Nominees, legal heirs, family members, or guardians use EPF Form 20 to claim the Employees’ Provident Fund balance of an EPFO member after the member’s death. The eligible claimant files the form depending on the case. Through this form, the claimant requests final settlement of the deceased member’s provident fund accumulation. Since the claim relates to death settlement, the claimant must provide member details, claimant details, bank account information, relationship proof, and supporting documents.
Claimants may also use EPF Form 20 along with Form 10-D for pension and Form 5IF for EDLI insurance benefits, where applicable.
What is EPF Form 20?
EPF Form 20 is a claim form under the Employees Provident Funds Scheme, 1952. The nominee, legal heir, family member, or authorised guardian uses it to claim the provident fund balance of a deceased EPFO member. In simple words, if an EPFO employee passes away and there is PF money in the account, Form 20 helps the eligible claimant request payment of that PF balance.
Living members cannot use this form for regular PF withdrawal. Claimants use it only in death-related claim situations or when a guardian claims on behalf of a minor or person of unsound mind.
EPF Form 20 at a Glance
Here is a comprehensive outlook on EPF Form 20:
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Form Name | EPF Form 20 |
| Used For | Final settlement of PF balance after death of EPFO member |
| Issued By | Employees Provident Fund Organisation |
| Applicable Scheme | Employees Provident Funds Scheme, 1952 |
| Filed By | Nominee, legal heir, family member, or guardian |
| Related Forms | Form 10-D for pension and Form 5IF for EDLI insurance, where applicable |
| Submission Mode | Through employer, EPFO office, or applicable EPFO process |
When EPF Form 20 is Used
EPFO uses Form 20 when a member’s provident fund accumulation needs settlement after death. A guardian may also use it in certain special cases.
| Use Case | Who Can Use EPF Form 20? |
|---|---|
| Death of EPFO member | Nominee, beneficiary, legal heir, or eligible family member can claim the PF balance. |
| Minor nominee or heir | Guardian can file the claim on behalf of the minor claimant. |
| Member of unsound mind | Guardian or authorised person may file the form, as applicable. |
| Minor deceased member | Guardian of the minor or legal heir may claim the provident fund accumulation. |
Who Can Claim PF Using Form 20 EPFO?
The right person to submit PF Form 20 depends on nomination, family details, and legal heirship. If the deceased EPFO member had registered a nominee, the nominee usually gets preference. If there is no valid nominee, legal heirs or eligible family members may have to submit the claim with supporting proof.
- Nominee: A person nominated by the EPFO member to receive PF benefits after death.
- Legal heir: A person legally entitled to claim the deceased member’s benefits if no valid nominee is available.
- Family member: An eligible family member as per EPFO rules and records.
- Guardian: A person claiming on behalf of a minor nominee, minor legal heir, or person of unsound mind.
Also Read: EPF Loan
Details Required to Fill EPF Form 20
EPF Form 20 asks for both member details and claimant details. Since the form is used for death claim settlement, the information should match EPFO records, employer records, bank account details, and death-related documents.
Details of the Deceased EPFO Member
The following are the details about the deceased that are required for EPF form 20:
| Required Detail | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Name of the member | To identify the deceased EPFO employee. |
| Father’s or husband’s name | To verify member identity. |
| Name and address of establishment | To confirm the last employer or workplace. |
| PF account number or UAN | To locate the provident fund account. |
| Date of leaving service | To record employment exit details. |
| Date of death | To process the death claim. |
| Marital status | To help identify eligible family or legal claimants. |
Details of the Claimant
These are the necessary details about the person claiming the epf withdrawel:
| Required Detail | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Name of claimant | To identify the person filing the claim. |
| Father’s or husband’s name | To verify claimant identity. |
| Age and gender | To complete claimant profile details. |
| Relationship with deceased member | To establish claim eligibility. |
| Postal address | For official communication. |
| Bank account details | For direct credit of claim amount. |
| Signature or thumb impression | To authenticate the claim. |
Documents Required when submitting EPF Form 20
The exact document list may vary depending on the claimant type and EPFO office requirements. However, a claimant should generally keep the following documents ready before submitting PF Form 20.
