Understanding Key Schemes
The Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) is a retirement savings scheme, while the Employees' Pension Scheme (EPS) provides a monthly pension. The Employees' Deposit
Linked Insurance (EDLI) scheme acts as an insurance cover for EPF members. In the unfortunate event of an EPF member's death, their nominee or legal heir can claim benefits from these schemes. A crucial update from April 28, 2021, announced by the Labour Ministry, enhanced the sum insured under the EDLI scheme to Rs 7 lakh, up from Rs 6 lakh previously, offering greater financial support. Furthermore, the minimum assurance benefit under EDLI has been revised to Rs 2.5 lakh, available if the member was in service for a continuous 12 months before their death, a change from the previous requirement of being with the same company for that period. The benefit calculation for EDLI involves a specific formula based on the member's provident fund balance and average monthly wages over the last 12 months.
Documents for Claim Filing
To initiate a claim for EPF, EPS, and EDLI following the death of an EPF member, specific documents are essential. These include the official death certificate of the deceased EPF member, and date of birth certificates for all claimants. Proof of the claimant's bank account, such as a cancelled cheque or passbook copy, is also required. The Aadhaar number of the beneficiary and a recent photograph are necessary. For online claim submissions, it's vital that the nominee's mobile number is linked with their Aadhaar. Importantly, the nominee's name, Aadhaar number, and date of birth must precisely match the details provided by the deceased member at the time of nomination within the EPFO records.
EPS Pension Eligibility
In cases where an EPS member passes away while still in service, their nominee is generally entitled to receive a monthly pension. This eligibility is contingent upon at least one month's contribution being made to the EPS account, and the member dying while in active service. However, if the deceased member had left employment previously and had accumulated less than 10 years of pensionable service, the nominee would be eligible for a lump-sum withdrawal from the EPS instead of a monthly pension. Should the pensionable service span 10 years or more, the nominee will receive a monthly pension. It's important to note that eligibility for EPS membership, including for individuals joining EPF after September 1, 2014, is subject to their basic wages not exceeding Rs 15,000 per month at the time of joining.
Online Claim Submission Steps
For a streamlined claim process, nominees can opt for online submission. Ensure all necessary documents are scanned into PDF format, with each file not exceeding 2 MB. First, navigate to the EPF online portal at https://unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in/memberinterface/. Look for the 'Death claim filing by beneficiary' link. You will then need to provide your Universal Account Number (UAN), Aadhaar number, full name, date of birth, and the captcha code. Upon clicking 'Authorised Pin', an OTP will be dispatched to your Aadhaar-linked mobile number. Submitting this OTP successfully authorizes you to file the death claim with the EPFO.
Claim Processing & Exempted Establishments
The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has directives for prompt settlement of death claims. Field officials are instructed to process death claims submitted by the spouse or nominee of an EPF member within 7 days from the date of submission at the relevant field office. The EPFO authorities will meticulously verify the nominee details against the nomination form (Form 2) submitted by the deceased member. For members employed in exempted establishments, the nominee must first submit the claim application for provident fund accumulations directly to their employer or the Trust. However, for pension and EDLI contributions made to the EPFO, the composite claim form for death cases must be filed with the EPFO, either online or offline, accompanied by all requisite supporting documents.
