In a major step towards improving the ease of living for pensioners, the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has launched a free doorstep Digital Life Certificate (DLC) service under the Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS). With this initiative, pensioners will no longer be required to visit banks or EPFO offices every year to submit their life certificate. Instead, postmen and postal staff will now visit pensioners’ homes to complete the verification process.

This facility has been introduced through a partnership between EPFO and India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) and is expected to bring significant relief, especially to senior citizens, physically challenged pensioners, and those living in rural or remote areas.

What Is the New EPFO Doorstep DLC Service?

Under the new system, EPFO pensioners can now get their Digital Life Certificate generated at home, completely free of cost. Earlier, many pensioners had to stand in long queues or depend on others to visit banks and offices, which often caused delays in pension disbursement.

With the doorstep service, EPFO aims to ensure that pension payments continue without interruption and that no eligible pensioner is inconvenienced due to technical or physical limitations.

How Will the Service Work?

The process has been designed to be simple, secure, and pensioner-friendly:

• A postman or postal assistant will visit the pensioner’s residence at the scheduled time




• The official will first verify the Pension Payment Order (PPO) and Aadhaar details




• The Digital Life Certificate will be generated using Face Authentication Technology (FAT)




• If facial authentication fails, biometric fingerprint verification will be used as an alternative




• Once successful, the pensioner will receive an SMS confirmation, and the DLC will be uploaded to the Jeevan Pramaan portal

Importantly, no fee will be charged for this service, as the entire cost is being borne by EPFO.

Pensioners can request the service by contacting IPPB customer care at 033-22029000 or through IPPB’s mobile platform, where available.

Priority for Long-Pending DLC Cases

EPFO has issued clear instructions to give priority to long-pending Digital Life Certificate cases. According to official guidelines:

• Cases pending for more than five years will be resolved first




• Next, cases pending for two to five years will be addressed




• The target is to clear all pending DLC cases by March 2026

If postal staff come to know that a pensioner has passed away, they are required to report it immediately. This will help EPFO either initiate pension benefits for eligible family members or formally close the PPO, ensuring transparency and timely action.

Zonal EPFO offices have been directed to closely monitor the progress of this initiative.

Encouraging Digital Self-Service Where Possible

While the doorstep facility is a major relief, EPFO has also encouraged tech-savvy pensioners to generate their DLC on their own using the Jeevan Pramaan portal or the UMANG app. Pensioners who are comfortable using smartphones can continue to use these platforms independently.

The doorstep service, which has existed in limited form since 2020, has now been made completely free, significantly expanding its reach and impact.

A Big Boost to Ease of Living for Senior Citizens

Experts believe this initiative marks a transformational change in pension administration. It not only reduces physical hardship for elderly pensioners but also builds trust in digital governance.

By bringing services directly to people’s homes, EPFO and IPPB are reinforcing the goals of Digital India while addressing real-world challenges faced by senior citizens.

Why This Initiative Matters

• Eliminates the need for physical visits to banks or EPFO offices




• Prevents pension delays due to missed life certificate submission




• Benefits elderly, disabled, and rural pensioners the most




• Helps clear long-pending DLC cases efficiently




• Strengthens transparency and pension continuity

EPFO has stated that this joint initiative with IPPB is designed to be a humane, inclusive, and convenient solution for pensioners. With a clear deadline to resolve pending cases by March 2026, the organisation hopes this step will ensure that no pensioner is deprived of their rightful benefits.

Overall, the new doorstep Digital Life Certificate service stands out as a thoughtful reform that combines technology with empathy—making pension access smoother, dignified, and stress-free for millions of retirees across India.