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PMJJBY – How to Apply, Check Status, Download Certificate & Claim Check

PMJJBY is a government program for lower-income individuals to avail of life insurance at an annual premium.

  • 136,619 Views | Updated on: Jul 03, 2024

Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) is a type of life insurance scheme that offers death coverage to the policyholder and can be renewed yearly. It is a pure-term insurance policy that covers only mortality with no investment component. Aimed at providing life insurance coverage at an affordable premium, PMJJBY has become a vital safety net for individuals across the nation by ensuring access to affordable life insurance.

Understand all about PMJJBY, from application to claim, and understand how this initiative is making strides in safeguarding the financial well-being of countless individuals across the nation.

What is PMJJBY?

Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) is a government-backed life insurance scheme launched by the Indian government in May 2015. PMJJBY ensures that all eligible individuals have access to a life insurance policy that offers financial security to their families in case of untimely demise.

The scheme has a simple enrolment process, which can be done through any participating bank. The enrolment form requires minimal documentation, including the policyholder’s name, date of birth, and nominee details. Once enrolled, the premium amount is automatically deducted from the policyholder’s savings bank account annually.

Who is Eligible for the PMJJBY Scheme?

To be eligible for the PMJJBY scheme, individuals must fall under certain criteria laid down by the government. The eligibility criteria are as follows:

Age Limit

The scheme is available to individuals between 18 and 50 years of age. However, individuals who join the scheme before the age of 50 can continue to avail of its benefits till the age of 55, even if they do not renew their policy.

Bank Account

The individual must have an active savings bank account with a participating bank. The scheme is offered through various public and private sector banks, which have tied up with insurance companies for the implementation of the scheme. An individual can only avail of one PMJJBY policy. If an individual has multiple bank accounts, they can only enrol in the scheme through one bank account.

Premium Payment

The premium for the PMJJBY scheme is paid annually through auto-debit from the individual’s bank account. Therefore, the individual must ensure that their savings bank account has sufficient balance to pay the premium.

Declaration of Good Health

The individual must provide a self-declaration of good health at the time of joining the scheme. Individuals with a history of serious illness or pre-existing medical conditions may not be eligible for the scheme.

Consent for Auto-Debit

The individual must provide consent for auto-debit of the premium amount from their savings bank account. The premium amount will be auto-debited annually on or before May 31st of each year.

What are the Benefits of the PMJJBY Scheme?

The PMJJBY scheme offers subscribers several benefits, which makes it an attractive option for those looking for life insurance.

Here are some of the benefits of the PMJJBY scheme:

Affordable Premium

The premium for PMJJBY is highly affordable, which makes it accessible to a large section of society. The annual premium for this scheme is only ₹330 per annum, which is less than a rupee a day. The premium amount is auto-debited from the subscriber’s bank account on a yearly basis, making the process hassle-free.

High Coverage

PMJJBY offers high coverage to its subscribers. In the event of the policyholder’s death, the nominee will receive a sum assured of ₹2 lakhs. This sum can be a significant financial assistance to the family of the deceased in the event of their untimely death.

Auto-Renewal

The PMJJBY scheme is valid for one year, after which it needs to be renewed. However, the scheme offers an auto-renewal feature, which ensures that the subscriber remains covered under the scheme without any breaks. The premium amount is auto-debited from the subscriber’s account on a yearly basis, and the policy remains active as long as the subscriber’s account has sufficient funds.

Wide Coverage

PMJJBY is available across the country. The scheme is available through various banks, making it easy for individuals to enroll and renew their policies.

Tax Benefits

The premium paid towards PMJJBY is eligible for tax benefits under section 80C of the Income Tax Act. This can reduce the tax liability of the subscriber and provide additional savings.

What is the Enrolment Period?

The enrolment period refers to the specific duration during which individuals can apply for and join the PMJJBY scheme. It is a predefined timeframe set by the government to ensure a structured approach to the enrollment process. The enrolment period typically lasts for a month, usually from May 1st to May 31st of the financial year, allowing interested individuals to avail themselves of the benefits of the scheme.

During the enrolment period, eligible individuals can approach their respective banks or insurance providers to apply for PMJJBY. The process involves filling out the necessary forms and providing the required documents, such as proof of identity and bank account details. The enrolment form should be submitted within the designated period to be considered for coverage under the scheme.

It is important to note that PMJJBY follows an annual renewal system. Therefore, once enrolled, individuals must ensure that they renew their policy every year during the subsequent enrolment periods. Failure to renew within the specified time may lead to a lapse in coverage and the loss of benefits provided by the scheme.

The PMJJBY enrolment period is a mechanism to streamline the enrollment process, allowing insurance providers to manage the influx of applications effectively and ensure timely policy issuance. Having a specific timeframe also helps individuals plan and take the necessary steps to join the scheme.

What is the Coverage Under the PMJJBY Scheme?

