Release of Death Relief Fund in COVID-19 deaths on the basis of the undertaking of eligible beneficiaries

Ex-gratia amount of Rs. 10 Lakh shall be granted to the family member /legal heirs / dependent in case of unfortunate death of an employee of EPFO due to Covid-19

Employees Provident Fund Organisation
Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India
Bhavishya Nidhi Bhawan, 14, Bhikaiji Cama Place, New Delhi-110066
Website: www.epfindia.gov.in

No.B-11/1/2020-HRM-VI/333

Dated: 01.06.2021

To,
All ACC (HQ) (Zone) / ACC (Zone) / Director (PDNASS) / ACC (ASD) & The President, Regional Staff Welfare Committees

Subject: Release of Death Relief Fund in COVID-19 deaths on the basis of undertaking of eligible beneficiaries etc- Reg.

Reference: (i). Head Office letter No. Welfare/3(100)2017-18/26th Meeting/10594 dated 25.08.2017 and (ii) Head Office letter No. Welfare/3(136)2019/Policy Matters/8 dated 28.04.2020

Sir/ Madam,
Kind attention is invited to the circulars dated 25.08.2017 and 28.04.2020 on the subject cited above.

2. In accordance with the decision of the Central Staff Welfare Committee in its 26th Meeting, as circulated vide letter dated 25.08 .2017, the Ex-gratia Death Relief Fund amount will be increased by 10% after every two years viz from 1.4.2015. Accordingly w.e.f. 01st April 2021 an amount of Rs. 4.20 Lakh is to be paid as Ex­ gratia Death Relief Fund to the family members/legal heirs/dependent of the deceased employee.

3. Further, kind attention is invited to the Head Office Circular Dated 28.04.2020 vide which approval of the Central Provident Fund Commissioner/President, Central Staff Welfare Committee has been conveyed that an Ex-gratia amount of Rs. 10 Lakh shall be granted to the family member /legal heirs / dependent in case of unfortunate death of an employee of EPFO due to Covid-19.

4. It has come to the notice that payment of Ex-gratia DRF is getting delayed for want of death certificates. To mitigate the financial hardship of the family of the deceased employee, President, Regional Staff Welfare Committee and concerned officer in charge wherein deceased employee was posted at the time of death, should ensure to release, within three working days of receipt of the application, the Ex-gratia amount (as admissible) on the basis of undertaking of eligible beneficiaries/ Cremation/Burial Slip/Hospital Report without insisting on the death certificate. The other retiral benefits may be released on receipt of death certificate.

5. Further, the Welfare Officer should be deputed to facilitate the nominee/ family members/legal heirs/dependent in filling up of application forms/ submission of requisite documents to claim all types of retirement benefits and to apply for compassionate appointment.

(Issued with the approval of the CPFC / President, CSWC,EPF)

Yours faithfully,
sd/-
(Rizwan Uddin)
Regional PF Commissioner- (HRM)

Copy to :
Staff Officer to the CPFC
PS to FA&CAO / CVO/ACC(HQ)HO
ACC ( HQ) Co-ordination
RPFC (NOC) for uploading on EPF website
DD (OL) for Hindi version
(Rizwan Uddin)
Regional PF Commissioner- (HRM)

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