EPFO issues 1,49,806 pension payment orders for higher contributions: Labour Ministry

New Delhi: The retirement fund body EPFO has issued 1,49,806 pension payment orders for higher contributions to retired applicants pursuant to the Supreme Court order in November 2022, Parliament was informed on Monday.

However, the labour ministry stated that 15,24,365 claims were received under contribution for higher wages for higher pension, and 11,595 such claims were pending as of August 5, 2026, Minister of State for Labour & Employment Shobha Karandlaje said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

Follow The PSUWatch Channel on WhatsApp

In November, the apex court asked the government to provide the facility of higher contribution as per their actual wage to the pension scheme for getting higher benefit to members.

In another reply, Karandlaje stated that a total of 1,49,806 pension payment orders (PPOs) on higher wages have been issued to the retired applicants pursuant to the Supreme Court judgement on November 4, 2022.

She stated that as of March 31, 2026, the total number of pensioners under the Employees' Pension Scheme is 85,84,604.

The total amount of pension disbursed under the scheme up to March 31, 2026, is Rs 15,819.28 crore.

The minister informed the House that the EPS 1995 has been superseded by EPS 2026.

She also stated that the government is committed to ensuring robust social security coverage to members of EPFO schemes while taking into consideration the sustainability of the fund and the future liabilities thereon.

The government is providing a minimum pension of Rs 1,000 per month to the pensioners under the EPS 1995 by providing budgetary support, which is in addition to the budgetary support of 1.16 percent of wages provided annually towards EPS to Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO).

The EPS 1995 Employees' Pension Scheme is a 'defined contribution-defined benefit social security scheme'. The corpus of the Employees’ Pension Fund is made up of contributions by the employer at the rate of 8.33 percent of wages; and contributions from the central government through budgetary support at the rate of 1.16 percent of wages up to an amount of Rs 15,000 per month.

Follow PSU Watch on LinkedIN

All benefits under the scheme are paid out of such accumulations. The fund is valued annually as mandated under paragraph 32 of EPS, 1995, she stated.

In another reply, she stated that the EPFO has introduced a 12-month waiting period for premature final EPF settlement and a 36-month waiting period for withdrawal benefits under EPS.

The EPFO has simultaneously liberalised and simplified partial withdrawals and advances. Members can withdraw up to 75 percent of their balance under three broad heads: essential needs, housing needs and special circumstances.

This enables access to funds for unemployment-related expenses, medical emergencies, education, housing and other critical requirements.

Also, members are free to avail 75 percent of their balance 2 times every year under special circumstances without assigning any reasons, she stated.

(PSU Watch is India's Business News centre that places the spotlight on PSUs, Bureaucracy, Defence and Public Policy. 👉 Click to join our channel now: PSUWatch WhatsApp Channel. Prefer LinkedIn? Follow PSU Watch on LinkedIN. Click to stay connected on Twitter here and stay updated)