Industrial Death Claims: How EPFO's New SOP Aims to Prioritize Settlements

EPFO HQ SOP for Industrial Death Claims
EPFO HQ has framed an SOP to settle claims with top priority in cases of industrial death. The information in this regard, with full particulars of all the deceased persons, may be provided to the undersigned so that immediate follow-up action to settle their claims can be taken on priority.

A funny notification...! It is issued as if death benefits are not available for natural deaths. When these are available for all deaths, not necessarily only due to industrial accidents, why is this notification issued as "Standard Operating Procedures"?

Is it that claims due to natural deaths are not that important to EPFO? I think the EPFO wants to create an image among the stakeholders by issuing such guidelines and notifications. If that is the intention, let them use good English. See the words "in this 'context'" (I presume it is 'context' and not 'contest'), "good self" (goodself?), and "Disable" instead of "Disabled"! Monthly children's pension... when the children will "attain" 25 years of age, and finally, a caution to the employers and others concerned that failure to follow the SOP will be treated as a violation...!!!

This looks like an enthusiastic response from the Ahmedabad Regional PF Office as a follow-up to the EPFO Headquarters guideline of 06.07.22 on this matter. A designated nodal officer is assigned to pursue death cases due to industrial accidents in the Ahmedabad Circle. As such cases will be very few compared to other death cases and final withdrawal cases, it would have been appropriate if a designated person coordinated such claims too and adopted a problem-solving approach.

It is an SOP circulated to employers as well. It appears that other deaths are not as important to the EPFO. Certainly, all claims are very important, and the delay on the part of employers cannot be treated as a violation. I am afraid this might be a step towards denying the claims!

I believe the death case settlement on priority circular already exists and does not differentiate.