· EPFO abolishes guardianship certificate requirements for minors to simplify the process of death claims settlement
· Form 20 required for making claim, along with death certificate and bank details of the minor beneficiary
· Claim status updates provided via SMS from EPFO
The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has eased the rule for death claim settlement in cases where the beneficiary is a minor. In a circular dated August 13, 2025, the EPFO issued instructions to do away with the need of seeking a guardianship certificate from minor children to give them the death claim settlement proceeds.
“With a view to simplify the process and also to ensure speedy settlement to the minor children, it is hereby directed that no separate Guardianship Certificate be insisted if the settlements are being credited to the Bank Accounts of the minor children,” the EPFO said in a circular.
Earlier, the process was lengthy and cumbersome because minor beneficiaries had to provide a guardianship certificate to get the settlement amount. Notably, a competent court of law can issue a guardianship certificate. The process was time-consuming and involved more hassle for beneficiaries to receive the settlement proceeds.
A nominee, family member, or guardian of the deceased EPF member can claim the settlement proceeds. They will need to fill out Form 20 to claim the settlement proceeds in case of the death of the member. One needs to attach the death certificate and a copy of a blank/cancelled cheque along with submitting the required Form.
Guardianship certificate is no longer required when funds are to be credited to the bank accounts of the minor children.
According to the EPFO website, the application should be submitted through the employer under whom the member was last employed. In case the claim is through a form downloaded from the epfindia website, all pages should be signed by the claimant as well as the employer.
The website further states: “In case of a closed establishment whose Authorised Signatory/Employer is not available, the claimant may forward the claims duly signed in the presence of any of the following authorised official and get attested over his official seal. Magistrate/ Gazetted Officer/Post or Sub-Post Master/President of Village Union/ President of the Village Panchayat where there is no Union Board/Chairman or Secretary or Member of the Municipal or District Local Board/Member of Parliament/Legislative Assembly/Member of Central Board of Trustees/Regional Committee of Employees’ Provident Fund/Manager of the Bank in which the Saving Bank Account is maintained/Head of any recognized educational Institution.”
Once the claim Form is submitted, EPFO sends the updates to the claimant through SMS at different stages of approval of the Form. To check the claim application status, the claimant can also visit the official website of the EPFO.
When the details are verified and the Form is approved, settlement proceeds are credited to the bank account mentioned in the Form by the claimant.
With the removal of the guardianship certificate requirement, now the claimants only need to open a bank account in the individual's (minor children's) name, and the settlement amount, as well as pension, will be credited in that account.
