How to File RTI with EPFO for EPS-95 Pension — Amount Basis, Higher Pension Option and Arrears

The Employees' Pension Scheme 1995 (EPS-95) is a monthly pension scheme administered by the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) under the Ministry of Labour and Employment. Every employee who has been a member of EPFO for at least 10 years is entitled to a monthly EPS-95 pension on retirement at age 58.

EPFO is a public authority under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, 2005. Pensioners, employees approaching retirement, and families of deceased EPFO members can file RTI applications to obtain the precise calculation basis for their pension, the status of a higher pension option application, or the grounds for non-commencement of a survivor pension.

EPS-95 vs EPF: Two Different Schemes, Both Under EPFO

This guide covers EPS-95 pension matters specifically. For PF withdrawal disputes, refer to the separate EPFO PF Withdrawal guide.

What Can You Achieve with RTI to EPFO (EPS-95)?

• Obtain the pension calculation breakdown — pensionable service, pensionable salary, and formula applied — to verify your monthly pension amount
• Get the status of a higher pension option application (following the Supreme Court's direction in 2022 on pension based on actual salary)
• Find out why pension has not started despite the member reaching retirement age
• Get the status and basis of a survivor/family pension claim filed after the member's death
• Obtain the EPS-95 pension payment history (passbook) showing monthly credits and any withheld months
• Know whether your employer deposited the full required EPS contribution or under-deposited against the actual salary

The Higher Pension Option: A Major RTI Use Case

In November 2022, the Supreme Court of India upheld the right of eligible EPFO members to opt for pension calculated on their actual salary (not the ₹15,000/month ceiling). EPFO opened a joint option window in 2023. If you or your employer filed a joint option application and the enhanced pension has not started, RTI is the most direct way to:

1. Confirm EPFO received your application and the exact date of receipt
2. Know the current stage — whether EPFO has verified the application, raised a demand on the employer, and whether the employer has paid the differential dues
3. Identify where the delay is — whether it is EPFO's processing, the employer's non-payment, or a technical issue
4. Get the officer responsible and the expected timeline

The EPS-95 Pension Formula

The monthly pension is calculated as:

Monthly Pension = (Pensionable Salary × Pensionable Service) ÷ 70

Where:

• Pensionable Salary: Average monthly salary in the last 60 months of EPS-95 membership (capped at ₹15,000 for those who did not opt for higher pension)
• Pensionable Service: Total years of EPS-95 membership (maximum 35 years); a bonus of 2 years is added if the member has completed at least 20 years of pensionable service
• Past Service Benefit: Employees who were part of the earlier Family Pension Scheme (FPS 1971) before EPS-95 launched in 1995 are entitled to a Past Service Benefit computed from Table B of EPS-95

RTI can verify each of these inputs individually.

Where to File

Your EPFO Regional Office is identified by the prefix in your PF account number. File on rtionline.gov.in:

1. Select Ministry of Labour and Employment → Employees' Provident Fund Organisation
2. Choose the Regional / Sub-Regional Office corresponding to your PF account prefix (e.g., DL/CPM for Delhi-CPM, MH/BAN for Maharashtra-Bandra)
3. Draft your application with your UAN, full PF account number, and the specific pension matter
4. Pay ₹10 online. BPL cardholders are exempt
5. Submit and note your registration number

What Specific Information Can You Ask For?

Pension calculation basis:

1. Pensionable Service counted for UAN XXX — total years and whether any service break reduced the count
2. Pensionable Salary figure used — the 60-month average calculation with each month's salary
3. Whether the 2-year bonus was applied (applicable if pensionable service ≥ 20 years)
4. Past-service benefit computed under Table B, if applicable

Higher pension option status: 5. Date of receipt of joint option application for UAN XXX and current processing stage 6. Whether a demand for differential contribution was raised on the employer — date and amount demanded 7. Whether employer has paid the differential — if not, action taken against the defaulting employer

Pension not started: 8. Reason pension has not commenced for UAN XXX despite retirement / age 58 as on date 9. Name and designation of the officer currently holding the pension sanction file

Survivor pension: 10. Status of survivor pension application by claimant name for UAN XXX — date received, stage, and pension amount determined 11. If rejected — specific reason and the EPS-95 provision cited

Appeals

First Appeal (Section 19(1)): File with the FAA at EPFO within 30 days of the date of decision or expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable.

Second Appeal (Section 19(3)): File with the Central Information Commission (CIC) within 90 days. EPFO is a Central Government body — second appeal is CIC, not any State Information Commission.