EPFO issues norms to settle death claims in seven days

NEW DELHI: Retirement fund body EPFO on Tuesday said it has issued guidelines to its field offices to settle death claims within seven days and retirement cases before a worker retires from the job.

Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya today took stock of the action taken on directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a review meeting on October 26, the Labour Ministry said. Central Provident Fund Commissioner (CPFC) informed the Minister that on Prime Ministers’ directions, EPFO has issued detailed guidelines on retirement and death cases, it added.

These guidelines have been issued to the field offices to sensitise them and “take prompt and proactive action to settle the death claims within seven days and in retirement cases on or before the day of retirement,” the Ministry said.

It was also stressed upon that grievances on social media need to be replied to expeditiously, it added.

The Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) today celebrated the 64th Promulgation Day of the Employees Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions.

On the occasion, Dattatreya, who was the chief guest, took stock of the achievements and future road map of the organisation. The Minister appreciated that EPFO had joined the network of Common Service Centres (CSC) by signing an MOU with CSC e-governance Services India on October 25, 2016. This will facilitate issue of Jeewan Praman Patra (life certificate) of 50 lakh EPF pensioners having Aadhar ID, the ministry said.

He also reviewed the status of compliance management and grievance handling system of EPFO. He emphasised increased coordination between the different subordinate bodies of the Ministry for the purpose of data sharing so that the coverage and compliance position vis-a vis implementation of labour laws improves further. He also said reconciliation of inoperative accounts and formulation of a housing scheme for EPF subscribers.