The last date to apply for higher pension was July 11, 2023 as per Supreme Court judgment extension. New applications are no longer accepted. Only status check is now available for existing applicants.

The differential EPS contribution (difference between contributions on actual salary and ₹15,000 ceiling) will be recovered from your PF balance along with interest earned. If there's a shortfall, you may need to pay it separately with interest.

For members who retired before September 1, 2014, pensionable salary is calculated based on the average monthly pay drawn during the contributory period of service in the 12 months preceding the date of exit.

For members whose pension commenced on or after September 1, 2014, pensionable salary is calculated based on the average monthly pay drawn during the contributory period in the 60 months (5 years) preceding the date of exit.

The EPS contribution is currently capped at ₹15,000 per month. However, the higher pension scheme allows you to contribute on your actual salary if you were a member before September 1, 2014, potentially resulting in much higher pension.

No. The new higher pension once fixed will be a final amount. Unlike some government pensions, EPFO pension does not automatically increase with inflation or cost of living. The pension is based on contributions and remains fixed for life.

Arrears of pension (difference between old and new pension from retirement date to approval date) will be paid in accordance with existing EPFO processes, subject to income tax TDS provisions. If the amount exceeds tax exemption limits, TDS will be deducted.

On November 4, 2022, the Supreme Court ruled that EPF members who were members before September 1, 2014 can contribute to EPS on their actual salary (not limited to ₹15,000). Fresh options could be made within 4 months (later extended to July 11, 2023).

No, the Supreme Court-mandated deadline of July 11, 2023 was final. EPFO is not accepting new applications. However, if you already submitted an application before the deadline, you can check its status on the unified member portal.

Employer verification is mandatory for higher pension application. If your employer is not cooperating, you can escalate the issue to EPFO regional office or file a grievance through the EPFO portal. EPFO has mechanisms to handle such cases.

Yes, if your total pension income exceeds the income tax exemption limit, TDS will be deducted as per prevailing income tax rules. Arrears of pension may attract higher TDS as they are considered income for the year of receipt.

The increase depends on your actual salary versus the ₹15,000 ceiling. For example, if your pensionable salary was ₹50,000, your pension could be more than 3 times higher than the ceiling-based pension. Use the calculator above for estimates.

Yes, visit the EPFO Unified Member Portal at unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in, login with your UAN, and check 'Pension on Higher Wages' section to view application status, employer verification status, and differential dues calculation.

If your application is rejected, check the reason on the portal. Common reasons include employer non-verification, incorrect documents, or ineligibility. You can file a grievance or appeal to the EPFO regional office with supporting documents.

As of October 2025, EPFO announced major changes: (1) Members can withdraw up to 100% of eligible balance but must maintain 25% minimum balance in account at all times, (2) Partial withdrawals require only 12 months service (education: 10 times, marriage: 5 times allowed), (3) Full EPF withdrawal now requires 12 months unemployment (vs 2 months previously), (4) Final pension settlement requires 36 months wait (vs 2 months previously), (5) No documentation needed for automated processing. These changes aim to balance accessibility with retirement corpus protection.