How to join the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) and the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) through a bank or post office account, the yearly premium, and how to claim after a death or an accident.
For whom: People aged 18 to 70 with a bank or post office savings account; nominees and heirs of members who have died; members disabled in an accident.
Published on 30-10-2026. Not every fact has been checked against its official source yet: confirm at the office.
Answer a few questions to see which steps apply to you. The whole guide is below.
Documents you need
•
Your savings account passbook
original
A savings account in your name (single or joint) at a bank branch or post office in India.
A separate form for each scheme: one for PMJJBY, one for PMSBY.
If you don't have it:
Ask at the bank branch or post office. The Jan Suraksha website (jansuraksha.gov.in) also has Telugu forms under "FORMS".
•
Proof of identity
copy
One of: Aadhaar card, voter ID (EPIC), MGNREGA job card, driving licence, PAN card, passport. It may not be needed if the bank already has your details.
•
PMJJBY claim form (Claim-cum-Discharge Form)
original
Also fill in the "Advance receipt for discharge of claim" at the end, signed with a witness.
If you don't have it:
At the bank branch or post office, or on the Jan Suraksha website under "CLAIM-FORMS" (also in Telugu).
•
PMSBY claim form (Claim-cum-Discharge Form)
original
Also fill in the "Advance receipt for discharge of claim" at the end, signed with a witness.
If you don't have it:
At the bank branch or post office, or on the Jan Suraksha website under "CLAIM-FORMS" (also in Telugu).
•
Proof of death
copy
One of: a death certificate from the Registrar of Births and Deaths; a hospital discharge summary or certificate giving the name, father's or husband's name, address, and the date, time and cause of death; a certificate from the last doctor who treated the person, countersigned by a gazetted officer or a bank officer; a certificate from the District Collector, or an Executive Magistrate such as a Tahsildar authorised by the Collector.
With the proof of death: the police FIR or panchnama, and the post-mortem report. Or a certificate from the District Collector or an Executive Magistrate (such as a Tahsildar). For accidents such as a snake bite or a fall from a tree, a hospital record giving the name, date, time and cause of death is enough.
The police FIR or panchnama, with a disability certificate from the Civil Surgeon and the hospital record that supports it.
•
Proof of identity of the person claiming
copy
One of: Aadhaar card, voter ID (EPIC), MGNREGA job card, driving licence, PAN card, passport. Giving the Aadhaar and PAN numbers is optional.
•
Proof of the account the money should go to
copy
One of: the first two pages of the passbook, an account statement showing the details, or a cancelled cheque. The account must be in the name of the person claiming.
If there is no nominee: proof of being the legal heir
copy
Only if no nominee was named or the nominee died first: a succession certificate or legal heir certificate from a competent court or authority. If the nominee died first, the nominee's proof of death too.
Steps
Only if
What do you want to do? Join a scheme (or join again)
1.
You need a savings account at a bank or post office in India. However many accounts you have, join each scheme through one account only. If you join through two accounts, you are still covered only once, and the extra premium is not returned.
✋ You do this yourself
📎 Your savings account passbook
Only if
Which of these is the person applying? Indian citizen living abroad (NRI) · What do you want to do? Join a scheme (or join again)
2.
Indian citizens living abroad (NRIs) can also join if they have an eligible account at a bank branch in India. Claim money is paid to the nominee only in Indian rupees.
✋ You do this yourself
Not confirmed: The FAQs do not say which kind of NRI account (NRE or NRO) counts as "eligible". Ask your bank.
Only if
How old is the person joining? 51 to 70 · Which scheme do you want to join? Both
3.
People over 50 cannot newly join PMJJBY; it takes people only up to 50. You can join only PMSBY, and the steps below are for PMSBY alone.
✋ You do this yourself
Only if
What do you want to do? Join a scheme (or join again)
4.
Go to the bank branch or post office where your account is. You can also join through a Bank Mitra (business correspondent). Fill in the form, agree to the premium being auto-debited from your account, name a nominee, sign it and hand it in.
🏛️ Bank branch or post office (where your savings account is)
📎 Enrolment form (Consent-cum-Declaration Form), Proof of identity, Your savings account passbook
5.
Or without going to the bank: you may be able to join through your bank's net banking. Ask your bank whether it offers this.
