Claiming EPF, Pension & EDLI After an EPF Member's Death: Online Process Guide
How families and nominees can access provident fund, pension, and insurance benefits via the EPFO portal
Who Can Claim EPF, Pension and Insurance After Death?
The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) provides three major benefits to employees: the Provident Fund (EPF), Pension (EPS) and life insurance (EDLI). When an EPF member passes away, their family gains the right to claim these amounts. Eligible claimants include:
- Spouse, children, or, if the member was unmarried/childless, dependent parents
- Nominees registered in the member's EPF account
- Legal heirs if no nominee is registered
EPFO strictly honours the family or the nominee structure as per the member’s e-Nomination. If both are absent, only then do legal heirs come into play.
Which Benefits Can the Family Claim?
- EPF (Provident Fund) – Full withdrawal of the member’s accumulated PF balance
- EPS (Pension) – Monthly pension to eligible family members
- EDLI (Life Insurance) – One-time payment under the Employees’ Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme, based on last drawn salary and EPF balance
What Documents Are Required?
Prepare clear digital copies (PDF, max 2MB each) of the following:
- Deceased EPF member’s 12-digit UAN
- Beneficiary’s Aadhaar card
- Death certificate of the EPF member
- Cancelled cheque or bank passbook copy of the beneficiary
Your name, date of birth, and Aadhaar must match what’s registered in the member’s e-Nomination with EPFO.
Stepwise Claims Process on the EPFO Portal
Claims for PF, pension, and EDLI after death must be made on the unified EPFO portal (not the Umang app). Here’s how:
- Log in at https://unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in/memberinterface/ (as family member/nominee/legal heir)
- Select 'Claim (Form-31, 19, 10C & 10D)'
- Fill the following forms as relevant:
- Form 20: For PF withdrawal
- Form 10D: For monthly pension claim
- Form 5IF: For EDLI insurance claim
- Upload required documents (death certificate, Aadhaar, bank proof)
- Submit and validate using OTP
- Track claim status online
_If you encounter errors due to mismatches in service records or e-Nomination, you may need to update records or submit a Joint Declaration with supporting proofs to the EPFO._
Who Receives the Benefits?
The payout priority is as follows:
| If Family Exists | If No Family/No Nominee |
|---|---|
| Spouse/children as per nomination | Dependent parents |
| If no spouse/children, then dependent parents | If no dependent parents, then legal heirs |
Payments are never made to unrelated parties unless properly nominated.
Other Important Points
- The interest rate for EPF (and Voluntary PF) for FY26 is 8.25%.
- Claims are not entertained through the Umang app—strictly via EPFO portal.
- Document scans must be clear, legible and within the size limit. Incorrect or mismatched information will delay or prevent claims.
What to Do in Case of Errors?
- Service record mismatch: Use Joint Declaration form (with proof) to update EPFO records.
- Missing nomination: Legal heirs must submit additional documents to prove relationship and entitlement.
Example Workflow: Claiming All Three Benefits
_Mrs. Desai, wife of a deceased EPF member, gathers his UAN, her Aadhaar, the death certificate, and a cancelled cheque. She logs in to the EPFO portal, selects 'Death Claim', fills out Form 20 (for PF), Form 10D (for pension), and Form 5IF (for EDLI), uploads documents and submits. EPFO verifies, and—if all is in order—processes payouts to her account._
Frequently asked questions
Who is eligible to claim EPF, pension, and EDLI after an EPF member's death?
The spouse, children, or dependent parents (if unmarried/childless), nominated individuals, or legal heirs can claim if the EPF member passes away, following the EPFO's priority rules.
What forms must be filled for death claims under EPFO?
The claimant must fill Form 20 (PF withdrawal), Form 10D (pension claim), and Form 5IF (EDLI insurance) on the EPFO portal.
Are online death claims possible via the Umang mobile app?
No, currently, family or nominees must use the unified EPFO portal for such claims; the Umang app does not support this process.
What documents are required for the claim process?
You need the deceased member's UAN, your Aadhaar, the death certificate, and your bank account proof (cancelled cheque or passbook), all as PDFs under 2MB.
How is eligibility determined if there is no family or nominee?
If neither family nor nominee is registered, dependent parents have the next priority; if there are none, legal heirs can claim with documentary proof.