Feeling Helpless: What to Do When a Company Refuses PF Widow Pension and EDLI?

After 7 years of struggle, I finally received my husband's PF money, but they refused to provide EDLI, stating that the company was exempted from it. I feel helpless because the company no longer exists.

Pension Inquiry

Also, could you please inform me how much pension I would receive if my husband's basic salary was around $13,000? He passed away while still in service.

I am sorry to hear about the loss of your husband. Please provide us with the details of his length of service, his organization's name and location, and his PF account number. We will check this information and get back to you with confirmation on your query. Additionally, we will try to assist you with the EDLI benefits as well.

Thank you.

Sir, he started working in October 1998. He was there until he passed away in January 2006. His PF number is BGBNG 10696/350. I got the PF amount (Form 20). However, they refused to give the EDLI benefit. They say the Pension (Form 10D) is in process. It's been a long time and a long wait for everything.

Please let me know how much the widow's pension is and also the EDLI benefit. His company, Datacons, was taken over by www.3i-infotech.com. Initially, they responded, but now they don't answer my emails when I ask them about EDLI.

If the company was not depositing EDLI with the PF Department, then they must have taken a policy in this regard with LIC. In case they went with the LIC policy during that time, you are entitled to receive ₹1 lakh as compensation. Also, you should verify if they have opted for a double accident policy. If so, you are entitled to receive ₹2 lakhs.

Pension Calculation

Regarding pension, please note that the pension will be calculated according to the prescribed norms by software, eliminating any chance of manipulation by any person. If EDLI was deposited by the company, you would have received 20 times the amount on which the pension fund was deducted. Hope this information is helpful to some extent.

Regards,
Raj

In 2006, the maximum EDLI amount was Rs. 60,000. Usually, in exempted cases, the employer might have insured with any agencies. If so, the compensation will be Rs. 62,000 for a normal case and Rs. 1,24,000 for accidental death.

Widow's Pension Details

The widow's pension for a salary of Rs. 6500 and more at that time will be Rs. 1750. Additionally, two children are entitled to receive 25% of the widow's pension until they reach the age of 25 years.

Regards,
Abbas.P.S

Thank you for the response. I really appreciate it. The problem I face is that the company my husband worked with was taken over by another company. Now, when I contacted them, they told me to provide them with proof that my husband was still in service. I sent them the PF slip up to the time of his demise. After receiving it, they have stopped responding.

Issues with the PF Office

The second problem is that the PF office is not sending any pension or anything at all. When I call the office, they don't respond and just hang up. How do I go about it now? Please guide.

Regards

As Raman rightly said, if the claim is not made by you and the employer, the benefit will go to the insurance company. Therefore, submit the death certificate and family certificate along with a request to the employer to settle the EDLI lump sum amount at the earliest. If this is not resolved with the employer, you may approach the Enforcement Commissioner at the Provident Fund office under your husband's company jurisdiction.

Regarding the Pension

The pension is not based on how much your husband's basic salary was but on the number of years of service rendered and the service left. Dependent benefits will be determined by the PF authorities. You need to apply directly to the Provident Fund Commissioner where the PF is settled. If the husband's company no longer exists and there is no authorized person to sign Form 10D, alternatively, you can get it signed by the authorized person mentioned in the form and submit it. You will receive a pension from the day of death until the date of settlement as a lump sum amount, and later on, you will receive a monthly pension. Please be patient and follow up with the PF office.

I hope this helps.

Exemptions do not mean that they are exempt from paying EDLI. EDLI Exemption Explanation

EDLI exemption means that your husband's working company has taken group insurance from other companies such as LIC, Metlife, ICICI, among others. There was a clause in the EPFO act stating that if the PF-covered company has the option to get insurance from the EPFO or from other companies like LIC, Metlife, ICICI, among others.

EDLI Claim Process

According to EPFO, for EDLI, there are certain calculations. Based on these calculations, you will receive money. In your case, it is very simple: your husband's company HR needs to apply to the private (EDLI) insurance company with the necessary documents, and then you will receive the money. Ultimately, the nominee will receive the EDLI maximum limit of 1,30,000 rupees in your case.

If you do not apply for this money, both your husband's employer and you will lose out. The insurance company will be the one to benefit.

Thank you.