Struggling with EDLI Rejection After Brother's Death: How Can I Prove Eligibility?

My elder brother passed away in an accident on 08.09.2018 while returning from the office, and I submitted all forms for the claim of PF, pension, and EDLI. He had completed 6 months and 8 days on the date of death. However, the section officer to whom the claim document has gone has been stalling me for months now, and after nearly a year, he says to me that I am not eligible for EDLI as my brother had not completed 12 months of the job. I have repeatedly contended in front of him that irrespective of the period, he is eligible for EDLI, but he is a government employee and does what he pleases. Can anyone please kindly help me and show me the exact law and show the extract so that I can show him, and further tell me what to do in this situation. This feels like unnecessary harassment. Please provide some help.

To my knowledge, there is no condition regarding the length of service for EDLI. Prior to the 2018 amendment, there was a precondition of 12 months' service, but now there is no such condition. If you have received a communication from the EPF Office, please appeal to the concerned authority. If you are informed only verbally, then you can directly go to the Asst. PF Commissioner or the Regional PF Commissioner and escalate the issue.

Ok. They have communicated to me verbally, so I will escalate it to the additional commissioner. By the way, can we calculate the benefit to be received under EDLI.

It is the average salary over 12 months multiplied by 30 plus 50% of the balance in the PF account, subject to a maximum of Rs. 150,000. The total amount is capped at Rs. 600,000. Since he had only six months of service, the second part of it would be negligible. However, 15,000 x 30, i.e., Rs. 450,000 is the minimum amount.