EPFO pensioners can now submit digital life certificate from home using a smartphone

There is relief for crores of pensioners of the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO). They can now submit their digital life certificate from home. To keep their pension flowing without interruption, pensioners must prove every year that they are alive, which is the purpose of the Digital Life Certificate. Earlier, elderly people had to stand in queues at banks or post offices for hours. That hardship will now end entirely.

Every person drawing a pension under the Employees' Pension Scheme (EPS-1995) must submit a life certificate by the end of November each year. If it is not submitted on time, the pension can be stopped. Earlier this was done only on paper or through a biometric machine at banks and offices. The Central government has made the process fully paperless and digital with the help of technology. It can now be completed at home in a few minutes using a smartphone.

The process begins with downloading two official apps from the Google Play Store, 'AadhaarFaceAuth' and 'Jeevan Pramaan Face App'. After opening the app, operator authentication must be done first. The operator enters their Aadhaar number and mobile number and completes a face scan.

Once the operator's identity is confirmed, a new page opens for the pensioner's details. The pensioner's Aadhaar number, mobile number and email ID must be entered correctly. The pensioner's PPO number and bank account details are then filled in. The user also selects the institution that pays the pension, such as EPFO or the bank concerned.

A photograph of the pensioner's face is then taken with the camera, following the instructions on screen. If the face is scanned properly, the life certificate is generated with a digital signature. On completion, a confirmation message arrives on the mobile phone and a Pramaan ID and Life Certificate ID are issued. The digital life certificate can be downloaded using these. The certificate is updated online directly with the EPFO office or bank concerned.

There are other options for elderly people who find it difficult to use a smartphone. Through the India Post Payments Bank (IPPB), a postman will come to the home and prepare the digital life certificate for a very nominal fee. The certificate can also be submitted immediately at a nearby Common Service Centre (CSC), that is, an Aaple Sarkar Seva Kendra or Maha-e-Seva Kendra, with the help of a biometric machine.

The administration has appealed to pensioners to submit their digital life certificate on time so that they continue to receive their regular pension without interruption.