The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has issued updated guidelines for processing physical claims for specific member categories unable to link Aadhaar to their Universal Account Number (UAN). This follows grievances reported due to challenges in seeding and authenticating Aadhaar, particularly for international workers and non-resident members. The new instructions outline alternative identification methods to ensure claim settlements without Aadhaar linkage for eligible members.
Eligible categories include International Workers who have left India without Aadhaar, Indian workers who have migrated permanently and gained foreign citizenship, and citizens of Nepal and Bhutan working in India under the EPF Act but residing abroad. For such members, claims will be processed with alternate IDs like passports or citizenship certificates. Physical claims must be supported with detailed verification, including bank account validation and employer confirmation for claims exceeding ₹5 lakh. These measures aim to address grievances and ensure the timely settlement of legitimate claims.
Employees Provident Fund Organisation
(MINISTRY OF LABOUR & EMPLOYMENT. GOVERNMENT OF INCA)
Head Office
Plate A. Grourd Floor. Block II. Eas: Kidwai Nagar, New Delhi-110023
Website: www.epfindia.gov.in, www.epfindia.nic.in
No. WSU/2020/Claim settlement without UAN-clarification/8726
Date: 29.11.2024
To,
All Addl. CPFCs(HQ), Addl. CPFCs, Zonal Offices
All RPFCs/OICs, Regional Offices
Sub: Settlement of physical claims without seeding of Aadhaar for certain classes of members-reg.
Ref: Circular No WSU/2020/Claim settlement without UAN- clarification/914 dated 24.09.2020.
With regard to the instructions issued vide the above circular, certain references have been received from the field offices intimating their inability to seed and authenticate Aadhaar as stipulated vide the above referred Circular in certain cases leading to non-settlement of due claims pertaining to the members and consequent grievances.
2. Accordingly, the issue had been re-examined and the following instructions are issued for claim settlement:-
| Category | Substitute Id | Manner of submission of proofs |
Mode of settlement | Risk Mitigation Measures | Mode of settlement amount to the designated Bank Account |
| International Worker (IW) who have left India without obtaining Aadhaar Substitute | Passport | Physical copy of ID enclosed to the physical claim along with other relevant required documents including Bank A/c details. | In physical mode | Due diligence-
1. Verification of bank 2. Confirmation of identity (identification documents) by Employer only if the balance exceeds Rs.5 lakh |
By NETT |
| Indian Worker who per momently migrated to a foreign country & subsequently obtained its citizenship | |||||
| Citizens of Nepal and subjects of Bhutan | Citizenship Identification Certificate or Document | ||||
| Non-Resident Indian | Any NRI (whether minor or adult) with a valid Indian Passport can apply for Aadhaar from any Aa dhaar Enrolment Centre. In case of NRIs the residential condition of 182 days is not mandatory. | ||||
Accordingly, the following classes of members are identified for exemption from the operation of the instructions of the above Circular to ensure that the dues in respect of such genuine members are paid promptly.
i. International Workers(IW) who have already left India after completion of their assignments but without obtaining Aadhaar.
ii. Indian Worker who had permanently migrated to a foreign country & subsequently obtained its citizenship without having Aadhaar
iii. Citizens of Nepal and subjects of Bhutan who fall within the definition of employee and work for and are on the rolls of an establishment covered under the EPF&MP Act but do not reside in India and consequently do not possess Aadhaar.
3. Though UAN has to be necessarily generated for the above members in case they do not already possess an UAN, the requirement of seeding of Aadhaar with UAN is dispensed with, due to their inability to get Aadhaar now.
4. Accordingly, physical claims need to be accepted from these members and processed for final settlement duly verifying the genuineness of the member based on alternate IDs, i.e. Passport in case of International Workers or Citizenship Identification Certificate/Document for Nepalese and Bhutanese workers, PAN, Bank Account, etc. duly ensuring their eligibility for the benefits. Due diligence may be exercised in these cases, duly recording the details of verification carried out and approval to process such cases may be obtained from the OIC in an e-office file to be maintained for this purpose.
[This issues with the approval of CPFC]
Yours faithfully,
(G R Suchindranath)
ACC(F&A)
