EPF and Pension Schemes 2026: complete claims to be settled within 20 days

Both of the schemes notified on 29 June 2026 put a time limit on the settlement of claims. Under the Employees' Provident Funds Scheme, 2026 (G.S.R. 525(E)), a complete claim is to be settled within 20 days of receipt. Under the Employees' Pension Scheme, 2026 (G.S.R. 527(E)), a complete pension claim is likewise to be settled within 20 days.

If a claim is deficient, the deficiency is to be communicated to the claimant within 20 days, so that the member knows what to correct and the claim does not stay unanswered. Commentary on the Scheme notes that EPFO officials are made accountable for delays; the exact provision is in the notification.

What counts as a complete claim matters, because the 20 days run from receipt of a complete claim. In practice, delays and rejections usually come from the same few causes: a member's name, date of birth or bank details that do not match the records; KYC that has not been seeded to the UAN; and a date of exit that the employer has not updated.

What employers can do. Update the date of exit in each leaver's UAN profile as soon as the employee leaves, so that the member can file without waiting for anything from the employer. Keep the UAN, Aadhaar, bank account and PAN details of employees consistent across payroll and the EPFO portal. Answer any attestation or clarification request promptly, because an open query on the employer's side is the commonest reason a claim is treated as incomplete.

What members can expect. Once a complete claim is filed, settlement is due within 20 days. If the claim is returned, the deficiency should be stated within 20 days of receipt, and the corrected claim can be filed again.

This entry covers the claim timelines only. For other provisions of the two schemes, read the notifications themselves.