Since aadhaar details can’t be corrected after the member’s death, EPFO has decided to allow the processing of physical claims without seeding aadhaar, but only as a ‘temporary measure’.
In certain cases, physical claims can be settled without seeding aadhaar.
EPF has released a circular detailing the settlement of physical claims in death cases. The numerous cases mentioned by the EPFO include the following:
- Aadhaar got deactivated, or there is a technical error in validating aadhaar from UIDAI database, etc.
- Where incorrect member details are given in aadhaar. 3. Unavailability of aadhaar in respect of pre-aadhaar death cases
The EPFO has also highlighted that these instructions would apply only to those cases where the details of the member are correct in UAN but inaccurate/ incomplete in aadhaar database.
Background information:
The notification references an earlier circular dated September 24, 2020, which provided guidelines for claim settlements without UAN. However, field offices reported difficulties in seeding and authenticating Aadhaar details in cases of death, leading to delays in the release of benefits.
These difficulties include:
- Inaccurate or incomplete Aadhaar details for the deceased member.
- Unavailability of Aadhaar for pre-Aadhaar death cases.
- Deactivated Aadhaar accounts.
- Technical errors in validating Aadhaar from the UIDAI database.
Given these issues, and recognizing that Aadhaar details cannot be corrected or updated posthumously, the EPFO has decided to allow the processing of physical claims without Aadhaar seeding in certain death cases, subject to specific conditions.