EPFO and the Ministry of Labour & Employment just replaced the entire EDLI framework. This page tracks that change and every other official EDLI notification — what changed, who it affects, and whether you need to do anything about a claim.
Last verified against official EPFO and Ministry of Labour sources: 4 July 2026
EDLI at a Glance (Current Position, July 2026)
| Topic | Current Position | Detailed Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Governing Scheme | Employees' Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme, 2026 (replaced the 1976 scheme on 29 June 2026) | See "The Big Update" below |
| Maximum Benefit | ₹7,00,000 — unchanged by the 2026 notification | EDLI Calculator |
| Minimum Benefit | ₹2,50,000 — unchanged by the 2026 notification | EDLI Eligibility |
| Bonus | ₹1,75,000, added on top of the calculated benefit | EDLI Calculator |
| Wage Ceiling | ₹15,000/month for mandatory coverage — unchanged | EDLI Eligibility |
| Employee Contribution | None — fully employer-funded | EDLI Eligibility |
| Claim Process | Same claimant categories and documentation; EPFO is moving processing toward end-to-end digital filing | EDLI Claim Process |
| Claim Form | Form 5IF remains the prescribed form; no revised form has been notified as of this update | Form 5IF Guide |
Kustodian Insight: The new scheme name makes this sound like a benefit overhaul. It isn't. The payout math — 35 times average monthly wages, capped at ₹7 lakh, with a ₹2.5 lakh floor — is untouched. What actually changed is how the scheme is administered, not what a family receives.
Need help with an EDLI claim?
Understanding the latest EDLI rules is only the first step. Kustodian can help you verify eligibility, calculate the expected benefit, prepare the required documents, and guide you through the claim process.
The Big Update: EDLI Scheme, 2026 Replaces the 1976 Scheme
On 29 June 2026, the Ministry of Labour & Employment notified the Employees' Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme, 2026 via Gazette Notification G.S.R. 526(E), issued under Section 15(1)(c) of the Code on Social Security, 2020. It supersedes the Employees' Deposit-Linked Insurance Scheme, 1976, and took effect the same day, on publication in the Official Gazette.
It didn't arrive alone. The same date saw the Employees' Provident Funds Scheme, 2026 (G.S.R. 525(E)) replace the EPF Scheme, 1952, and the Employees' Pension Scheme, 2026 replace EPS-1995 — a coordinated re-notification of India's entire organised-sector social security architecture under the new labour code, not an EDLI-specific change.
What's genuinely new:
- Legal foundation shifts from the EPF & Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 to the Code on Social Security, 2020
- Stronger push toward digital administration: electronic returns, Aadhaar-enabled authentication, digital nominations, and online claims and settlement
- The scheme explicitly preserves anything already done — or due — under the 1976 scheme before the supersession date, so a claim event that occurred before 29 June 2026 isn't affected by the switch
- The employer's contribution rate to the Insurance Fund continues to be notified separately by the Central Government based on actuarial valuation — the new scheme text doesn't fix a new rate
What stayed the same:
- ₹15,000/month wage ceiling for coverage
- 12% EPF/EPS contribution structure (unrelated to the small separate EDLI insurance-fund contribution)
- The ₹7 lakh maximum / ₹2.5 lakh minimum benefit bands
- Form 5IF as the claim form — no replacement form has been notified
EDLI 1976 vs. EDLI 2026: What Actually Changed
| Aspect | EDLI Scheme, 1976 | EDLI Scheme, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Legal basis | EPF & Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 | Code on Social Security, 2020 |
| Notification | Original 1976 scheme, amended over time (e.g. G.S.R. 299(E), 2021) | G.S.R. 526(E), dated 29 June 2026 |
| Maximum benefit | ₹7,00,000 (since April 2021) | ₹7,00,000 — unchanged |
| Minimum benefit | ₹2,50,000 (since Feb 2020) | ₹2,50,000 — unchanged |
| Wage ceiling | ₹15,000/month | ₹15,000/month — unchanged |
| Nomination | Paper-based, via Form 2 | Digital nomination integrated with the EPF Scheme, 2026 |
| Claims & settlement | Physical/semi-digital submission | Designed for end-to-end online claims and settlement |
| Records | Manual + partial digital | Electronic maintenance of member records, improved cross-office data integration |
| Transition treatment | — | Anything done, or due, under the 1976 scheme before 29 June 2026 remains valid and unaffected |
Does the June 2026 Change Affect a Claim You're Filing Now?
If the death occurred before 29 June 2026: Your claim is governed by the 1976 scheme's provisions as they stood at that time. The 2026 notification explicitly protects actions already taken or due under the old scheme — you do not need to refile or amend anything already in process.
If the death occurred on or after 29 June 2026: Your claim falls under the EDLI Scheme, 2026. In practice, the eligibility criteria, benefit formula, and required claimant category (nominee, or legal heir where there's no valid nomination) are unchanged — the difference is procedural, particularly around digital nomination and online submission where your employer's payroll/UAN records support it.
Either way: the benefit calculation itself — 35 times the average monthly wage over the last 12 months, subject to the ₹7 lakh ceiling and ₹2.5 lakh floor — has not moved.
