EPFO guidelines for submission of Joint Request under para 26(6), while applying for pension on higher wages

The online Joint Option form for applying for pension on higher wages, provides for proof of joint option under para 26(6) of the Employees’ Provident Fund Scheme, 1952. It has been brought to the notice of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation that most of the applicants do not possess such joint option which can be uploaded on the portal, along with the application for pension on higher wages.

Accordingly, the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation, vide internal circular number. Pension/PoHW/23/Circular-26(6)/139610/1648, dated 14^th June, 2023, has issued below guidelines to all the field officers on verification of applications, in case the applicant does not upload the joint request under para 26(6).

The field officers will verify that:

• Employer share of PF contribution has been remitted on employee’s pay, exceeding the prevalent statutory wage ceiling of Rs.5,000/6,500/15,000 per month from the day the pay exceeded the wage ceiling, or from 16^th November, 1995, whichever is late, till date or till the date of retirement, as the case may be.
• Administrative charges payable by the employer have been remitted on such higher wages.
• Employee PF account has been updated with interest fixed by the Government time to time on such higher contribution received.
• Uploading of any of the below document along with application will suffice for the validation of joint request approved under para 26(6)

>  Wage details submitted by the employer along with applications.

>  Any salary slip/ letter from the employer authenticated by the employer.

>  Copy of the joint request and undertaking from the employer.

>  Letter from PF office, if any, issued prior to 4^th November, 2022, (date of the judgement) indicating PF contribution on higher wages.

The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation further clarified that, the applicant who qualify for the above and are already contributing, or have contributed till retirement or superannuation on higher pay, have not submitted their joint request and undertaking of the employer, can submit the same at the time of final claim settlement through their last employer. Joint request and undertaking of the employer can be submitted by pensioner or members any time before the grant of pension on higher wages.

Given the updates, which are being received by the employers from the EPFO in a staggered manner, the para 26(6) declaration, currently, which can also be submitted at the time of F & F settlement, may come in as online option during enrolment / F & F settlement.