EPF, EPS and EDLI: How employees earning up to ₹25,000 can check their eligibility and enrolment status

The EPFO wage ceiling has risen from ₹15,000 to ₹25,000 a month, potentially extending provident fund, pension and insurance benefits to more employees. Check who qualifies under the revised rules, how enrolment works and what the change means for your salary deductions and retirement savings.

Employees earning up to ₹25,000 a month may now qualify for provident fund, pension and insurance benefits following the government’s decision to raise the wage ceiling for mandatory coverage under the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO). The revised limit came into effect on 17 September 2026, increasing the earlier ceiling of ₹15,000 a month.

The change is expected to bring more than 51 lakh additional employees under mandatory EPFO coverage. However, earning below the revised threshold does not, by itself, guarantee eligibility. Employees must meet the applicable scheme conditions, and those seeking coverage should check their eligibility with their employer.

Who can enroll under the revised EPFO wage ceiling?

The revision is particularly relevant for employees who were previously excluded from EPF coverage solely because their monthly wages exceeded ₹15,000.

According to the Labour Ministry’s announcement, employees whose wages fall between ₹15,000 and ₹25,000 and who meet the applicable eligibility conditions can now be enrolled in the statutory social security framework. The revised ceiling also affects the wage base used to calculate contributions, subject to the relevant scheme provisions.

Employees already enrolled in EPF should not assume that the change automatically means their contributions will rise in every case. The amount depends on their applicable wage base, existing membership status and the rules governing their contributions.

How can eligible employees enrol in EPF, EPS and EDLI?