The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has issued a directive to simplify the process for settling death claims for minor children. The circular, dated August 13, 2025, addresses the issue of many offices requiring a Guardianship Certificate when disbursing funds to the surviving minor children of a deceased member. To ensure faster claim settlements and streamline the process, the EPFO’s Head Office has now instructed all regional offices to stop insisting on this certificate. Instead, claimants should be advised to open individual bank accounts in the names of the minor children. The settlement proceeds and any pension due to them will be credited directly to these accounts. This change is aimed at removing a procedural barrier to expedite financial support for minors after a parent’s death and has been approved by the Central Provident Fund Commissioner (CPFC).
EMPLOYEES’ PROVIDENT FUND ORGANISATION
MINISTRY OF LABOUR $ ENIPLOYMENT, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
Head Office
Bhavishya Nidhi Bhawan, 14. Bhikaiji Cama Place, New Delhi-no066
Website: N%–ww.epfindia.gov.in. c%–ww,eutindia.nic.in
No: WSU/Death Claims/E-111.5891/2025-26/25 Date: 13.08.2025
All ACCs (HQ), Zones
All ACCs, Zones
All Regional P.F. Commssioners, In-charge of ROs
Subject: Simplificatior of Death claims – Non-requirement of Guardianship Certificate for settlements to bar k accounts of minor children – Reg.
Madam/Sir,
It has come to the notce that many offices are seeking Guardianship Certificates in cases where the settlements in respect of a deceased member are to be paid to his/her surviving minor children.
In this regard, with a v ew to simplify the process and also to ensure speedy settlement to the minor childre 1, it is hereby directed that no separat Guardianship Certificate be insisted f the settlements are being credited to the Bank Accounts of the minor children.
Accordingly, the claimants be suitably guided to open individual bank accounts in the name of the minor children for crediting the settlement proceeds as well as pension due to them.
[This issues with the approval of the CPFC]
(G R Suchindranath)
ACC(WSU)