The coverage under the PMJJBY scheme is for a period of one year, from 1st June to 31st May of the following year. The policy can be renewed every year by paying the premium amount. However, if the premium is not paid on time, the policy will lapse, and the coverage will cease.

PMJJBY scheme provides pure life insurance coverage and does not offer any maturity or surrender benefits. This means that if the policyholder survives the policy term, no amount will be payable. Additionally, the policy cannot be surrendered or transferred to another individual.

PMJJBY provides a renewable one-year term life insurance of ₹2 lakh to all subscribing bank account holders between the ages of 18 and 50, covering death from any cause, for a premium of ₹330/- per annum per subscriber, to be deducted automatically from the subscriber’s bank account.

The PMJJBY scheme provides coverage for death due to any reason, including natural death, accident, or death due to a pre-existing medical condition. However, suicide is not covered under this scheme, and no benefit will be payable if the policyholder dies by suicide.

How to Apply for Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana?

The application period for Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) starts from 1st June each year till 31st May of the subsequent year. This is also the time for which you get the coverage. Therefore, subscribers must enrol and give their auto-debit consent by 31st May. Below mentioned are some of the steps you must follow to apply for Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana online:

  • Login to Net Banking
  • Click on the ‘Insurance’ tab
  • Choose Social Security Plans Chose Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana

Decide which account you want to use to pay your premium. Under PMJJBY, a premium of ₹436 per annum per member is deducted automatically from the savings bank account, with a facility for auto-debit instructions. One can enrol for PMJJBY by choosing one of the following methods:

  • Visiting your nearest branch
  • Through Net Banking

What is the Waiting Period for the Claims?

One of the key concerns that policyholders have is the waiting period for the claims of the PMJJBY scheme. The waiting period is the time that must pass before a policyholder can make a claim under the scheme. The waiting period for the PMJJBY scheme is 45 days from the date of enrollment.

This means that if a policyholder dies within 45 days of enrolling in the scheme, the claim will not be honored. However, if the policyholder dies after the waiting period is over, the nominee can make a claim for the death benefit.

It is important to note that the waiting period applies to all policyholders, regardless of the cause of death. This means that if the policyholder dies due to natural causes or an accident, the waiting period still applies.

Other Important Things to Know About PMJJBY

In addition to the waiting period, there are a few other important conditions that policyholders should be aware of.

For instance, the policy is renewable on a yearly basis, and the premium is automatically deducted from the policyholder’s bank account. If the policyholder’s bank account does not have sufficient funds to pay the premium, the policy will lapse.

Policyholders should also ensure that their nominee’s details are up to date with the bank. In case of the policyholder’s death, the nominee will have to provide the necessary documentation, such as a death certificate, to claim the death benefit.

How to Raise the Claim?

To raise a claim under PMJJBY, the nominee or heir of the policyholder must follow the following steps:

Step 1: Notify The Insurance Company

The first step to raising a claim under PMJJBY is to notify the insurance company. The nominee or heir of the policyholder must inform the insurance company about the policyholder’s demise as soon as possible. The notification can be made through a phone call or an email to the insurance company’s customer care department.

Step 2: Collect The Required Documents

The nominee or heir of the policyholder must collect all the required documents to make a claim under PMJJBY. The documents required include the original death certificate, the policy document, and a discharge form. The discharge form can be obtained from the insurance company’s website or the nearest branch.

Step 3: Fill Out The Discharge Form

The nominee or heir must fill in the discharge form. The form requires details such as the name of the policyholder, the policy number, the date of death, and the nominee’s details. The form must be signed by the nominee or legal heir and attested by a gazetted officer or a bank manager.

Step 4: Submit The Claim

The nominee of the policyholder must submit the discharge form along with the original death certificate and the policy document to the nearest branch of the insurance company. The claim must be submitted within 30 days of the policyholder’s demise.

Step 5: Wait for Processing

Once the claim is submitted, the insurance company will process the claim and verify the documents submitted. The claim amount will be credited to the heir’s bank account if the claim is approved.

How is the PMJJBY Claim Processed?

The PMJJBY claim process is a simple and straightforward procedure which aims to ensure that the beneficiary receives the claim amount without any hassles.

Step 1: Intimation of The Claim

The first step in the PMJJBY claim process is to inform the bank where the policy is held about the policyholder’s death. The nominee or the legal heir of the policyholder needs to approach the bank branch and inform them about the unfortunate event. The bank will provide a claim form that needs to be filled out and submitted along with the required documents.

Step 2: Submission of Required Documents

The next step is to submit the necessary documents to support the claim. The claim form needs to be filled out accurately and signed by the nominee or the legal heir. The documents required to process the claim include the following:

  • Death certificate of the policyholder
  • Original policy document
  • Identity proof of the nominee or the legal heir
  • Bank account details of the nominee or the legal heir

Step 3: Verification of Documents

The bank will verify the claim form and the documents submitted by the nominee or the legal heir. The bank may also conduct an investigation to verify the authenticity of the claim. The verification process may take a few days to complete.

