How do I claim my father's EPF after his death?
There are three separate benefits, and families routinely claim only the first. The provident fund balance is claimed with Form 20. The monthly pension under the Employees' Pension Scheme is claimed with Form 10D. And the insurance benefit under the EDLI scheme — up to seven lakh rupees, paid on death in service — is claimed with Form 5(IF). All three go through the employer or directly to the EPFO, with the death certificate and the claimant's KYC and bank details.
The three claims
Form 20 releases the accumulated provident fund balance to the nominee, or to the family members and legal heirs if there was no nomination. Form 10D starts the monthly pension to the widow or widower and to children under twenty-five. Form 5(IF) claims the EDLI benefit, a lump sum linked to the deceased's wages, payable when the death occurred while in service — which is missed most often.
The Employees' Provident Funds Scheme was restructured in 2026, and form numbering should be confirmed against the current scheme before filing. Our rule sets carry a review date for exactly this reason.
Documents and filing
The death certificate, the claimant's Aadhaar, PAN and a cancelled cheque, and the deceased's UAN. Where the claimant is a minor, the guardian claims. File through the last employer, who attests, or directly online through the EPFO member portal where the UAN is Aadhaar-linked. If the employer has closed down, the EPFO regional office accepts the claim with a bank attestation instead.
What families miss
The EDLI benefit, because nobody at the employer mentions it. The pension, because Form 10D is separate from Form 20. And gratuity, which is not an EPFO benefit at all but is owed by the employer under a different Act — see our guide on gratuity after a death.
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Related
Last reviewed 2026-08-31. This is general information, not legal advice. Institution requirements change — confirm before you file.