The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has announced that due to the challenges faced by field offices in rectifying/update Aadhaar details after a member’s demise, it has been decided that processing physical claims without seeding Aadhaar may be allowed in such death cases going forward.
“However, this exception requires approval from the Officer in Charge (OIC) through an e-office file. The file must clearly document the verification procedures used to authenticate the deceased’s membership and the legitimacy of the claimants. This process should be conducted alongside additional due diligence measures, as specified by the OIC, to reduce the risk of fraudulent withdrawals,” the EPFO said in a circular dated 17 May 2024.
These guidelines are applicable only when member details are correct in the UAN but incorrect or incomplete in the UID database.
“In cases where Aadhaar data is accurate but incorrect or incomplete in the UAN, field offices must follow the guidelines outlined in Paragraphs 6.9 and 6.10 of JD SOP version-2 dated 26.03.2024. This includes rectifying the data in the UAN, seeding, and validating/authenticating the Aadhaar, following the instructions from the Circular dated 24.09.2020,” the EPFO circular stated.
Issues
Field offices of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) have faced several challenges, as outlined in the EPFO circular. These issues include inaccuracies or incompleteness in member details within Aadhaar records, unavailability of Aadhaar information for cases predating its implementation, deactivated Aadhaar accounts, and technical issues in validating Aadhaar through the UIDAI database. These challenges have led to delays in processing claims for affected claimants, as reported by the EPFO.
Claims
Now, physical claims can be processed without seeding Aadhaar. Here is how
Temporary allowance for physical claims without Aadhaar seeding in death cases.
Approval is required from the Officer In Charge (OIC) via an e-office file.
Detailed verification necessary to confirm deceased membership and claimant authenticity.
Due diligence actions directed by OIC to prevent fraudulent withdrawals
Meanwhile, during 2023-24, the EPFO settled 4.45 crore claims, including 2.84 crore advance claims for fund withdrawal. In a bid to enhance “ease of living,” the auto claim solution has been expanded to cover all claims under para 68K (education & marriage purpose) and 68B (housing purpose) of the EPF Scheme, 1952, as per a statement from the labour ministry.
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