EPF Member Dies? Here’s How Nominees and Family Can Claim PF, Pension, and EDLI Insurance Benefits Online

Step-by-Step Guide to Claim EPF Death Benefits Through the EPFO Portal

The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) allows the family members or nominees of a deceased EPF subscriber to claim Provident Fund (PF), pension, and Employees’ Deposit Linked Insurance (EDLI) benefits online. Currently, this facility is available only through the EPFO member portal and is not supported on the UMANG app.

The EPFO recently credited 8.25% interest for FY 2025-26, maintaining the same interest rate for the third consecutive financial year. If an EPF member passes away, the accumulated savings in the account do not lapse. Instead, the amount can be claimed by the registered nominee or eligible legal heirs by completing the prescribed online process.

Who Is Eligible to Receive EPF Death Benefits?

The EPF balance is first paid to the nominee registered by the member through the EPFO’s e-Nomination facility.

If no valid nomination exists, the amount is distributed equally among the eligible family members according to EPF rules.

Under the EPF Act, the following are generally considered eligible family members:

• Spouse
• Children

If the member did not have a family at the time of filing the nomination, they were allowed to nominate any person of their choice. However, once the member got married or acquired a family, a fresh nomination in favor of eligible family members became mandatory.

In certain situations, such as when an unmarried member has no surviving spouse or eligible children, a sibling may also be nominated to receive PF and pension benefits. If there is no valid nominee or eligible family member, the benefits are released to the person legally entitled to receive them.

Documents Required Before Filing the Claim

Before starting the online application, beneficiaries should keep the following documents ready:

• Deceased member’s 12-digit Universal Account Number (UAN)
• Beneficiary’s Aadhaar number, name, and date of birth as recorded in the e-Nomination
• Death certificate of the EPF member (PDF format, maximum 2 MB)
• Cancelled cheque or first page of the beneficiary’s bank passbook (PDF format, maximum 2 MB)

How to Claim EPF, Pension, and Insurance Benefits Online

Eligible beneficiaries can submit the application through the EPFO member portal by following these steps:

1. Enter the deceased member’s UAN, along with the beneficiary’s Aadhaar number, date of birth, and captcha code.
2. Click on “Get Authorisation PIN.”
3. An OTP will be sent to the mobile number registered with the deceased member’s EPF account for verification.
4. After successful authentication, select the Death Claim option.
5. Verify the employee’s details, enter the date of death, and upload the death certificate.
6. Fill in the beneficiary’s address and contact information.
7. Select the applicable claim forms based on eligibility.
8. Enter the beneficiary’s bank account details and upload a cancelled cheque.
9. Complete the submission using the OTP sent to the beneficiary’s Aadhaar-linked mobile number.

Claim Forms Available Under EPFO

Depending on eligibility, applicants can submit one or more of the following forms:

• Form 20 – For withdrawal of the deceased member’s Provident Fund balance.
• Form 10D – To claim the monthly Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS) pension.
• Form 5IF – To receive insurance benefits under the Employees’ Deposit Linked Insurance (EDLI) Scheme.

Getting an Error While Filing the Claim?

Some applicants may encounter an error stating that service details are required against all service records.

This usually indicates that the deceased employee’s employment history has not been fully updated in the EPFO database.

To resolve the issue:

• Check the Service History section for missing employment details.
• Request the former employer to update the records using a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC).
• If the employer is unable to do so, submit a Joint Declaration at the nearest EPFO office.
• Alternatively, file a complaint through the EPFiGMS grievance portal along with supporting documents such as salary slips, employment records, and the death certificate.

EPF Interest Rate and Tax Benefits for FY 2025-26

For the financial year 2025-26, both EPF and Voluntary Provident Fund (VPF) deposits continue to earn an annual interest rate of 8.25%.

The scheme also offers attractive tax benefits:

• Employee contributions up to ₹1.5 lakh qualify for deduction under Section 80C under the old tax regime.
• Eligible employer contributions of up to 12% remain tax-free, subject to the applicable limits under tax laws.
• Interest earned on eligible EPF contributions also remains tax-exempt within the prescribed limits.

Partial Withdrawal Facility

Apart from retirement and death benefits, EPFO also permits eligible subscribers to make partial withdrawals of up to 75% of their eligible EPF corpus for specified purposes, while ensuring that the minimum balance required under EPFO rules is maintained.

If an EPF member passes away, their Provident Fund savings, pension benefits, and EDLI insurance cover remain available to the registered nominee or eligible family members. By keeping the required documents ready and following the online claim process through the EPFO portal, beneficiaries can access these financial benefits with minimal hassle. Ensuring that e-Nomination details remain updated during the member’s lifetime can also help families avoid delays during the claim process.