🏦 Your bank's net banking
Not confirmed: A government release (PIB, May 2026) says there is an online "Jan Suraksha Portal" for joining; we did not find its address on any official page. Ask your bank for the link.
Only if
Which scheme do you want to join? PMJJBY: ₹2 lakh on death from any cause (₹436 a year) / Both · How old is the person joining? 18 to 50
6.
The PMJJBY premium depends on the month you join: ₹436 in June, July or August; ₹342 in September, October or November; ₹228 in December, January or February; ₹114 in March, April or May. After that, the full ₹436 every year.
✋ You do this yourself
💰 Fee: ₹114 to ₹436, by the month you join; auto-debited from your account.
7.
In the first 30 days after joining (or re-joining) PMJJBY, there is no claim for a death from any cause other than an accident. Accidental death is covered from the first day.
✋ You do this yourself
Only if
Which scheme do you want to join? PMSBY: death or disability from an accident (₹20 a year) / Both
8.
The PMSBY premium is ₹20 a year. Whatever month you join, you pay the full ₹20. Cover starts on the day the money is debited from your account.
✋ You do this yourself
💰 Fee: ₹20 · ₹20 a year, auto-debited from your account.
Only if
What do you want to do? Join a scheme (or join again)
9.
After handing in the form, take the "Acknowledgement Slip cum Certificate of Insurance" and keep it safe. Tell your nominee that you are in the scheme and through which account.
🏛️ Bank branch or post office (where your savings account is)
10.
The insurance year runs from 1 June to 31 May. Each year the premium is debited from your account after 25 May and by 1 June. Keep enough money in the account then; if not, the cover stops. Closing the account also ends the cover.
✋ You do this yourself
11.
If the cover stops, you can join again. For PMJJBY you pay the premium for that month and the 30-day wait starts again. For PMSBY you pay the full year's premium, and the insurance company decides whether to restore the cover.
✋ You do this yourself
12.
PMJJBY cover ends when you reach 55. PMSBY cover ends when you reach 70.
✋ You do this yourself
Only if
What do you want to do? A member has died; make a claim
13.
Go to the bank branch or post office where the person who died had the account. The bank keeps the enrolment record. Ask there which scheme (or both) the person was in, and who the nominee is.
🏛️ The bank branch or post office where the person who died had the account
14.
The nominee makes the claim. If the nominee is a minor, the appointee named in the member's form makes it. If no nominee was named or the nominee died first, the legal heirs claim with a succession or legal heir certificate.
✋ You do this yourself
Only if
Which scheme was the person who died in? PMJJBY / Both / Not sure
15.
Fill in the PMJJBY claim form and hand it in with the documents. ₹2 lakh is paid for death from any cause (including suicide, murder or a natural disaster). If the death was within 30 days of joining, also give proof that it was an accident.
🏛️ The bank branch or post office where the person who died had the account
📎 PMJJBY claim form (Claim-cum-Discharge Form), Proof of death, Proof of identity of the person claiming, Proof of the account the money should go to, If there is no nominee: proof of being the legal heir
⏱️ within 30 days · The form asks for it preferably within 30 days of the death.
Only if
Which scheme was the person who died in? PMSBY (death in an accident) / Both / Not sure
16.
Fill in the PMSBY claim form and hand it in with proof of accidental death. ₹2 lakh is paid only for death in an accident. Natural disasters and murder are covered; suicide is not. Road and rail accidents, drowning and deaths involving a crime must be reported to the police.
🏛️ The bank branch or post office where the person who died had the account
📎 PMSBY claim form (Claim-cum-Discharge Form), Proof of death, Proof that the death was from an accident, Proof of identity of the person claiming, Proof of the account the money should go to, If there is no nominee: proof of being the legal heir
⏱️ within 30 days · The form asks for it preferably within 30 days of the accident.
Only if
What do you want to do? A member has died; make a claim
17.
The bank official fills in "Part 3" of the form (the member's enrolment details), signs it and stamps it, and countersigns the receipt. Ask for a dated acknowledgement that you handed in the claim.
🏛️ The bank branch or post office where the person who died had the account
Not confirmed: The rules do not say a dated acknowledgement must be given; it is worth asking.