Step 4: Approval of Claim

Once the bank is satisfied with the verification process, the claim will be approved. The claim amount will be transferred to the nominee or the legal heir’s bank account provided in the claim form.

Step 5: Disbursement of Claim Amount

The final step in the PMJJBY claim process is the disbursement of the claim amount. The claim amount will be credited to the nominee or the legal heir’s bank account within a few days of the claim being approved.

How to Check PMJJBY Status?

You can ask the bank for information about the PMJJBY status of your plan. The policyholder must pay the premium amount at the scheduled interval. For example, the beneficiaries of a life insurance policy who pass away before age 55 would receive ₹2 lakhs.

How to Download the PMJJBY Certificate?

While each bank has a different procedure for downloading the PMJJBY policy certificate, the overall steps are more or less the same. You need to follow the below-mentioned primary steps:

To download the certificate, users must have the Internet banking service available on their accounts.

  • You need to log in to your bank’s internet portal for consumers.
  • Some websites might ask you to select the product type, while others might expect you to select the service type. From the options available, select PMJJBY Certificate of Insurance.
  • The following steps will include filling out personal and bank details like Name, Date of Birth, Nominee, Aadhar Number, Bank Name, Account Number, etc.
  • After filling in all relevant details, click on the check box for the declaration and hit the “Submit” button when done.
  • Upon successfully registering for the PMJJBY certificate, users will be redirected to the confirmation page from which the certificate can be downloaded.

PMJJBY Claim Status

The PMJJBY can be claimed only after the death of the policyholder. Some of the steps that the nominee can follow for the claim settlement are mentioned below.

Steps to be Taken by the Nominee

  • Nominees must approach the bank wherein the member has the ‘savings bank account’ and the member’s death certificate.
  • They must collect the claim form and discharge receipt and submit it with a photocopy of the canceled cheque.

Steps to be Taken by the Bank

  • Upon receiving the death certificate, the bank must verify whether the cover was in force on the date of his death or not. Apart from this, the bank must verify the claim form & the nominee details from the available records.
  • After verification, the bank must submit the primary documents like the claim form, death certificate, discharge receipt, and a photocopy of the nominee’s canceled cheque to the designated office of the concerned insurance company.
  • The maximum time limit available with the bank to forward the completed claim form to the insurance company is 30 days.

Actions the Insurance Company Must Take

  • The insurance company must verify that the Claim form and the documents have been attached.
  • If the claim is admissible, the insurance company must check whether the member’s coverage is in force or not.
  • If the claim form is directly submitted to any insurer’s office, they will forward the same to the concerned bank and get the necessary verification done.

Features of Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) Scheme

The scheme does not require any medical examination for enrolment, making it accessible to many people who may not have had access to life insurance otherwise. Below are some other features of PMJJBY:

  • The PMJJBY policy has the following important aspects.
  • In the case of the insured’s untimely death, a lump sum of ₹2 lahks will be paid to the nominee(s) chosen by the insured at the time of policy purchase.
  • The policy will be linked to your bank account, and the premium will be deducted automatically once a year between May 25th and May 31st.
  • The primary document used for KYC verification will be your Aadhaar card.
  • Even if you have many savings bank accounts, you can only apply for a PMJJBY life insurance policy with one of them.

Bottom Line

The Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) aims to provide financial protection to individuals and their families in case of the policyholder’s unfortunate demise.

Overall, PMJJBY is a beneficial scheme for individuals seeking affordable life insurance coverage and can provide them and their families with a sense of security and peace of mind. It is important to understand the terms and conditions of the policy before applying and keep the necessary documents handy to make the claim process smoother in case of unfortunate events.

Key takeaways

  • Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) is a government-backed life insurance scheme launched by the Indian government in May 2015.
  • The scheme is available to individuals between 18 and 50 years of age.
  • The enrolment period typically lasts for a month, from May 1st to May 31st.
  • The premium for PMJJBY is highly affordable, making it accessible to a large section of society.
  • The premium paid towards PMJJBY is eligible for tax benefits under section 80C of the Income Tax Act.

- A Consumer Education Initiative series by Kotak Life

Amit Raje
Written By :
Amit Raje

Amit Raje is an experienced marketer who has worked in various Fintechs and leading Financial companies in India. With focused experience in Digital, Amit has pioneered multiple digital commerce in India. Now, close to two decades later, he is the vice president and head of the D2C business department. He masters the skill of strategic management, also being certified in it from IIMA. He has challenged his challenges and contributed his efforts in this journey of digital transformation.

Amit Raje
Reviewed By :
Prasad Pimple

Prasad Pimple has a decade-long experience in the Life insurance sector and as EVP, Kotak Life heads Digital Business. He is responsible for developing user friendly product journeys, creating consumer awareness and helping consumers in identifying need for life insurance solutions. He has 20+ years of experience in creating and building business verticals across Insurance, Telecom and Banking sectors

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