EPFO eases death claim settlements and Aadhaar–UAN correction processes

The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (“EPFO”), through a circular dated 13 August 2025, has rolled out procedural relaxations aimed at improving service delivery for both employers and employees. In cases of death claims, settlement proceeds for minor children will now be credited directly into the child’s bank account without requiring a guardianship certificate. By eliminating this procedural hurdle, EPFO seeks to ensure faster disbursal of provident fund and pension benefits, reducing the administrative burden on employers who often face queries and follow-ups from affected families.

Simultaneously, Aadhaar–UAN linking and correction protocols have been simplified. Where member details align with Aadhaar, verification will be completed instantly. For discrepancies, employers may now file an online Joint Declaration (“JD”) to correct particulars, including errors in Aadhaar entries. In situations where establishments have closed or employers are unavailable, members will be allowed to submit a physical JD directly to the EPFO office. This framework provides employers with clearer, more efficient mechanisms to resolve data mismatches, thereby reducing compliance bottlenecks during employee on boarding and routine PF administration.

For HR and payroll teams, the circular highlights the importance of updating internal processes to align with the revised Aadhaar–UAN protocols. Employers who ensure timely verification and proactive use of the JD mechanism will be better positioned to avoid delays in extending PF benefits to their workforce. At the same time, the streamlined death claim procedure will ease employer engagement with bereaved families, ensuring quicker closure of sensitive cases and reinforcing trust in the employer–employee relationship.