Resolve the various problems faced by pensioners
EPS 95 GRIVENCES REDRESSAL FORUM
Indira Dandyala · 26m. Resolve the various problems faced by EPS -95 members/ pensioners in the submission of online joint option forms for higher pension.
CLICK HERE – EPS 95 PENSION NEWS
As the Labour Ministry has to still work out on the amendments to the Employees’ Pension Scheme of 1995 (EPS-95) and as most of the EPS 95 pensioners are not able to exercise joint option online, we have requested Union Labour Minister and Chairman of EPFO’s Central Board of Trustees (CBT), Central P. F Commissioner, CBT members and others to extend the last date of submission of online joint option form from May 3, 2023.
We have exhaustively listed out several problems(not mentioned here as they are elaborate) being faced by EPS -95 members/ pensioners and requested them to resolve them.
Meanwhile we have appealed to our members of CCGGOO who are working as Officers in EPFO to help EPS-95 pensioners in all ways. Most of them said that in spite of their best efforts, they are not able to do full justice to pensioners due to the indifferent attitude of top management and Govt.
CCGGOO affiliates in EPFO clarified that if EPS- 95 pensioners are not able to exercise joint option online due to any technical reason, they can submit the physical joint option along with supporting documents duly enclosing the screenshot of the technical error for further necessary action.
EPFO subscribers are facing several procedural complexities in opting for higher pension. EPFO’s process of issuing circulars is moving at a snail’s pace.
EPFO is yet to clarify the implementation of the Kerala High Court order dated April 12,2023 asking the EPFO not to insist on proofs and other documents making it difficult for eligible EPF members to apply for the higher pension.
The requirement of the employees to contribute @1.16% of their salary to the extent such salary exceeds Rs.15,000 a month as an additional contribution was held to be ultra vires by the Supreme Court in its judgment dated November 4, 2022 and struck down a portion of the EPFO’s September 2014 notification. The EPFO is yet to clarify the replacement mechanism for an additional 1.16% contribution.
Further, the EPFO is yet to issue the circular clarifying Computation of pension. There is no clarity regarding how dues will be calculated. Also, there is no clarity on if an individual who has opted for the scheme can opt out if the additional dues are higher than expected.
EPFO is yet to issue guidelines for filling Joint Option Forms in case of deceased employees.
Employers have only the option to accept or reject the joint option form submitted by the employees/ pensioners. Employers should be allowed to edit the wrong details or revert to the pensioner for correction.
Some times after submission of joint option form, no response is received from the portal and pensioners are not able to download the acknowledgement. In the employer portal error appearing that “No record is found against this UAN”.
Some of the pensioners names are mismatching in UAN & Aadhaar. EPFO should expedite corrective action. PPO number of several pensioners is not appearing at the time of filling the Joint Option Form while they have been issued PPO and getting pension.
Error_SQE00: No details found against UAN, message appearing that No data available with UAN while EPFO portal is showing the data against said UAN in employer portal therefore pensioners are not able to file their joint option forms.
Error SQE 1422 Exact fetch returns more than the requested number of rows – Inspite the data is appearing against UAN in the employer portal, pensioners are not able to file their joint option forms due to this error.
Old PF slips/Pay slips are not available with pensioners.After submission of joint Option form error appearing with message “ERR_VPE02: An error occurred while processing your request, please try after some time”. Therefore, pensioners are not able to download the acknowledgement copy.
Most of the EPS-95 pensioners are not in a position to get a higher pension as many industries, companies are not in existence. There is also no accessibility of records which got destroyed over a period of 20 to 25 years.
Clarification on requirement of furnishing prior permission under Para 26(6), as directed by Kerala High Court should be given by EPFO.
Unless the picture regarding higher pension is crystal clear, it will be very difficult for the eligible pensioners to know for sure if they are getting a fair deal or not. Senior citizens should not be forced to go through the ordeal of fulfilling the superfluous documentary requirements.
Let’s extend support to the demands and programme of action of the All India Co-ordination Committee of EPS Pensioners Associations (AICCEPSPA) and others.
with greetings
yours fraternally
V. Krishna Mohan
National Vice Chairman
Confederation of Central Government Gazetted Officers Organisations (CCGGOO)
kmdrdo@gmail.com
9440668281
State Secretary, Telangana All Pensioners and Retired Persons Association (TAPRPA)
Affiliated to National Coordination Committee of Pensioners Associations (NCCPA)
