EPFO settles nearly 13 lakh claims during lockdown, Rs 4,684 crore disbursed

The Employees' Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) has settled a total of 12.91 lakhs claims, including 7.40 lakhs COVID-19 claims under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) package. 

This involves disbursal of a total amount of Rs 4684.52 crore which includes Rs 2367.65 crore COVID claims under PMGKY package, the Union Ministry of Labour & Employment, under which the EPFO comes, said in a press release on Tuesday. 

The ministry said that the exempted PF trusts have also risen to the occasion amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. As on April 27, Rs 875.52 crore has been disbursed to 79,743 PF members as an advance for COVID-19 by the exempted PF Trusts under this scheme, with 222 private sector establishments disbursing Rs 338.23 crore to 54,641 beneficiaries, 76 public sector establishments disbursing Rs 524.75 crore to 24,178 beneficiaries and 23 cooperative sector establishments disbursing Rs 12.54 crore to 924 claimants.

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) in Mumbai, HCL Technologies in Gurugram and HDFC Bank in Powai are the top three exempted establishments in the private sector, both in terms of “number of claims settled and “amount disbursed”. 

In the public sector, ONGC Dehradun, Neyveli Lignite Corporation Neyveli and BHEL Trichyare are the top 3 exempted establishments to have settled maximum number of COVID-19 advance claims whereas, Neyveli Lignite Corporation Neyveli, ONGC Dehradun and Vishakhapatnam Steel Plant Vishakhapatnam are top three establishments in terms of the amount disbursed to EPF members, the Labour Ministry said. 

The provision for a special withdrawal from the EPF Scheme to fight Covid-19 pandemic is part of the PMGKY scheme announced by the government and an urgent notification on the matter was introduced last month. Under this provision, non-refundable withdrawal to the extent of the basic wages and dearness allowances for three months or up to 75% of the amount standing to member's credit in the EPF account, whichever is less, is provided.

Despite only one-third staff being able to work due to lockdown, EPFO said it is committed to serve its members during this difficult situation and EPFO offices are functional to help them during these testing times.