Navigating EPF Claims: How Can a Missing Member's Family Access Funds Without Legal Certificates?

I request detailed clarification.

One of our members has been missing since 1997, and a police complaint was filed by his wife. Subsequently, a certificate was issued stating that the member could not be traced. Upon his wife's claim for EPF, she was instructed to file claims in forms 20, 10D, and 5. She has applied for these claims, but they are now requesting a Civil Death Certificate and Legal Heir Certificate. The member's EPF amount may be less than Rs. 10,000.

As the member was the sole earner for her family, including an 18-year-old daughter, and in a financially challenging situation, she cannot afford to approach the Court of Law and Revenue Officials for these certificates. She is willing to submit an Indemnity bond, and the employer is prepared to provide an undertaking stating that the member is missing.

Please advise on how to proceed with obtaining the claim amount without the need to submit the civil death certificate and legal heir certificate, given her current financial constraints.

Hi, I wish to mention that the civil death certificate is not necessary when there is a police certificate and an indemnity bond, as mentioned by you. She can approach the EPF authorities and furnish these documents for her claim. Documents like a ration card or voter's ID, etc., will also prove the relation between the missing person and the person who is claiming EPF, which would also be necessary in this regard.

Thank you for your suggestion, but the PF office returned the papers due to the lack of a civil death certificate and legal heir certificate. Could you please provide any clarifications required by the PF organization regarding this matter?

Regards,

Please go to Civil Court, which will issue a succession certificate based on the police report and declare the individual deceased, as a significant amount of time has already passed. Kindly claim succession for all properties in this application, including bank balances, etc. (not just the PF amount).

Key Questions to Address

There are two key questions to address here: the confirmation of the member's death and the identification of the legal heirs.