How Can an HR Executive Assist a Family in Withdrawing PF After an Employee's Passing?

My query is about the withdrawal of PF of a resigned employee. I am working as an HR Executive and I need your suggestion in this particular case. An employee "X" was working in our organization until August 10th, but due to some reasons, she expired on August 19th. What are the procedures and how can her family withdraw her PF? She has nominated her mother's name and she is unmarried.

Regards

As per the rule, EPF should be given to the nominated person in such cases. Therefore, the mother is the only person who can avail EPF on behalf of the employee by providing valid ID proof and the death certificate for the employee.

Based on my understanding, her nominee, i.e., her mother (as you mentioned), has to fill out the details in Form 20 under EPFS 1952 and submit them to her organization's HR team along with relevant documents such as the death certificate.

Additionally, the nominee needs to complete the details in Form 5(IF) under EDLIS 1976 to access the benefits provided by the PF Act and submit this form to the organization's HR team.

Best Regards,
Sandesh

Please ask the deceased employee's mother to visit your office and complete forms Form-20, Form-10D, and Form-5 (if needed). Kindly obtain the original death certificate from the claimant. In my experience, the EPFO authority in the Chennai region accepts the original document, as usual. Produce Form 3A if applicable.

You can easily accomplish this task. Nowadays, claims are being processed and settled in less than 15 days if all the necessary documents are in order.

All the best!

Nominee Entitlement and PF Withdrawal Process

In my opinion, the nominee is entitled to all the benefits in this case. I suggest you contact the PRO of the o/o RPFC to obtain all the related forms free of cost. Fill them out as per the provisions, attach relevant documents, and submit them to the o/o RPFC. This will save you time, energy, and money.

Regards,
AK Chandok
RPFC (Retd.)

[Note: The link provided no longer exists.]

The claim for PF withdrawal will be submitted by the nominee to the concerned HR for further processing.

Procedure for PF Settlement After Employee's Demise

Ask the nominee to fill out the forms for settlement. Enclose copies of Form 3A for the entire period of employment. Fill in all the columns and forward it to the PF office with a covering letter stating that the employee has passed away, and settlement should be processed immediately. If you are a frequent visitor to the PF office, inquire about the status and provide updates. Nowadays, settlements are processed very quickly.

Procedure for PF Withdrawal and Benefits

Please find attached Form No. 20, 10D, and Form No. 5. Get them filled and signed by your employer and submit them to the PF department along with the following documents:

For Withdrawal and EDLI Benefits:

1. ID proof cum address proof of the nominee.
2. Certified true copy of the bank passbook/cancelled cheque.
3. Original death certificate.

For Family Pension:

1. ID proof cum address proof of the nominee.
2. ID proof cum address proof of family members (spouse and children below the age of 18 years).
3. Certified true copy of the bank passbook in a nationalized bank authorized by EPFO like PNB, SBI, Allahabad Bank, etc.
4. Original death certificate.
5. Passport-sized photographs of family members.

Thank you.

Regards,
Sujeet

Since the deceased person is unmarried, her parents have full rights to claim the PF and Pension. Firstly, the following documents are required:

1. Original death certificate of the member.
2. Legal heir certificate original and xerox.
3. Form 20 and 10D and Form IF.
4. Three passport-size photos of her father and mother jointly (if her father is alive. Otherwise, her mother's passport-size photo is enough).
5. Bank passbook xerox, namely Indian Bank, SBI, and Indian Overseas Bank separate for parents individually.

Initially, PF will be settled with an equal share to her father and mother. If her father is not alive, the full amount will be settled to her mother. Additionally, the pension will be sent to her father first and then to her mother. Apart from her parents, nobody else will have the right to claim the benefits. Only in the case where there are no father and mother, her immediate nominee will receive the benefits. Pension is only paid to her parents. If the parents are alive, it is not necessary to provide all the family members' photos and bank account details.

Fill out the forms and get them attested by the employer, then take them to the PF office. The PRO of the PF office will verify all these documents, and after verifying the legal heir certificate, the original will be returned, and only a copy will be attached to the forms.

Claims will be settled within three days, considering this is a death case. If your establishment is an EDLI exempted concern, LIC will settle the EDLI benefit. In this case, please ask your HR department to obtain the form from LIC, fill it out, and attach the original death certificate. If the cause of death is an accident or suicide, a Police FIR copy and Postmortem copy should be attached.

If the deceased member was an ESI IP, firstly claim the death benefit from ESI. If she died on duty, you can also claim a pension from ESI in addition to PF.

I hope this is clear.

Thanks and regards,

Required Forms for EPF Member's Death

In case of the death of an EPF member, the following forms are required to be submitted by the nominee or their mother with the Sub/Regional PF Commissioner's Office:

1. Form No. 20 (For Claiming EPF Contributions)
2. Form No. 10-D (For claiming benefits under the Pension Scheme, 1995)
3. Form 5 IF (For Claiming EDLI benefits under the EDLI Scheme)
4. Death Certificate issued by the Panchayat/Registrar in original.
5. Photographs of Claimant(s) duly attested by the employer.
6. Proof of the date of birth of the claimant for pension benefits.
7. Form 5/10 duly signed by the employer.
8. Letter by the employer declaring the claimant as the legal heir if no nomination by the member has already been made.
9. Form No. 3A current year's contribution by the employee and employer.

In case of death, the mother will receive the entire contribution made by the employee towards the EPF along with the employer's share of contribution with interest until the date of settlement.

She will also be entitled to EDLI (Employees' Deposit Linked Insurance) benefits, which will be in the form of a lump sum amount.

Excellent responses. Even if one goes through each of the responses given by the fraternity members, it would be quite clear as to what all is required to be done for withdrawing PF dues. However, please keep the acknowledgment copy of your submission to the PFO for future reference and follow-up in case there is a delay in the remittance. Also, remember to furnish your mobile number on the form so that you get an update regarding what's happening with the claims. If the PFO rejects the claim, you should receive the same with a covering letter within 2 weeks and a message indicating the same on the mobile number mentioned in the form.

Cheers,
A.B.

"What is on the death certificate?" asked by the EFPO department.

Hi, It is basically a confirmation certificate to be issued by the employer that the deceased employee was in service until the date of death.