PF Claim After a Member's Death: Forms 20, 10D and 5(IF) Explained
Published by Karan Bindal, Founder
If the person who died was a salaried employee, the provident fund can include three separate benefits: the PF balance, a monthly pension, and life insurance. Many families claim only the first and never learn about the other two.
New EPF, EPS and EDLI Schemes were notified in mid-2026 under the Code on Social Security, replacing the older 1952, 1995 and 1976 schemes. Press reports from July 2026 still use the familiar form numbers below, but please confirm on the EPFO website when you apply.
The three benefits and their forms
| Benefit | Form | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| PF balance | Form 20 | The money accumulated in the account |
| Monthly pension | Form 10D | Pension for a spouse, children or other eligible family |
| EDLI insurance | Form 5(IF) | Life cover linked to the PF account |
EPFO also has a Composite Claim Form for death cases, which combines these.
Who can claim
The PF balance goes first to the registered nominee. If there is none, it is shared equally among eligible family members. If there are neither, it goes to the person legally entitled.
For nominee and family claims, EPFO's own procedure says a succession certificate is requested only where there is doubt or a dispute. Some websites say it is always needed when there is no nominee. Ask your regional PF office.
Under the 2026 scheme, marriage makes an earlier nomination invalid, so check your own nomination if you have married since making it.
For children who are minors, EPFO said in August 2025 that a guardianship certificate is not needed where the money goes to a bank account in the child's name.
How much the EDLI insurance is
As reported from the 2026 scheme:
- ₹2.5 lakh minimum and ₹7 lakh maximum, where the member had 12 months of continuous employment before death
- At least ₹50,000 otherwise
The member need not have made a separate nomination for it. A family can receive this even when the PF balance itself is small, so always claim it. Older documents quoting ₹6 lakh are out of date.
The online route
Death claims can be filed on the EPFO website, not on the UMANG app. As reported in July 2026, the steps are:
- Enter the UAN of the person who died, and the beneficiary's Aadhaar and date of birth
- Get an authorisation PIN, with an OTP sent to the mobile number linked to the member's account
- Enter the date of death and upload the death certificate
- Enter contact details and choose Form 20, 10D or 5(IF)
- Enter bank details and upload a cancelled cheque
- Submit with an OTP on the beneficiary's Aadhaar-linked mobile
This is why you should not close the person's SIM early. You may need it here.
If the employer never recorded the date of exit, ask the previous employer to update it, or use a joint declaration or a complaint through EPFiGMS, EPFO's grievance portal.
How long it takes
As reported, complete claims are to be settled within 20 days, with 12% a year interest for delay.
Do not leave it too long. Reports on the 2026 scheme say an account unclaimed for 36 months after becoming payable is marked inoperative and stops earning interest.
If you do not have the UAN
Check old salary slips, Form 16 or the employer's HR department.
NPS and PPF are different
NPS: the claim form is "Exit from National Pension System Due to Death". For most non-government subscribers, the nominee or heirs can withdraw the money. For government subscribers, the rules differ and were changed in late 2025, so ask the employer's nodal office.
PPF: the account is closed after the death and cannot be continued. The nominee or legal heir applies to the bank or post office using its claim form. RBI's 15-day rule for bank claims does not apply to PPF.
Also ask the employer about
Salary dues, leave encashment, gratuity and any group life insurance. These are separate from PF, and families often miss them.
For your own family
Your family cannot claim what they do not know about. Note your UAN, your employer's HR contact and your nominee. Our free family checklist covers this, and Aakhri Pal keeps it together in one private place.
See also: what to do after a death.
Last checked: 30 October 2026. The 2026 schemes are recent, and some details here come from press and professional summaries rather than the Gazette text, so please confirm with EPFO. This is general guidance, not legal advice.
Sources: EPFO · Business Today, EPF death claim guide, July 2026 · Nexdigm on the 2026 schemes