Higher pension application rejected by regional epfo office after pending for almost 2 years

The reasons could be available in the concerned file noting. You can obtain the noting under the provisions of the RTI Act.

Thank you Sir for your reply. I will file an RTI. May I request you to let me know if can file RTI online or I need to submit the request in person? Would you be able to give some guidance on how to file RTI? I will also search online. I have never done it before, it will be my first time

The information could be sought through rtionline.gov.in

You first ascertain the facts by submitting an application under RTI act seeking reasons for delay and status of your aplication for higher pension.

You can file the application under RTI act through online also

Thank you P. Venu Sir and T. Kalaiselvan Sir.

I am also facing similar issues with my application made for the higher pension. All my 3 employers have approved the application with all the relevant details. 

I visisted regional EPFO Pune office to understand the reasons for rejection. One of the officers in the EPFO regional office said that supreme court's verdict / judgement to seek joint application for higher pension is left to various interpretations and every EPFO Regional Fund commisioner has been interpreting it in his own ways so that there can be maximum rejections without asking for any clarifications from applicant or employers. They are not ready to furbish details of exact reasons for rejection. They are saying employers should have got it. However when checked with employers they are saying they are yet to receive any comminication on this. 

To make it worse, the EPFO officer said there is no option to reconsider the application after the rejection,. 

I have filed an RTI for now to understand the reason for my application rejection. 

However, the way this entire proces sis being done is very unlawful. How can this be challenged? 

My  case is also similar , I applied for Higher Pension with joint application duly approved by my last Employer till Dec 24. I retired after that and applied for normal pension which is approved in Nov 24 and the pension amount from Jan 24 with arrears is also reimnursed in bank. The higher pension application was rejectect by Regional PF commissioner in Jan 25 stating that they do not have data in their records from 1997 till 2003 for EPS amount, however same office as already approved Normal Pension without any query. I worked in only 1 company from May 1997 till Dec 23. Advise can I challage the decision as I am unable to find any way to do this as per prevailing law other then going to court. Involve EPFO office is Thane - Maharasthra. I feel the application is rejected as the likely pension after apporval was too high looking to last basic salary and similar rejections happened with many people.

YUou should use RTI channel to examine feasibility of moving to Consumer Court.

I am also facing same situation. My higher pension application rejected by regional epfo office, Pune after pending for more than 2 years. I asked my employer Tech Mahindra about the reason but they said they did not known. I did not receive any communication, either an email or an sms, as to why the application has been rejected.  I submiiteed all required documents to EPFO portal and my employer Tech Mahindra. I am unable to raise grievance on the EPFO portal as there is no proper category for higher pension application issues. I have sent emails to them asking for clarification. No response from EPFO office. 

Does anybody have any information. Kindly share.

Can we all form one group (higher pension application rejected) and file a complaint to EPFO.

contact. nine eight four eight eight six one six four zero  

Reagrds,

Sudhakar

Hyderabad

Three persons have joined this thread. kindly elaborate the facts as of each case seperately.

I am also facing similar problem. I have applied for pension on Higher salary on 30.04.2023.

Recently, while tracking status of the claim on site  (https://unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in /memberInterfacePohw/) I came to know that my application is rejected.  (I have not  not received any correspondence from PF office.)

As per rejection letter (downloaded from above site) they had given me opportunity to rectify mistakes/errors, those made by employer/me and to provide proof/evidence within period one month.  However,  my employer has not received any correspondence from office.  

Reasons for rejection of application mentioned in letter are as below :

1.    Applicant failed to submit proof of remittance on higher wages.

2.    Establishment failed to submit original documents as no reply received for clarification sought in support of the claim (No such letter received by establishment)

3.    Employer / member does not comply to requirements proof of joint option U/p 26(6)of EPF scheme.

4.    Establishment failed to provide documentary evidence for payment of Administrative charges on Higher salary.

Respected P. Venu Sir & T. Kalaiselvan Sir

I went to the Bandra Regional office of EPFO. They mentioned they had sent an email asking for additional documents to my organization and me. I told them I did not receive any email for additional documents and I showed them my email inbox. I searched my inbox and there was no demand email from EPFO. 

I was finally able to download the rejection letter and also get the same from my current employer. My current employer has outsourced the EFP work to a 3rd party vendor. The rejection letter clearly states my current employer did not gave the requisite information. The 3rd party vendor claims they never got the email. They argue that the EPFO raises any demand via the EPFO portal and they did not receive any queries on portal nor via any email. As per the 3rd party vendor, it may have been sent to previous organization, which I am doubtful as the letter (please refer attachment) clearly mentions current organization.

I told EPFO to give me a copy of the demand and the rejection letter which they refused. They told me to contact my employer. They refuse to accept any documents now and the EPFO officer, is asking me to contact Supreme Court.

I have submitted 26(6) form from current employer, Joint Option form and the proof of remittance of all my previous employers. EPFO officer told me they need 26(6) from all the employers and salary slips for all months starting 2008 till date.

Kindly advice.

Thank you

section from the attachment below:

wherein it is stated that the aforesaid application form must contain the following specified documents

for evidence and for further processing of Joint Option;

a) Proof of Joint Option under Para 26(6) of the EPF Scheme duly verified by the

employer; and

b) Proof of Joint Option under the proviso to erstwhile Para 11(3) duly verified by the

employer; and

c) Proof of remittance in Provident Fund on higher wages exceeding the prevalent wage

ceiling of Rs. 5000/6500; and

d) Proof of remittance in Pension Fund on higher wages exceeding the prevalent wage

ceiling of Rs.5000/6500, if any; and

e) Written refusal of APFC or any other higher authority of EPFO to such requests /

remittance.

f) Proof of remittance of Inspection Charges on higher wages.

If your efforts to obtain the desired relief proved to be futile then you may adopt the legal procedure to get the relief through court of law.

If necessary you may file a writ petition against the EPFO and your previous employer as second respondent and the third party as the third respondent and seek relief against all the three.

Before that you obtain the copy of the rejection letter from EPFO by submitting an appl;ication under RTI act to ascertain the reasons for their rejection to ernable you to make strong pleadings in the writ petition  

Hi Sir, I have submiited joint declarations of current employer and previous employer along with higher pension application form. My previous company was merged with current employer. But EPFO office rejected, the reason they showed is the previous employer proof of remittence was not submitted. I have given both joint declarations with one application form.