Payroll & statutory · Updated October 2026
Family pension under the Employees’ Pension Scheme is the monthly pension paid to a member’s spouse, children or nominee after the member dies, whether in service or after retirement. It comes from the pension share of the employer’s PF contribution, not from the member’s own EPF balance, and it is claimed on Form 10D.
These rates come from secondary summaries of the scheme rules, so confirm them against the current scheme text before quoting them.
| Beneficiary | Pension | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Widow or widower | Based on the member’s pension, minimum Rs 1,000 a month | For life, stops on remarriage; death in service needs at least one month of EPS contribution, not 10 years |
| Children | 25% of the widow pension each | Up to two at a time, until age 25; lifelong if disabled |
| Orphans (no surviving spouse) | 75% of the widow pension each | Up to two, until age 25 |
| Nominee | As per the scheme | Where the member has no family, a nomination can name someone else |
So the family typically receives three separate things on a member’s death: the EPF balance paid to the nominee, the EDLI lump sum, and this monthly pension. Many families claim the first two and never hear about the third.
The claim needs the death certificate, the claimant’s bank details and proof of relationship, plus the member’s UAN. Today most EPFO claims run through the online portal, but check the current route for Form 10D before advising a family. The usual snags are an outdated family declaration, a nomination that was never filed, or a UAN with unverified KYC. Ask employees to file or update the PF nomination and keep the UAN details correct.
Family pension is taxable in the recipient’s hands, with a statutory deduction whose amount depends on the regime and year, so ask a tax adviser rather than assuming. The Rs 1,000 minimum has not changed. A 2026 parliamentary committee recommended a review, and the Labour Ministry has said there is no immediate proposal to revise it.
Yes, in a death in service. At least one month of EPS contribution is generally enough, which is different from the 10-year rule for the member’s own retirement pension.
Yes, widow pension ends on remarriage. Children’s pension continues on its own terms.
It is a separate question. The 2022 Supreme Court judgment concerns pension on actual wages, covered in pensionable salary and service. Ask EPFO how a higher-wage entitlement carries over to family pension.
The scheme looks to the spouse and children first, as listed in the member’s declaration, so keep that declaration current.
Where gratuity and PF both fall due after a death, the full and final settlement page shows how HR can sequence the paperwork.