Enhanced Benefits for Claimants
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Labour Ministry introduced significant benefits for nominees of deceased EPF members. A key enhancement is the increased
sum assured under the Employees' Deposit Linked Insurance (EDLI) scheme, which has been raised to Rs 7 lakh from the previous Rs 6 lakh. This EDLI scheme acts as an insurance cover for EPF members, providing a payout to their family or designated nominee upon the employee's death while they were an active member. Furthermore, the conditions for availing the minimum assurance benefit of Rs 2.5 lakh have been adjusted. Previously, the deceased member needed to be continuously employed with the same company for 12 months. Now, this requirement has been relaxed to cover continuous employment for 12 months across one or more establishments prior to death, offering broader eligibility for family members. The benefit calculation for EDLI is based on the member's provident fund balance and average monthly wages over the preceding 12 months. These revised benefits, effective retrospectively from April 28, 2021, aim to provide greater financial security to the dependents of deceased EPF members.
Essential Documentation for Claims
To initiate a claim for the deceased member's Provident Fund (EPF), Pension (EPS), and Deposit Linked Insurance (EDLI) benefits, specific documents are mandatory. These include a death certificate of the EPF member, proving the event for which the claim is being made. Additionally, the date of birth certificate for each claimant is required to verify their eligibility and identity. Proof of the claimant's bank account, such as a cancelled cheque or a copy of the passbook, is crucial for facilitating the transfer of funds. The Aadhaar number of the beneficiary must also be provided. For online claim submissions, it is imperative that the claimant's mobile number is linked with their Aadhaar. Critically, the nominee's name, Aadhaar number, and date of birth must precisely match the details recorded with the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) as provided by the deceased member during their lifetime. Any discrepancies can lead to delays or rejection of the claim. The Provident Fund authorities will meticulously verify the nominee details against the Nomination Form (Form 2) submitted by the deceased.
Online Claim Submission Process
Submitting a death claim online streamlines the process for beneficiaries. Before commencing, ensure you have scanned copies of all necessary documents in PDF format, with each file not exceeding 2 MB. Begin by visiting the official EPF online portal. Look for the 'Death claim filing by beneficiary' link. You will then need to input specific details: the deceased member's Universal Account Number (UAN) and the beneficiary's Aadhaar number, name, and date of birth. After entering these details and the captcha code, click on 'Authorised Pin.' An One-Time Password (OTP) will be dispatched to the beneficiary's mobile number registered with Aadhaar. Upon successfully submitting this OTP, you will be authorized to file the death claim with the EPFO. This digital approach aims to expedite the settlement process, with EPFO directing field officials to resolve death claims submitted by spouses or nominees within a 7-day timeframe from the date of submission at the relevant field office.
Pension and EDLI Eligibility
For the Employees' Pension Scheme (EPS), the nominee is eligible to receive monthly pension if the deceased member was in service at the time of death, provided at least one month's contribution was made to the EPS account. If the deceased member had left employment earlier and had accumulated less than 10 years of pensionable service, the nominee is entitled to a lump-sum withdrawal benefit from EPS. However, if the pensionable service spanned 10 years or more, the nominee will receive a monthly pension. Eligibility for the EPS scheme generally applies to individuals joining EPF after September 1, 2014, whose basic wages at joining did not exceed Rs 15,000 per month. Regarding the EDLI scheme, the nominee will be the same as designated for the EPF account. In the case of exempted establishments, claimants must first file their application with the employer or the Trust managing the provident fund. For pension and EDLI contributions directed to the EPFO, the composite claim form for death cases must be submitted either online or offline to the EPFO, accompanied by all required supporting documents.