Full EDLI Update Timeline (Official Notifications)
| Date | Official Update | Who Is Affected | Action Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Jun 2026 | EDLI Scheme, 2026 notified (G.S.R. 526(E)), supersedes the 1976 scheme under the Code on Social Security, 2020 | All EPF-covered employees, families, employers | No — benefit amounts unchanged; administrative provisions apply prospectively |
| 28 Apr 2021 | Maximum benefit raised from ₹6 lakh to ₹7 lakh; bonus raised to ₹1.75 lakh; benefit extended to nominees who changed employers within 12 months before death (G.S.R. 299(E)) | Families of deceased members | No — retrospective protections were automatic |
| 15 Feb 2020 | Minimum benefit of ₹2.5 lakh restored, retrospective from this date | Families of deceased members with shorter service | No |
| Feb 2018 | Minimum assured benefit of ₹2.5 lakh introduced (initially for two years) | Families of deceased members | No |
Each entry links to primary EPFO/Gazette sources wherever a stable public link exists; where EPFO has not published a direct PDF for an older notification, this table will be updated as soon as one is available.
Does This Update Affect You?
| If You Are... | Check | Next Step |
|---|---|---|
| Employee | Nomination is up to date under your employer's EPF records | EDLI Eligibility |
| Family Member | Whether the death occurred before or after 29 June 2026 | EDLI Claim Process |
| Employer | Payroll and UAN systems are ready for digital nomination/claims filing under the 2026 scheme | Review the G.S.R. 526(E) notification |
| Legal Heir | No valid nominee was recorded, so legal heir documentation applies | Nomination & Legal Heir Guide |
If none of the above applies to your situation, continue with the existing EDLI claim process — nothing about your eligibility or entitlement has changed.
Need help understanding how the latest EDLI rules apply to you?
Whether you're an employee, nominee, legal heir, or employer, Kustodian can help you understand your rights, verify your documents, and guide you through the EDLI claim process under the 2026 scheme.
How to Verify Whether an EDLI Update Is Official
| Source | Reliability |
|---|---|
| Gazette notification (e.g. G.S.R. 526(E)) | Primary — gives legal effect |
| EPFO circular | Confirms scheme administration |
| Ministry of Labour & Employment notification | Confirms policy change |
| News reporting that links to the above | Useful context, not a substitute for the primary source |
| Social media posts, forwarded messages, unlinked claims | Do not act on these without tracing back to a Gazette or EPFO source |
Kustodian Policy: We update this page only after reviewing the underlying Gazette notification or EPFO circular ourselves, and we link to the original wherever it's publicly available.
What Should You Do After a New EDLI Update?
| Type of Update | Usually What You Should Do |
|---|---|
| Scheme replacement (like June 2026) | Confirm it doesn't touch benefit amounts before assuming anything changes for you |
| Benefit calculation or payout change | Check whether it applies to your claim's date of death |
| Claim process update | Follow the revised filing procedure only for new claims |
| Form or documentation update | Use the latest prescribed form once EPFO notifies one |
| Employer compliance update | Employers should review payroll/UAN readiness against the new requirements |
Need Help With a Claim Affected by the New Scheme?
Official notifications explain what changed. They rarely explain what it means for one specific claim.
How Kustodian helps:
- Confirms whether your claim falls under the 1976 scheme or the 2026 scheme based on the date of death
- Reviews nomination and documentation for digital-filing readiness
- Prepares and reviews Form 5IF before submission to reduce avoidable delays
- Tracks EPFO circulars implementing the 2026 scheme and flags anything that changes your specific case
Talk to an expert if:
- Your claim's date of death falls close to 29 June 2026
- Your employer hasn't updated you on digital nomination or claims filing
- You've read conflicting information about whether benefit amounts changed
- You want a claim reviewed before submission
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the latest EDLI update?
The EDLI Scheme, 2026 (Gazette Notification G.S.R. 526(E), dated 29 June 2026) replaced the EDLI Scheme, 1976, under the Code on Social Security, 2020.
Did the maximum or minimum EDLI benefit change with this update?
No. The ₹7 lakh maximum and ₹2.5 lakh minimum, set by the 2021 and 2020 notifications respectively, continue unchanged under the 2026 scheme.
Do I need to redo my claim or documents because of the new scheme?
No. The 2026 scheme explicitly preserves anything already done, or due, under the 1976 scheme before 29 June 2026. Pending claims are not invalidated.
Has Form 5IF changed?
Not as of this update. No revised claim form has been notified alongside the EDLI Scheme, 2026. This page will be updated if EPFO issues one.
How does the new scheme affect employers?
Employers should review payroll and UAN systems for readiness around digital nomination, electronic returns, and online claims filing — the core contribution and compliance obligations are otherwise unchanged.
Where can I read the official notification?EPFO's EDLI scheme page and the full text of G.S.R. 526(E).
How often do EDLI rules change?
Full scheme replacements are rare — this is the first since 1976. Benefit-amount revisions have happened a handful of times (2018, 2020, 2021) via separate notifications; administrative circulars are more frequent.
How can I stay updated?
Bookmark this page. It's updated whenever EPFO or the Ministry of Labour issues a notification or circular that materially affects EDLI eligibility, benefits, or claims.
Bottom Line
The EDLI scheme was replaced on 29 June 2026, but the money hasn't changed — the ₹7 lakh cap, ₹2.5 lakh floor, and ₹15,000 wage ceiling are the same as before. What's different is the administrative path: digital nomination, online claims, and electronic records. If your claim predates 29 June 2026, it's unaffected by the switch. If you're unsure which scheme governs your specific case, that's the one thing worth checking before you file.
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