Form F is how an employee nominates who should receive their gratuity in the event of their death, filed under the Payment of Gratuity Act once they complete one year of service.

When it’s filed, and what happens without one

An employee ordinarily files Form F within 30 days of completing one year of continuous service, submitting it in duplicate so the employer can countersign and return one copy. Where the employee has a “family” as the Act defines it, spouse, children, dependent parents, and in some cases a dependent or widowed daughter-in-law, the nomination must go to one or more family members only, a nomination favoring a non-family member while family exists isn’t valid. Life events matter too: marriage or having a child after filing can require an updated nomination. Without a valid Form F on record, gratuity due on death is instead paid out to legal heirs under the Act’s default succession rules, a slower, more administratively complex process than paying a named nominee directly.

Frequently asked questions

What happens if an employee never files Form F?

Gratuity on death goes to legal heirs under the Act’s default rules instead of a named nominee, a slower process, not a lost entitlement.

Can a nomination be changed later?

Yes, a fresh nomination is typically required after major life events like marriage or the birth of a child.

Who holds onto the filed Form F?

The employer retains one countersigned copy as the official record, with the employee keeping the other.

See gratuity for the underlying entitlement this nomination applies to.