Navigating EDLI and ESIC Claims for Unmarried Deceased Employees Without a Registered Nominee: What You Need to Know

Dear Seniors,

How can you claim EDLI benefits if the deceased employee is unmarried and the nominee is not registered? What types of documents are required? Can we claim ESIC also? In which case will the PF or ESI deceased employee nominee receive more benefits? In this situation, who will be the legal heir? Please suggest.

Thanks & Regards,
Neeraj Kumar

EPF and EDLI Nomination

Normally, at the time an employee is registered under EPF, the employer would collect Form 2, in which the employer would provide the name of the person who will be entitled to receive the PF accumulations and pension in case of the employee's death. This is also sufficient for EDLI. In the absence of a Form 2 declaration, the EDLI will be paid to the legal heir who can produce the legal heirship certificate.

ESI Death Benefit

ESI is a different concept, and the death benefit is available only to those who die while on duty and during the course of employment. The ESI death benefit to the dependents is available in the form of monthly pension payments, not as a lump sum amount. In the case of death while and in connection with employment, the dependents of the employee will receive both the EDLI and ESI benefits. Therefore, the question of which one is more beneficial does not arise at all.

An employee cannot be registered without giving the name of a nominee in the portal. Therefore, HR should have provided the nominee's name in the ESI portal. Please check.