New Delhi (NVI): Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) today said that it has processed about 1.37 lakh claims across the country in the past 10 days, disbursing an amount of Rs 279.65 crore, to provide relief depositors amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
The retirement body took the step under a new provision especially formulated by amending the EPF Scheme to help members fight COVID-19 pandemic.
The provision for a special withdrawal from the EPF Scheme to fight coronavirus pandemic is part of the (PMGKY) scheme by the government and an urgent notification on the matter was made to introduce a para 68 L (3) of the EPF Scheme on March 28.
Under this provision non-refundable withdrawal to the extent of the basic wages allowances for three months or up to 75 per cent of the amount standing to member’s credit in the EPF account, whichever is less, is provided.
Anticipating the huge surge in the demand, EPFO came out with a completely new software which has been developed from scratch and a receipt module for on-line receipt of the claims was introduced within 24 hours.
Further, the application was required to be in paperless form to curtail any physical movement in view of social distancing. As the virus has posed a serious threat and considering important need of money in these trying times, it has been decided to process advance to fight COVID-19 pandemic on priority.
In another decision, EPFO had issued revised instructions to its field offices to facilitate the rectification of birth records for provident fund (PF) subscribers. The retirement fund mandated that the date of birth recorded in Aadhaar would be accepted as valid proof of date of birth for the purpose of rectification, provided the difference between the two dates was less than three years.
EPFO is the provider of the Employees’ Provident Fund, which a pension scheme for salaried persons in the country.
