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

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.

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

The balance in the housing provident fund account can be withdrawn by heirs or legatees — a legatee is someone named in a will to receive assets.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.

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.

国务院 (2026). 住房公积金管理条例（国务院令第 844 号修改，2026 年 9 月 20 日起施行）第二十四条末款. https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/2026/issue_12946/202608/content_7079363.html：「职工死亡或者被宣告死亡的，职工的继承人、受遗赠人可以提取职工住房公积金账户内的存储余额；无继承人也无受遗赠人的，职工住房公积金账户内的存储余额纳入住房公积金的增值收益。」；工伤保险条例第三十九条的三笔待遇见第 19 节. https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2011/content_1778064.htm；全国人大常委会 (2018 修正). 社会保险法（第十四、十七条）：「个人死亡的，个人账户余额可以继承」「参加基本养老保险的个人，因病或者非因工死亡的，其遗属可以领取丧葬补助金和抚恤金」. https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff8080816f135f46016f210989b9179a（国家法律法规数据库）；人力资源社会保障部、财政部 (2021). 企业职工基本养老保险遗属待遇暂行办法（人社部发〔2021〕18 号，2021 年 9 月 1 日起施行，第四、五条），原件未公开挂网，条文按广州市花都区人民政府行政复议决定书（花都府行复〔2022〕226 号）的逐字引用核对：「丧葬补助金的标准，按照参保人员死亡时本省……上一年度城镇居民月人均可支配收入的2倍计算」「缴费年限不满5年的，发放月数为3个月……缴费年限30年以上的，按照30年计算，发放月数最高为24个月」. https://www.huadu.gov.cn/xxgk/xzfy/content/post_8672730.html；福建省人力资源和社会保障厅. 常见问题：「每领取1年基本养老金减少1个月，发放月数最低为9个月」「累计缴费年限不足5年的，其遗属待遇（含丧葬补助金和抚恤金）标准不得超过其个人缴费之和」. http://rst.fujian.gov.cn/wz/cjwt/czzgly/202311/t20231113_6294929.htm