Eligibility for EDLI Payment After Employee's Death: Can Unpaid Leave Affect Claims?

Eligibility for EDLI Payment After Employee's Death

One employee of our company died on 10.06.2016 due to natural causes at Re-Hospital, Hindmotor, West Bengal. Before his death, he was on unpaid leave from 01.05.2016 until his passing. His spouse has applied for EDLI at the local EPF office, but they have been informed that he is not eligible for this benefit. The reason given is that the company did not pay his salary for the last two months (May 2016 and up to 9th June 2016), and no EPF contributions were made during this period.

I would like to know if the member's spouse will receive the EDLI payment or not. If yes, what is the process for claiming the EDLI payment, and what documents are required to prove eligibility according to the local EPF office's criteria?

The response from the PF department stating that the employee is not eligible is incorrect. You haven't mentioned the duration of his service in your company or how long he was contributing. Please open the GPF mail and ask your question for feedback.

Not paying the company contribution is a wrong policy. Provide the worker with eligible leave and ensure the company contribution is paid.

If the employee is a regular contributor to PF, do not worry about the payments for two months. If any PF employee says otherwise, they are only partially knowledgeable. Take action and proceed through the PF net website. The employee's family will also receive pension benefits.

The EDLI scheme benefits are linked to the average balance in the PF account. There is nothing in the scheme that provides for the termination of benefits for not paying contributions a few months before death.

I think it would be a good idea for you to visit the main PF office and speak to the PRO. If that is not helpful, you can meet the regional commissioner and complain against this. They are always pretty helpful.