Knowing the claim process before you need it can save your family weeks of paperwork. Here's the complete guide for LIC death, maturity and survival-benefit claims.
Three Types of LIC Claims
- Death claim — paid to nominee on policyholder's death (during policy term)
- Maturity claim — paid to policyholder on survival till policy maturity
- Survival benefit / money-back — paid during the term (for money-back plans)
Death Claim — Documents & Process
Documents required:
- Claim form A or B (Form A for standard cases, Form B for accident/medical cases)
- Original policy bond
- Death certificate (issued by municipal authority or hospital)
- Photo ID of the nominee
- Bank account details of nominee (for direct credit)
- Cremation/burial certificate or hospital record (helps in case of dispute)
- Police FIR — required if death is unnatural (accident, suicide, etc.)
- Medical records / post-mortem report (if applicable)
Where to submit: your nearest LIC branch (or the one that issued the policy). Online claims can now be filed via the LIC portal for some plans.
Turnaround time: as per IRDAI rules, LIC must settle non-investigated death claims within 30 days and investigated claims within 90 days. LIC's claim settlement ratio is consistently high.
Maturity Claim — Documents & Process
About 2–3 months before maturity, LIC sends a discharge form and a list of documents needed.
- Original policy bond
- Maturity claim form (Form 3825 or as advised)
- Photo ID of the policyholder
- Bank account details (for direct credit)
- Discharge receipt signed by policyholder
- NEFT mandate form
Turnaround time: typically 7–15 working days from receipt of complete documents. Maturity is usually credited directly to your bank account.
Survival Benefit / Money-Back Claim
For plans like New Money Back 920 / 921, LIC automatically credits the survival benefit to your registered bank account — no action needed from you. Just keep your contact details and bank info up to date via the LIC customer portal or by submitting a Form 3602.
If the Original Policy Bond Is Lost
You can still claim by submitting:
- Duplicate policy bond request (LIC will issue a duplicate)
- Indemnity bond on stamp paper
- Public notice in two newspapers (a standard procedure)
If the Nominee Is Also Deceased
The claim is paid to the legal heir(s) under the Indian Succession Act, supported by a legal heir certificate or succession certificate from a court. A nominee in LIC is only a trustee — they hold the money for the legal heirs.