Retrieving scattered funds: housing provident fund balances, social insurance payouts, and work‑related death benefits

9. Retrieving scattered funds: housing provident fund balances, social insurance payouts, and work‑related death benefits

Cost: No monetary cost, but you must visit several offices. Before you go, gather a death certificate and proof of family relationship.

In plain terms: Heirs can withdraw the balance in a deceased person’s housing provident fund account; this money is not held in a regular bank account, so it is easy to overlook. Money remaining in the individual pension account can also be inherited. If the death was due to illness, family members receive a funeral allowance plus a survivor’s pension for 3 to 24 months. In cases of death at work, three additional benefits apply.

Benefit: The balance in the housing provident fund account can be withdrawn by heirs or legatees — a legatee is someone named in a will to receive assets. For those who die on the job, three specific benefits are paid: a funeral allowance, a survivor’s pension, and a one‑time death benefit. Money left in the individual pension account is also inheritable under Social Insurance Law. When an employee dies from illness or non‑work causes, family members receive both a funeral allowance and a survivor’s pension, collectively called survivor benefits. The calculation formula is uniform nationwide. The funeral allowance equals twice the average monthly disposable income of urban residents in the province from the previous year. The survivor’s pension is based on that same income and paid for 3 to 24 months depending on years of contribution: under 5 years yields 3 months; 5–10 years yields 6 months; 10–15 years yields 9 months; each additional year adds one more month, up to a maximum of 24 months. For retirees, each year of pension receipt reduces the total months by one, with a minimum of 9 months.

Evidence grade: A

Sources: State Council of China (2026). Housing Provident Fund Management Regulations (Amended by State Council of China Order No. 844, effective from September 20, 2026) Article 24, last paragraph. <https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/2026/issue_12946/202608/content_7079363.html>: "If an employee dies or is declared dead, the employee's heirs or legatees can withdraw the balance in the employee's housing provident fund account; if there is no heir or legatee, the balance in the employee's housing provident fund account shall be included in the appreciation income of the housing provident fund."; The three benefits in Article 39 of the Regulation on Work-Related Injury Insurance can be found in Section 19. <https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2011/content_1778064.htm>; National People's Congress Standing Committee (2018 revision). Social Insurance Law (Articles 14, 17): "In the event of an individual's death, the balance of the personal account can be inherited." "If an individual who participates in the basic pension insurance dies due to illness or non-work, his or her survivors can receive funeral subsidies and pensions." <https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff8080816f135f46016f210989b9179a> (National Laws and Regulations Database); Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of China, Ministry of Finance (2021). Interim Measures for the Benefits of Survivors of Enterprise Employees’ Basic Pension Insurance (Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of China [2021] 18 No., effective from September 1, 2021, Articles 4 and 5), the original has not been published online, the articles are checked verbatim in the Administrative Reconsideration Decision of the People’s Government of Huadu District, Guangzhou City (Huadu Fu Xingfu [2022] No. 226): "The standard of funeral subsidy is calculated based on twice the monthly per capita disposable income of urban residents in the province when the insured person died..." "If the payment period is less than 5 years, the number of payment months is 3 months... If the payment period is more than 30 years, it is calculated based on 30 years, and the maximum number of payment months is 24 months." <https://www.huadu.gov.cn/xxgk/xzfy/content/post_8672730.html>; Fujian Provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security. Frequently Asked Questions: "The basic pension will be reduced by one month for every year of receipt, and the minimum number of payment months is 9 months." "If the cumulative payment years are less than 5 years, the standard of benefits for survivors (including funeral subsidies and pensions) shall not exceed the sum of their personal contributions." <http://rst.fujian.gov.cn/wz/cjwt/czzgly/202311/t20231113_6294929.htm>

Notes: The housing provident fund balance is often forgotten because it is not in a regular bank account and is not automatically included in estate distribution. The pension balance and survivor benefits are calculated and paid separately; both must be handled at the local social insurance office. Required documents vary by region. If contributions were made for less than 5 years, the total survivor benefits cannot exceed the amount the deceased personally paid into the system. This formula applies to employee pension schemes; for government workers and rural residents, details must be obtained at the local office. Formal requirements for wills and inheritance are covered in Section 17.