EPFO Special Facility: The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has provided significant relief to millions of people receiving EPS pensions. Now, there is no need to visit a bank or EPFO office to submit the mandatory Digital Life Certificate (DLC) to continue receiving the pension. EPFO has launched a new facility in collaboration with India Post Payments Bank (IPPB), under which postmen will visit pensioners’ homes to complete this process.
Why was this new facility launched?
Many elderly and infirm pensioners find it difficult to travel to banks or EPFO offices. This doorstep service has been launched to address this problem. Under this system, postmen or postal employees will visit the homes of EPS pensioners whose Digital Life Certificates have not yet been submitted and will prepare the life certificate there. The entire cost of this service will be borne by EPFO, so pensioners will not have to pay any fees.
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How to avail this facility?
To avail of this service, EPS pensioners need to call the India Post Payments Bank customer care number 033-22029000 and request a home visit. After receiving the request, the postman will visit the pensioner’s home at the scheduled time and complete the Digital Life Certificate process.
How will the life certificate be created at home?
When a pensioner applies for a home visit, the IPPB employee first verifies whether the DLC is actually due. Then, the name and date of birth recorded in the PPO and Aadhaar card are matched. If all the information is found to be correct, the Digital Life Certificate is created through face authentication or other biometric methods.
Other options for submitting DLC
Pensioners can also submit their Digital Life Certificate through banks, Common Service Centres, post offices, EPFO offices, the Umang app, or through a postman. This means pensioners have several options available.
Why is a Digital Life Certificate necessary?
A Digital Life Certificate proves that the person receiving the pension is alive. Without it, the pension cannot be continued. This certificate is generated through Aadhaar-linked biometric verification, using fingerprints or facial recognition. EPS pensioners can submit their Digital Life Certificate (DLC) at any time of the year, and once submitted, it remains valid for 12 months.
Great relief for elderly pensioners
EPFO is already promoting face authentication technology so that pensioners can submit their DLC from the comfort of their homes using their mobile phones. However, this doorstep service is extremely beneficial for those who do not have smartphones. This will save elderly pensioners from having to stand in queues or make repeated trips to the bank.
When is a DLC considered successful?
A Digital Life Certificate will be considered valid only if it is generated by an IPPB operator and the pension is already due or will become due within the next 30 days. It is approved after verification is completed in the EPFO system. After approval, the pension continues without interruption for the next 12 months.