Understanding PF Death Claims: Who Can Receive the Provident Fund and Pension Benefits?

Can you please explain about PF death claim? Who is eligible to receive the PF amount and pension?

To which bank account will the PF amount be credited? Are details of all family bank accounts required?

Eligibility for PF Death Claim

Was the employee on duty during the time of death? If yes, and if the person was under ESIC, then that person is eligible for ESIC as well.

Procedures for PF Death Claim

Regarding your PF query for death, you need to follow the below-mentioned procedures:

1. Collect Form 20, Form 10-D, and Form 5(IF).
2. Obtain the surviving family member certificate duly signed by the employer after verification.
3. Obtain the legal heir certificate of the surviving member.
4. Attach the death certificate and identity proof (preferably Aadhar card) of the deceased employee.
5. Attach ID proof along with a passport-sized photo attested by the employer of the family members who have filled out the forms as mentioned above. Please ensure to ask the family members who have identified themselves as claimants that their bank account should be from the same branch (SBI account is most preferable).

For any further support, you can seek help from your claim settlement officer at your PF office.

Thank you,

Regards, Ramya Ranjan

Employee Provident Fund Claim Process

Employee Provident Fund (EPF) amount is paid to the nominee nominated at the time of account initiation. If no nominee was assigned, the EPF amount is paid to the immediate family members. If neither family members nor the nominee are applicable, the legal heir can claim the EPF amount.

Firstly, you should check the Nomination form to know which family members have been nominated. After that, you can proceed further.

Guidelines for Claiming EPF

- For unmarried employees, the claimant can only be the parents of the employee.
- For married employees, the claimant can only be the spouse and children (up to three) below the age of 25 years.
- Each claimant is paid an equal proportion of the total calculated amount for both PF and Pension Fund.
- The Provident Fund amount is paid in one lump sum. However, the Pension Fund is divided into equal monthly installments.
- All funds are transferred to the claimants through NEFT.
- All claimants' bank accounts should be with the same bank.

Documents Required to Claim PF

- Employee's Death Certificate
- List of Family Members of the Employee/Family Chart
- Duly filled and signed attached forms Composite Form 20/Form 10 D/Form-5 IF (1 or 2 copies)
- Joint photograph of all the claimants
- Employee's ID Proof
- Each claimant's (parent and spouse) ID Proof
- Birth Certificate for the children of the employee
- Death Certificate
- Scheme Certificate (if applicable)
- For verification of bank accounts, a copy of a canceled cheque or an attested copy of the first page of the bank Pass Book

Please note that all death case claims submitted by the spouse, nominee, or legal heirs of EPF members must be settled within seven days from the date of submission of the claim form in the concerned field office where the deceased member's accounts are maintained.

Encl: Composite Claim Form in Death Cases [Form-20 (PF Payment)/Form-10-D (Pension)/Form-5 IF (EDLI)]

Regards, Amit

Dear all,

We were exempted under U/P 28(7) and have been paying contributions to LIC since 1990 without a break. In 2015, when we applied for further exemption, EPFO refused, stating that as per our head office circular dated 6/2/2017, we cannot grant further exemption to any industry. We had no option, and from February 2017 onward, we started paying contributions to EPFO instead of LIC. In June 2017, one of our employees passed away, but EPFO refused to pay 100% of the claim of Rs. 6 Lac to the widow of the member, despite him being a regular EPF member since 1990 with a basic salary of Rs. 20,590 until his death. EPFO paid Rs. 3.75 Lac against the Rs. 6 Lac maximum benefit under the scheme.

What is the legal obligation in this case?

Regards, V.K. Sharma
[Phone Number Removed For Privacy-Reasons]

Can you please furnish the EDLI Wages of the deceased employee for the last 30 months? The formula for payment of EDLI Wages is X 30 months (Maximum 4.5 Lakhs). The PF Contribution lying in the employee's account or the last 12 months' contribution to the EPF Account, whichever is less, is a maximum of 1.5 Lakhs.

Mr. KRISHNA,

Everybody's input is well taken. However, verify his/her EPF Form 2 (Nomination) under the family clause. Find out if any changes have been informed by him/her. Has he/she given Form F under the Gratuity Act? Verify that as well with Form 2. If married, the wife alone. In the case of any child major, they also (up to 21 years female); otherwise minor, meaning guardian i.e. mother or grandparents. You have to get their identity confirmed before acting further.

V. Murali

EDLI Basic Wages of Deceased Member:

2014 = 15325/PM
2015 = 16860/PM
2016 = 18715/PM
2017 = 20590/PM

No absences or periods without pay throughout the entire period.

We have written 3-4 letters to EPFO for clarification on the subject, but no reply has been received so far.

VKS

Mr. Vijendra Sharma,

Please verify your records once again vis-a-vis your Post.

Till September 2014, the EDLI Ceiling was Rs6,500. From September 2014, the EDLI Ceiling was enhanced to Rs15,000. Instead of writing 3-4 letters, visit the concerned PF Office to understand the basis of settlement of the claim. Your understanding of the EDLI claim is not correct.

One of my employees passed away after 2 years of service. Is there a rule stating that only employees' contribution will be paid to his dependents as his service is less than 5 years? What happens to employers' contribution?

Dear sir,

Please help me with this. One of our two employees has passed away while they were on their way to the office in the morning. They had joined the organization in December 2017, and their contribution was only for 4 months. Could you please let me know if they are eligible to claim EPF, EPS, and EDLI (life insurance)?

Regards,
Rajashekar
9010597000

Dear Rajashekhargaru,

Namaskaram,

Please frame your question correctly. One of our two employees has passed away. What do you mean, 1 Employee/2 Employees?

For death while in service:
- EPF Contribution lying in the account will be returned.
- EPS Pension will be given.
- EDLI - Minimum Rs 2.5 Lakh benefit will be paid to the nominee.

Please arrange for submitting a claim to the PF Office concerned without wasting time.

Please contact the ESI Office for claiming funeral expenses of Rs 10,000.

Thank you.

Dear Sirs,

Please advise on the further procedure following the death of an EPF pensioner (the wife of an EPF member who passed away long ago). Are there any benefits for her survival (children)? Please guide on the procedure if the children can claim any benefits.

Regards,

Please tell me the process for the required documents in a death case. Specifically, what photos are needed and how many copies of the nominee's documents are required?

My uncle passed away on Aug 16, 2016. To date, the PF office has not released any pension to his family members. Are his spouse and daughter eligible to receive PF pension? He died at his workplace. I filed a grievance, and they received EDLI, but they are not receiving the PF pension.

Dear all,

There is a case where an employee has been absent for 5 months from the office. During these 5 months, the PF contribution was not being made. After 5 months, the employee's wife came to HR to claim death PF benefits.

Please suggest if the employee is eligible for the death PF claim. If not, how can the wife claim the PF?