Stating that post offices are not following prescribed procedures and timelines, the Department of Posts (DOP) has published fresh guidelines for the quick settlement of deceased claim applications.
“Post offices shall have to ensure settlement of deceased claim cases within the timeline prescribed. Further, Head Post Offices/Sub Post Offices should be sensitized to adhere to the following guidelines for timely settlement of deceased claim cases,” DoP said in the press release statement dated 09/01/2023.
Guidelines Issued For Quick Death Claim Settlement
- KYC documents of the claimant should be verified with the original documents at the time of receiving KYC documents/deceased claim case documents.
- When the signatures of witnesses are available on a copy of the KYC documents, there is no requirement for the physical presence of the witnesses.
- The claimants should be sensitised to provide their bank account or PO saving account details while submitting deceased claim cases for the transfer of payments. The claimant signature/account detail should be obtained on the acquittance portion so that claimants/nominees can avoid visiting post offices to receive the payment through a cheque.
- The sub-post office or head post office need not issue a separate sanction memo to settle death claim cases. It can sanction the claim in Form-11 on the second part prescribed as ‘For Office Use Only’.
- Further verification through SDI (P) or PRI (P) is not required when a deceased claim case is received with complete documents.
As per the guidelines, when a nomination is registered in a small savings scheme held with a post office, and it is in force at the time of the individual’s death, the respective post office will have to pay the amount to the nominee irrespective of the claim amount without production of legal evidence.
When the last surviving nominee or single nominee expires, the claim for the scheme will be determined in favour of the last deceased nominee’s legal heirs rather than the legal heirs of the deceased depositor, the guidelines added.
In absence of registration or legal evidence and the final claim amount doesn’t exceed Rs 5 lakh, the legal successor can file for a claim after six months of the depositor’s death with the following documents.
- Depositor’s death certificate
- Original deposit receipt, statement of account or passbook
- Affidavit
- Letter of disclaimer
- Bond of indemnity
When the claim amount is above Rs 5 lakh, the accounts office should pay the amount to the claimant upon submission of the succession certificate issued by the court along with documents including
- Claim form
- Original deposit receipt, statement of account or passbook
- Death certificate of the account holder
“If the eligible amount in a deceased account is above Rs. 5 lakh where no nomination or legal evidence available, the amount shall be paid to the claimant on submission of ‘Succession Certificate’ issued by the court,” DoP said in a circular dated 06.11.2020.
As per the Post Office, up to Rs. 5 lahks can be refunded after six months after the depositor’s death if there is no nomination in the plan. The amount can be claimed by submitting a claim form along with a death certificate.
The circular added, “The Post Office where the account stands, on receipt of the claim either directly or by Insured Post will issue acknowledgment to the claimant on the same day. The claim case is to be settled within 1 (one) working day when nomination exists and within 7 working days in other cases, if the claim falls under its financial powers of the Post Office. If the claim case falls above the financial powers, it shall be forwarded to the sanctioning authority by service Insured Post on the day of its receipt. 2. Divisional office will dispose-off the claim case within 7 working days of the receipt of the same.”