| Document | Why It May Be Needed |
|---|---|
| Death certificate of the EPFO member | To prove the member’s death. |
| Form 20 | Main claim form for PF settlement. |
| Claimant identity proof | To verify the claimant. |
| Relationship proof | To establish nominee, family member, or legal heir status. |
| Bank account proof | Cancelled cheque or bank passbook copy for payment credit. |
| Guardian proof | Required when the claim is filed for a minor or person of unsound mind. |
| Legal heir certificate or succession proof | May be required when there is no valid nominee. |
Also Read: EPF Withdrawal
Steps on How to Fill EPF Form 20
Form 20 should be filled carefully because incorrect details can delay the settlement. The claimant should use details that match EPFO records, employer records, bank account records, and supporting documents.
- Write the name of the deceased EPFO member in block letters.
- Enter the member’s father’s or husband’s name.
- Mention the name and address of the establishment where the member was last employed.
- Enter the PF account number or UAN, if available.
- Fill in the date of leaving service and reason for leaving service.
- Enter the date of death and marital status of the member on the date of death.
- Fill in the claimant’s name, age, gender, marital status, and relationship with the deceased member.
- If the claimant is a guardian, enter the details of the minor or person on whose behalf the claim is being made.
- Provide full postal address and bank account details.
- Attach a cancelled cheque or bank account proof for direct credit.
- Sign the form or provide a thumb impression where required.
- Get employer attestation or authorised certification, if required.
How to Submit EPF Form 20
EPF Form 20 is generally submitted through the employer or directly to the concerned EPFO office, depending on the case and available process. If the member’s employment records and death details are available with the employer, employer verification may help process the claim faster.
- Download Form 20 from the official EPFO website or collect it from the EPFO office.
- Fill in member details, claimant details, and bank account information.
- Attach the required documents.
- Get the form signed and attested where required.
- Submit the form through the employer or to the concerned EPFO office.
- Keep a copy of the submitted form and acknowledgement for future tracking.
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EPF Form 20 & Composite Claim Form in Death Cases
EPFO also provides a Composite Claim Form in Death Cases. This form is useful because death benefits may not be limited to provident fund settlement alone. In many cases, the nominee or legal heir may also have to claim pension benefits and EDLI insurance benefits.
| Claim Type | Relevant Form | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Provident Fund settlement | Form 20 | To claim the deceased member’s PF accumulation. |
| Pension claim | Form 10-D | To claim a monthly pension, where applicable. |
| EDLI insurance claim | Form 5IF | To claim Employees Deposit Linked Insurance benefit, where applicable. |
Also Read: Check EPF Claim Status
EPF Form 20 vs Form 10-D vs Form 5-IF
Many claimants confuse form 20, form 10-D and form 5-IF because they are all connected to the death of an EPFO member. The difference is simple: Form 20 is for PF settlement, Form 10-D is for pension, and Form 5IF is for insurance benefits.
| Form | Used For | Filed By |
|---|---|---|
| EPF Form 20 | Final settlement of PF balance | Nominee, legal heir, family member, or guardian |
| Form 10-D | Pension claim | Eligible family member or claimant |
| Form 5IF | EDLI insurance claim | Nominee, legal heir, or eligible claimant |
Common Mistakes to Avoid for EPF Form 20
|
Things to Check Before Submitting EPF Form 20
| Check | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Member details | Name, PF account number, UAN, and establishment details should match EPFO records. |
| Claimant eligibility | The claimant should be a nominee, legal heir, eligible family member, or guardian. |
| Bank details | Wrong account number or IFSC can delay payment. |
| Supporting documents | Incomplete documents may lead to rejection or delay. |
| Related benefits | Check whether Form 10-D or Form 5IF is also required. |
Final Thoughts
EPF Form 20 is an important claim form for families of deceased EPFO members. It helps the nominee, legal heir, eligible family member, or guardian claim the provident fund balance of the deceased member. Claimants should fill the form carefully because the claim relates to death settlement. They must support it with proper documents such as a death certificate, bank proof, identity proof, and relationship proof.
Before submitting Form 20 EPFO, check whether pension or EDLI insurance benefits are also applicable. In such cases, Form 10-D and Form 5IF may also be required. Keeping all details accurate and documents ready can make the claim process smoother and reduce avoidable delays.
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