Form 20 — the PF after a death
The form that pays the member's whole PF to the family after a death. Three claims arise after a death, and this is the first of them.
Who files it: The nominee. Where there is no nomination, the family, in equal shares.
Nothing on this page is a sample. Every line is taken from a real government order, and under each one sits the document, the clause inside it, and the date we read it. Open one and check us.
The situations it covers
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A nomination is on record
The straightforward path. The money follows the shares the member wrote down.
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There is no nomination
Then it is divided equally among the family. With neither family nor nominee, it goes to whoever is legally entitled.
Source — how is provident fund of a deceased member paid
In the absence of nomination, EPF is payable to the family members in equal shares
Livemint, EPFO: want to claim provident fund after an EPF member's death? Stepwise guide for families · Read the rule · We read this on 2026-08-18.
Named reporting or commentary
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A share belongs to a minor
Credit it to the child's own account and no court guardianship certificate is needed.
Source — relaxation of the Guardianship Certificate requirement, subject to conditions
in cases where settlements are being credited to bank account of minor children, no separate Guardianship Certificate be insisted
EPFO circular No. WSU/Death claims/E-1115891/2025-26/25, as reported in Deloitte India tax alert, 15 September 2025 · Read the rule · We read this on 2026-08-18.
Named reporting or commentary
What you need
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The deceased member's 12-digit UANAlways
The claim starts from it. It is printed on a payslip or the PF passbook.
Source — what documents are needed to make claim
Deceased member's 12-digit UAN
Livemint, EPFO: want to claim provident fund after an EPF member's death? Stepwise guide for families · Read the rule · We read this on 2026-08-18.
Named reporting or commentary
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Death certificateAlways
The certificate issued when the death was registered. A hospital record is not a substitute for it.
Source — what documents are needed to make claim
Death certificate of member (PDF, max 2MB)
Livemint, EPFO: want to claim provident fund after an EPF member's death? Stepwise guide for families · Read the rule · We read this on 2026-08-18.
Named reporting or commentary
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Aadhaar cardAlways
The claimant's, and the name and date of birth must match what the e-Nomination declares.
Source — what documents are needed to make claim
Beneficiary's Aadhaar, name, and date of birth (as declared in e-Nomination)
Livemint, EPFO: want to claim provident fund after an EPF member's death? Stepwise guide for families · Read the rule · We read this on 2026-08-18.
Named reporting or commentary
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The claimant's bank accountAlways
This is where the money lands. A minor's share must go to the child's own account, or the court certificate comes back into play.
Source — what documents are needed to make claim
Bank proof of beneficiary, cancelled cheque or passbook (PDF, max 2MB)
Livemint, EPFO: want to claim provident fund after an EPF member's death? Stepwise guide for families · Read the rule · We read this on 2026-08-18.
Named reporting or commentary
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Legal heir certificateOnly if
Where there is no nomination on record and who counts as family has to be established.
Source — how is provident fund of a deceased member paid
In the absence of nomination, EPF is payable to the family members in equal shares
Livemint, EPFO: want to claim provident fund after an EPF member's death? Stepwise guide for families · Read the rule · We read this on 2026-08-18.
Named reporting or commentary
What you do NOT need
These used to be demanded. They are not any more, and each one names the order that ended it.
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A court guardianship certificate for a minor
The only condition is that the money goes to the child's own account, and officers are directed to help open one.
Source — relaxation of the Guardianship Certificate requirement, subject to conditions
in cases where settlements are being credited to bank account of minor children, no separate Guardianship Certificate be insisted
EPFO circular No. WSU/Death claims/E-1115891/2025-26/25, as reported in Deloitte India tax alert, 15 September 2025 · Read the rule · We read this on 2026-08-18.
Named reporting or commentary
And these, only if something in your record turns out to be wrong 13 papers — open to see them
These come from the 25 rules that govern this form. A paper here is needed only if you actually have that particular defect, so there is nothing to collect in advance.
- Aadhaar card up to 9 rules can ask for this
- Bank passbook up to 9 rules can ask for this
- Cancelled cheque up to 6 rules can ask for this
- Birth certificate up to 5 rules can ask for this
- Passport up to 5 rules can ask for this
- Class 10 marksheet up to 4 rules can ask for this
- Death certificate up to 3 rules can ask for this
- Marriage certificate up to 2 rules can ask for this
- Bank statement one rule can ask for this
- Written undertaking from the employer one rule can ask for this
- Legal heir certificate one rule can ask for this
- PAN card one rule can ask for this
- Ration card one rule can ask for this
Worth knowing
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Three claims are filed from one place after a death: Form 20 for the PF, Form 10D for the pension, Form 5IF for the insurance. They are three different sums of money.
Source — EDLI assurance amount and eligibility
It provides families with a lumpsum payout in case of the EPF subscriber's death during the period of service
Livemint, EPFO's insurance scheme explained: how EPF members can file EDLI claims · Read the rule · We read this on 2026-08-18.
Named reporting or commentary
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A nomination is necessary for an online death claim. Filing one now saves the family months later.
Source — nomination and online death claims
Nomination is also necessary when submitting online Death Claims (Forms 10-D, 20 and 5-IF).
Economic Times, is nomination mandatory in an EPF account for withdrawal or a death claim? · Read the rule · We read this on 2026-08-20.
Named reporting or commentary