Claim Settlement process of deceased depositor’s Sukanya Samriddhi Account

In terms SB order 13/2019 dated 18.12.2019, registration of nomination is mandatory for Sukanya Samriddhi Account (SSA) at the time of opening of account. For those accounts which are already opened before the above order, the account holder or guardian shall register nomination latest before maturity of the account. Guardian or the account holder after attaining the age of majority may nominate any individual, including guardian himself in this regard.

The Girl Child has to get the account converted into her name on attaining the age of 18 years by submitting fresh identification and address documents from the list of officially valid documents mentioned for opening of a savings account.In case of death of Guardian before the Girl Child becomes major or in case of death of Girl Child after conversion of account into her name, procedure laid down for settlement of deceased claim cases for a savings account as under shall be followed.

To settle claims nominee needs to submit nomination claim form with Death Certificate and the Know Your Customer (KYC) documents. If there is no nomination, any one of the legal heirs can prefer the claim in the prescribed form [SB84]. In case of death claims, where no nomination is registered or claimant is unable to provide any legal evidence and the final claim amount does not exceed Rs 5 lakh, then the legal heir can submit a claim after the six month of the death of the depositor. There are, however, monetary limits on the claims based on the authority, details of which you can find in the SB order 36/2020 dated 06.11.2020. The revised sanction limits for without production of legal evidence applicable for various authorities are as under.

1. Sub –Postmasters of Lower selection grade post offices limit up to-Rs.50000/,
2. Sub-Post Masters of Higher selection grade (all non-gazetted ) SOs HPOs- limit up to Rs.100000/-, and
3. Higher authorities like Senior Post Master, Chief Post Master, etc for the amount up to Rs. 5,00,000/-).

The claim application form in case of without production of evidence is the same form used for nomination is registered to be submitted along with (i) a Letter of indemnity signed by Claimant, sureties, Witnesses executed before   Notary Public, (ii) an Affidavit signed by all legal heirs including claimant and executed before Notary Public/ Oath Commissioner, (iii) a Letter of disclaimer on Affidavit signed by All legal heirs excluding claimant and executed before Notary Public/ Oath Commissioner.

If the claim is exceeding Five lakh, claims can be settled by legal evidence i.e, by probate of will or succession certificate.

Where the Post office (power to sanction of such closure is delegated to the Head of the Division, Sr. Postmaster, Chief Postmaster, Director) is satisfied that in case of extreme compassionate grounds such as medical support in life-threatening diseases of the account holder or death of the guardian that the operation or continuation of the account is causing undue hardship to the account holder, it may, after complete documentation establishing the grounds for such closure, by order and for reasons to be recorded in writing, allow premature closure of the account. Outstanding balance in the account with interest due as applicable to the Scheme shall be paid to the account holder or guardian, as the case may be.

Interest payment to claimant: Up to the date of death interest shall be paid as applicable to scheme and for the period between the date of death of the account holder and date of closure of the account shall be paid at the rate applicable on Post Office Savings Account for the balance held in the account.