If an Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) member passes away, the money in their EPF account does not disappear.
The savings, along with eligible pension and insurance benefits, can be claimed by the nominee or legal heirs.
The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) allows families to submit death claims online through its portal, making the process faster and more convenient.
Here’s everything you need to know.
Who Can Claim the EPF Money?
In most cases, the EPF amount is paid to the nominee registered by the member.
If no nominee has been added, the money is given to eligible family members, such as the spouse or children.
If the member had no family but had nominated someone to receive pension benefits, that nominee can claim the pension.
If there was no family and no pension nominee, the dependent parents can claim the eligible pension benefits.
To avoid delays, EPF members are advised to submit Form No. 2 through their employer, as it records nominee details for PF, pension and insurance benefits.
How to File an EPFO Death Claim Online
The death claim can be filed online through the EPFO member portal by following these steps:
Enter the deceased member’s Universal Account Number (UAN).
Provide the beneficiary’s Aadhaar details and date of birth.
Verify the claim using the OTP sent to the mobile number linked with the deceased member’s EPF account.
Select the Death Claim option.
Enter the date of death and upload the death certificate.
Fill in the beneficiary’s contact details, address and bank account information.
Upload a cancelled cheque.
Complete the process by entering the OTP sent to the beneficiary’s Aadhaar-linked mobile number.
Documents Needed for the Claim
Keep the following documents ready before submitting the claim:
Death certificate of the EPF member.
Deceased member’s 12-digit UAN.
Beneficiary’s Aadhaar, name and date of birth.
Copy of a blank or cancelled cheque.
Form 10D for claiming pension benefits by eligible family members, nominees or dependent parents.
Form 10C for withdrawal benefits if the member died after the age of 58 without completing 10 years of service by the time they turned 58.
Form 5(IF) for claiming benefits under the Employees’ Deposit Linked Insurance (EDLI) Scheme.
How Will the Money Be Paid?
Once the claim is approved, the amount is directly transferred to the claimant’s bank account.
To ensure smooth payment, the claimant must upload a blank or cancelled cheque with the bank account number and IFSC code clearly visible.
Important Point to Remember
Claimants should note that Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) may apply to EPF death claims, just as it does in certain cases involving living EPF members.
Understanding the applicable tax rules before filing the claim can help avoid surprises later.