How to Update EPF Nominee Online?

Usually, all salaried individuals have an account with the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) in India. It is essential for EPF account holders (members) to file a nomination for their EPF accounts. The nominees would be able to withdraw money from the EPF account if any mishap happens to the member.

Once the nomination is done, EPF members can update or change the nomination online. Initially, changing of nomination was done using Form 2, which the employer would send to the EPFO. Now, the EPFO has simplified the process, and the members can add new nominees or change nominations by logging into the EPF members portal.

Pre-requisites for EPFO Nominee Update

The members need to have the following before updating or changing their EPF nominee:

• Activated and Aadhaar-linked UAN (Universal Account Number)
• Mobile number linked with Aadhaar 
• Updated EPF account profile with address and photograph
• Scanned photo of the nominee
• Aadhaar number of the nominee
• Bank account number with IFSC and address of the nominee

EPFO Nominee Update Process Online

The process to update the EPF nominee online is the same as the process to add e-nomination. When a new nomination is added in EPF, it will override the existing nomination. Thus, if a member has already added his spouse as the nominee and also wants to add his child, then he must add both their details again by following the e-nomination process.

If he adds only his child since the spouse is already added as a nominee, then only the child will be the nominee and not both the child and spouse. This is because the previous spouse nominee will be overridden by the new addition of the child nominee.

Thus, every time a member wants to add a nominee, then he/she needs to add the previous nominee details again with the new nominee details to keep both the persons as nominees.

If a member wants to change the nominee or update any details of the existing nominee, then the member need not delete the old nomination. He/she can directly add details of the new nominee or update details of the already existing nominee and complete the process. The EPFO will consider the newly added nominee or updated details of the existing nominee and the old nomination is not valid.

A member cannot edit or delete the old nomination. The old nomination details will not be valid when a new nomination is added.

How to Update/Change EPF Nominee Online?

The steps to update EPF nomination or make a new nomination are as follows: 

Step 1: Visit the EPFO Member e-Sewa Portal.

Step 2: Login by entering the UAN, password, and captcha and click on the ‘Sign in’ button.

Step 3: Select the ‘E-nomination’ option under the ‘Manage’ tab.

Step 4: Click on the ‘Enter new nomination’ option on the next page.

Step 5: The ‘Profile’ details will appear on the screen. Click on the ‘Proceed’ button.

Step 6: Select ‘Yes’ under the ‘Family Declaration’ section to add a new nominee or update the details of the previously existing nominee. 

Step 7: Provide the nominee details, i.e. the Aadhaar number, name,  gender, date of birth, relation, bank account details, and guardian (if the nominee is a minor), and upload the photo of the nominee. Click on the ‘Save Family Details’ option. Click on ‘Add now’ when more than one nominee is to be added and enter their details.

Step 8: Enter the total amount of shares for the added nominees and click on the ‘Save EPF Nomination’ button.

Step 9: Click on the ‘e-Sign’ option under the ‘Pending Nomination’ section.

Step 10: A dialogue box will appear when the eSign is not registered. Click on the ‘Proceed’ button.

Step 11: A new page will open. Enter the Aadhaar virtual ID and click on the ‘Verify’ button.

Step 12: Tick/select the box to provide your consent for e-KYC services data from Aadhaar.

Step 13: Enter your Aadhaar or Virtual ID and click on the ‘Get OTP’ button. The OTP will be sent to the registered mobile number. Enter the OTP, select the check box to give your consent and click on the ‘Submit’ button.

Step 14: Upon verification of the OTP, the new nominee will be registered with the EPFO. The ‘Nomination History’ can be viewed by clicking on the ‘E-nomination’ option under the ‘Manage’ tab. The ‘Nomination History’ will show the status of the newly added or updated nominee details as ‘Nomination Successful’. It will show all the previous nomination details also. However, only the first nomination is valid as it overrides all other previous nominations.

Note: Only the spouse, children and parents are considered as family. Thus, if a member wants to add his/her siblings (brother or sister) as nominees, he/she should select the ‘No’ option under the ‘Having Family’ section.

Rules for EPF Nomination

• EPF nomination is mandatory for all members for the transfer of funds after the member's death.
• A member can add more than one nominee and enter the proportion of fund for each nominee.
• When a member has family, he/she can nominate only family members. A nominee who is not a family member is considered invalid. Spouse, children and parents are family members.
• When a member gets married and changes the status to married in the profile, he/she must make a new nomination, as the nominations made before marriage will be invalid.
• If the member does not have a family, he/she can nominate anyone. However, when the member has a family (spouse and children), the nomination should be transferred to the family members. If a minor is a nominee, a family member should be the guardian of the minor.
• Upon the member's death, the EPF amount will be paid to the nominees. The payment will be based on the stated proportion.
• When there is no nomination, the EPF fund will be equally distributed among family members.

An EPF member can easily make or update a nomination for his/her EPF fund online. To complete the nomination, a member need not visit the EPF office or get the employer's approval. However, a member can make or update an EPF nomination online only when the UAN is linked with Aadhaar.