EPFO– Big news for EPFO members. If you are also a salaried class and your PF is deducted every month, then this news is of use to you. Yes, a big step has been taken by EPFO ​​for crores of salaried class. The Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) has increased the Ex-Gratia Amount given under the ‘Death Relief Fund’ from Rs 8.8 lakh to Rs 15 lakh. The newly increased amount will be implemented from April 1, 2025. This benefit will be available to the family of such employees who are employees of the Central Board and who die during service.

This money will be given to the person nominated by the employee or the legal heir. According to the rules of EPFO, this money will be given from the Staff Welfare Fund. In a circular issued on August 19, EPFO ​​said, ‘The Central Provident Fund Commissioner and the Chairman of the Central Staff Welfare Committee have approved increasing the ex-gratia amount of the death relief fund from Rs 8.8 lakh to Rs 15 lakh. This amount will be given to the family of the deceased employee of the Central Board.

There will be an increase of 5% every year

It was also announced by the EPFO ​​that this amount will be increased by 5% every year from April 1, 2026. Its purpose is to help families with increasing financial needs keeping in mind inflation. This step is part of the EPFO ​​​​policy reform of 2025. Many reforms have also been made by EPFO ​​​​in the year 2025. The process of death claim has been simplified by the EPFO. Under this, ‘Guardianship Certificate’ will not be required for minor children.

The joint declaration process for Aadhaar-UAN linking or correction has also been simplified. Apart from this, changes have also been made in the auto-settlement limit of home loan withdrawal and advance claim from Provident Fund (PF).

Let us tell you that the Central Board of Trustees of EPFO ​​is its top policy-making body. It includes representatives of employers and employees along with the central and state governments. This step is an important step towards providing financial security to the families of employees.