Navigating PF Settlement and EDLI Entitlement After an Employee's Tragic Passing

Dear All,

One of our employees (unmarried) resigned from his job a few months ago and joined another office. He filled out his claim forms (19 & 10-C) and sent them to us. His claim form is with us, awaiting his bank account passbook copy. Unfortunately, he recently met with an accident and passed away.

Assistance Required for PF Settlement

Please advise on the forms and other documents we need to send to the PF office for his PF settlement. I also need to confirm if his dependents are entitled to receive EDLI.

Thank you.

Since his death occurred after quitting employment, his dependents may not be eligible to receive benefits under the EDLI. The problem is that his withdrawal forms are still with you due to a genuine reason, but the reason may not be considered genuine under the law because he is expected to submit the withdrawal forms complete in all respects (meaning attaching a passbook copy or canceled check leaf). Certainly, a waiting period of two months after leaving an establishment is required to be maintained. You can cite that as an excuse.

Now, if he was employed somewhere else where the PF is applicable and accordingly, he was allotted a different PF account number, his dependents would have received EDLI benefits from that account. But the problem is that while joining a new establishment, he was supposed to send Form 13 for transferring the PF accumulations from the previous company (your company) and not Form 19 and Form 10C for withdrawal benefits.

Now, the form signed by the deceased employee is of no value, and the bank account of the deceased might have become inoperative after his death. Therefore, in order to withdraw the accumulations, the dependents have to submit applications in Form 20 and Form 10C/10D.

For better understanding, you may contact the EPF Office. I also hope Abbas, who is an active member of this site, may be able to guide you.

Regards,
Madhu.T.K

Dear Gusha,

You have to see that a member who left the services from your organization, unfortunately, passed away. In such a case, EDLI benefits will be provided by the present employer if the employee was a PF member in the current company. You have to submit Form 20 and Form 10D on behalf of the nominees if the employee was a member of the current company. Then you can claim EDLI benefits as well and need to fill out Form 20, Form 10D, and Form 5IF for EDLI benefits.

For pension purposes, if the member is unmarried, the claim will be filed by the member's father. After the father's death, the member's mother can also claim. For supporting documents, you can refer to the attached Word format file. If you still have any doubts, you can email me, and I will get back to you.

Thanks & Regards,

Sunil Sharma
V3S Group
[Email Removed For Privacy Reasons]

If the employee was not a PF member in the current company, then you can claim EDLI benefits as well. You will need to fill out Form 20, Form 10D, and Form 5IF for EDLI benefits.

Pension Claim Process

For pension purposes, if the member is unmarried, the claim will be filed by the member's father. After the father's death, the claim can be filed by the member's mother. For supporting documents, you can refer to the attached Word format file. If you still have any doubts, please feel free to email me, and I will get back to you.

Kind regards

Please obtain Form 20 and 10D duly signed by the nominees of the employee. Submit the same to the PF office along with other documents, including his death certificate, to withdraw his PF accumulation.

Regards,
JM Raju
Crossdomain

First of all, I thank Mr. Madhu T.K. for recognizing me to respond to the issue. I think Mr. Madhu has given the correct guidance. However, I shall reproduce its concise and crucial aspects:

1. The forms submitted by the member become invalid.

2. PF withdrawal can be done by the nominee.

3. The father (or mother, as the case may be) is entitled to receive a pension equivalent to the widow's pension, subject to the following conditions:

a) Death should occur before attaining an age of 58 years.

b) He has not claimed reduced pension before the date of death.

Note: In the erstwhile Family Pension Scheme-1971, the widow's pension is payable for death while in service/PF. However, in EPS-95, death while in service/PF is not required, but subject to the fulfillment of the above conditions a) and b). Otherwise, the dependents will receive a pension/withdrawal benefit (as the case may be) as in other normal cases.

Regarding EDLI: This is applicable only for death while in service/PF. However, to determine the quantum of EDLI (i.e., whether the previous PF accumulations can be clubbed with the last service, etc.), the available data on the following details has to be furnished:

1. Date of death.

2. Details of previous service/PF such as Date of Join, Date of Exit, Average PF applicable salary for the last 12 months, PF accumulation in each month.

3. The same details (as above 2) of the last service/PF.

I hope G USHA will revert with the above details.

Regards,
Abbas P.S., ITI Ltd, PALAKKAD - 678 623

Phone: [Phone Number Removed For Privacy Reasons].

If EDLI is exempted and LIC's scheme is available, then the claim should be sent to LIC through the employer.

Regards,
Madhu.T.K