18.
Once the claim is approved, the money is paid into the nominee's or heir's bank account. Only one claim is paid under each scheme.
🏦 At the bank
Only if
What do you want to do? A member was disabled in an accident; make a claim (PMSBY)
19.
PMSBY pays only for permanent disability caused by an accident. Total loss of both eyes, of the use of both hands or both feet, or of one eye and one hand or foot: ₹2 lakh. Total loss of one eye, or of the use of one hand or foot: ₹1 lakh. Nothing is paid for lesser disability, or for hospital costs.
✋ You do this yourself
20.
Fill in the PMSBY claim form yourself (the insured member) and hand it in, with the proof of disability, at the branch of the account through which you joined. The bank official fills in and signs "Part 3".
🏛️ The bank branch or post office of the account through which you joined
📎 PMSBY claim form (Claim-cum-Discharge Form), Proof of permanent disability, Proof of identity of the person claiming, Proof of the account the money should go to
⏱️ within 30 days · The form asks for it preferably within 30 days of the accident.
21.
Once the claim is approved, the money is paid into your own (the insured member's) bank account.
🏦 At the bank
Only if
Which of these is the person applying? Indian citizen living abroad (NRI) · What do you want to do? A member has died; make a claim / A member was disabled in an accident; make a claim (PMSBY)
22.
For NRI nominees and members, claim money is paid only in Indian rupees.
✋ You do this yourself
You cannot get this
The PMJJBY and PMSBY rules let all individual bank or post office account holders join; they say nothing about OCI cardholders. Under the Ministry of Home Affairs notification S.O. 1050(E) of 4 March 2021, an OCI cardholder is a foreign national, not an Indian citizen, and in financial fields the notification does not name has the same rights as a foreigner. Before joining, ask your bank, or call the Jan Suraksha toll-free number 1800-180-1111.
Not confirmed: We found no official rule saying whether OCI cardholders can join; only your bank can tell you.
You cannot get this
The PMJJBY and PMSBY rules let all individual bank or post office account holders join; they say nothing about foreign nationals. Before joining, ask your bank, or call the Jan Suraksha toll-free number 1800-180-1111.
Not confirmed: We found no official rule saying whether foreign nationals can join; only your bank can tell you.
You cannot get this
PMJJBY takes people aged 18 to 50, and PMSBY people aged 18 to 70 (18 completed; the upper age counted at the nearest birthday). People under 18 or over 70 cannot join either.
You cannot get this
New members can join PMJJBY only up to age 50. Those who joined before 50 and renew every year stay covered until 55.
Instead, see:
You can join PMSBY (accident cover, ₹20 a year) up to 70: choose "PMSBY" in the previous question.
Fees and time limits
Step 6
💰 ₹114 to ₹436, by the month you join; auto-debited from your account.
Step 8
💰 ₹20 · ₹20 a year, auto-debited from your account.
Step 15
⏱️ within 30 days · The form asks for it preferably within 30 days of the death.
Step 16
⏱️ within 30 days · The form asks for it preferably within 30 days of the accident.
Step 20
⏱️ within 30 days · The form asks for it preferably within 30 days of the accident.
If something goes wrong
If it is rejected
If the bank or post office will not enrol you or will not take your claim, first ask the branch manager why. Then call the Jan Suraksha toll-free numbers: national 1800-180-1111 or 1800-110-001; for Telangana 1800-425-8933 (State Bank of India, the state bankers' committee convenor).
Not confirmed: The state-wise toll-free list is undated; we did not check that the Telangana number still works.
If it is late
If a claim is delayed or turned down, complain about the insurance company on IRDAI's "Bima Bharosa" portal, or call toll-free 155255 or 1800 4254 732. The complaint goes to the insurance company first and can be escalated to IRDAI if not resolved. The portal never asks for money.
Not confirmed: The rules we read set no time limit for settling claims under these bank-run group schemes.
Also
If the premium was debited twice, debited without cover, or debited without your consent, first complain to the bank in writing. If the bank does not resolve it, complain online to the RBI Ombudsman, or call 14448.
Not confirmed: We did not confirm whether complaints about these premiums fall under the Ombudsman scheme, or how long to wait for the bank first. Ask 14448.