account employee representations, the time was extended to June 26, 2023 to allow eligible pensioners/members full four months for filing applications.
A final fifteen-day opportunity was given to resolve any problems they encountered.
Accordingly, the last date for submitting applications was extended to July 11, 2023 and a total of 17.49 lakh applications were received from pensioners/members till July 11, 2023.
In view of the responses received from employers and employers’ associations requesting an extension of the time for uploading payroll data, employers were given multiple options to submit payroll data etc. online until September 30, 2023, again until December 31, 2023 and thereafter until May 31, 2024.
Despite so many extensions, it has been noted that there are still over 3.1 million options/joint option validation applications pending with employers.
Many responses have been received from employers and employers’ organizations requesting a further extension of the period.
Therefore, the ministry said a “last chance” will be given to employers until January 31, 2025 to ensure they process and upload these outstanding applications.
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/clarifications regarding applications filed by EPFO received and examined.
