Process of applying for higher pension on unified portal simple, easy to understand: MoS Rameswar Teli

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

higher pension on the unified portal of EPFO is «simple and easy to understand» and as per the Supreme Court's order last year, Parliament was informed on Monday amid the criticism of unfeasible requirements on the portal. Following the Supreme Court order in November 2022, the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) had given option to subscribers and their employers to jointly opt for higher contributions as per the actual basic wages (higher than threshold of Rs 15,000 per month) on the unified portal.

«The process in unified portal for submission of joint options for higher pension is simple and easy to understand and contains simple requirements as per provisions of Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) Scheme, 1952, Employees' Pension Scheme (EPS), 1995 and the judgment of the Supreme Court on November 4, 2022,» said Minister of State for Labour and Employment Rameswar Teli in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. The minister said that for convenience of members and pensioners, EPFO has directed its field offices across India for assisting the applicants in filing these online forms.

He was replying to a question, whether the government has taken note of the criticism against unfeasible requirements and complex process on the unified portal rolled out by EPFO for submission of joint options for higher pension. Teli explained that the online option form contains simple requirements in accordance with the judgment of the Supreme Court, EPF Scheme, 1952 and EPS, 1995.

The joint option under paragraph 26(6) of EPF Scheme, 1952 is not a new requirement and predates EPS, 1995. It was required as per the scheme provisions and direction of the Supreme Court.