How EPFO Members Can Track Higher Pension Claim Status: A Step-by-Step Guide

Lakhs of Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) members who applied for pension on higher wages under the Employees' Pension Scheme (EPS), 1995 can now track their application status through multiple official channels, including the EPFO member portal, the UMANG app, SMS, missed call, and a toll-free number. The tracking facility comes as EPFO continues processing a large backlog of higher-pension applications filed after the Supreme Court's November 2022 ruling that allowed eligible employees to opt for pension based on their actual, higher salary rather than the statutory wage ceiling.

Why Tracking Higher Pension Status Matters

EPFO introduced an online system for filing validation and joint option applications on February 26, 2023, with the deadline extended multiple times before employers were given a final opportunity to forward applications by January 31, 2025.

As many as 1.749 million applications were received by the initial July 2023 deadline alone. Since then, EPFO has been steadily working through the backlog, issuing demand notices to eligible members and processing Pension Payment Orders (PPOs) for those who have completed the required formalities. EPFO ECR Deadline Today: Employers Must File July PF Return and Deposit Contributions.

According to the latest information from the Labour Ministry, 1,49,806 PPOs have been issued to eligible applicants under the higher-pension option, with EPFO having received more than 15 lakh claims in total, while thousands of applications are still being examined. EPFO Issues Nearly 1.5 Lakh Higher Pension Orders: Here’s How To Check Your Claim Status Online.

How to Track Status Through the EPFO Portal

Members can log in to the EPFO member portal, click on "Online Services" in the top navigation bar, and select "Track Claim Status" to view their Tracking ID, Form Type, and current status. This option is specifically meant for those who applied for higher pension under EPS 1995 and is separate from the regular claim status check used for provident fund withdrawals.

Applicants can also click on "Track Application Status" on the left side of the screen and enter their Acknowledgement Number, UAN, or PPO Number to view progress. If the status shows "Pending in Regional Office," it typically means the previous employer's service records are still being verified, which remains the most common reason for delays.

Tracking Through the UMANG App

Members can also open the UMANG app, search for EPFO under the "All Services" section, tap on "Employee Centric Services," and select "Track Claim," sometimes listed under "General Services" as "Know Your Claim Status." After entering their 12-digit Universal Account Number and clicking "Get OTP," members can log in using the OTP sent to their registered mobile number to view all claims made under that UAN, including detailed information such as the Tracking ID, Claim Type, and current Claim Status.

Offline Options: SMS, Missed Call, and Toll-Free Number

For members who prefer not to use the portal or app, EPFO offers several offline alternatives.

Members can send an SMS by typing "EPFOHO" followed by their UAN number and the first three letters of their language preference, such as "ENG" for English, to 7738299899 from their registered mobile number.

Members can also dial 9966044425 from their registered mobile number as a missed call service, or call the EPFO toll-free number, 1800 118 005, for assistance. A claim status marked "Payment under process" or "Pending" indicates the claim is under review, "Settled" means the payment has been or will soon be processed, "Rejected" points to a discrepancy such as a detail mismatch or signature issue, while "Not Available" means no claim has been filed or processed yet.

What EPFO Advises Members to Keep Ready

Applicants are advised to keep their UAN, PPO number, and application details ready while checking their status, and to carefully follow EPFO's instructions if the application shows a pending action or a demand amount.

EPFO has also cautioned members to avoid unofficial agents who claim they can speed up a higher-pension application or guarantee approval, stressing that all EPFO-related payments and personal information should be handled only through official channels.

The Road Ahead

The issuance of nearly 1.5 lakh PPOs shows the higher-pension process has progressed for a significant number of eligible applicants, though the gap between total applications and PPOs issued indicates many cases are still going through verification and processing. Members whose applications remain stuck are advised to check the exact status wording on the portal and, where necessary, escalate through EPFO's grievance redressal system for further action.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 16, 2026 04:11 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).