Death claim settlement process of SCSS account

When the first holder in the SCSS (Senior Citizen Savings Scheme) account dies, the second holder (spouse) is allowed to continue the account even when he/she does not meet the age criteria of 60 years as required under the rules. Similarly, when the spouse is the sole nominee, he/she is allowed to continue the account even when he/she does not meet the age criteria of 60 years as required under the rules. Also, in case of surviving nominee is a spouse, he or she can continue SCSS A/c even if a separate SCSS A/c is opened in her/his name.

A claim application for the SCSS from a legal heir who prefers a claim without the production of legal evidence may be accepted at the discretion of sanctioning authority up to the limit fixed by Min.  These claims can be made after the completion of 6 months from the time of 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 to the discretion of 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

The claimant/s for the amount above Rs. 5,00,000/- requires to obtain a succession certificate from a competent court of law or produce the probate of a will or letters of Administration of Estate of the deceased.

In this case claim settlements without legal evidences relating to Savings Bank Accounts and Savings Certificates of deceased depositor shall be treated as separate and the prescribed limit shall be applied separately for each account or purchase application. .

Where the SCSS Claim amount is above Rs.500000/- without the support of nomination:

 If the claim amount of the SCSS account exceeds the prescribed limit which is now Rs. 5,00,000/-, the claimant/s requires to obtain a succession certificate from a competent court of law or produce the probate of a will or Letters of Administration of Estate of the deceased. An application (application form available at the post office) to the Postmaster of the office of registration, supported by succession certificate from a competent court of law or produce the probate of a will or Letters of Administration of Estate of the deceased along with death certificate/proof of death of the holder and along with succession certificate/of deceased nominee or nominees along with original certificates of NSC and Identity proof of the claimant/s (Any of the following: PAN card/Voter card/Driving License/Passport/ Aadhar card/Nregra Job card).

Interest payment: Up to date of death, interest rate will be as applicable to regular SCSS account and after that SB interest is applicable