How to Claim Life Insurance After a Death in India: Time Limits and Documents

Published by Karan Bindal, Founder

A life insurance claim is often the first money a family receives after a death, and the rules are more on your side than many people realise. Here is how it works under the insurance regulator's current rules, the IRDAI Master Circular on Protection of Policyholders' Interests, 2024.

Step 1: Tell the insurer as soon as you can

You can inform the insurer at a branch, on its website or through its call centre. Do this even if you do not have all the papers yet, and keep proof of when you did it. The regulator's time limits run from this intimation.

Many older articles quote 30 days or 90 days. Those limits have been replaced.

Step 2: Submit the claim form and documents

The insurer's website must list what it needs. Usually:

The claim form
The death certificate
The policy document, if you have it
The nominee's identity proof and bank details
Discharge summary, if the death happened in hospital
FIR and post-mortem report, if the death was due to an accident

If a policy was assigned to a lender as security for a loan, check that the assignment is valid and the loan balance is correct. Make sure the remaining amount reaches the nominee.

How long the insurer has

Death claim with no investigation: 15 days from the date of intimation
Death claim needing investigation: 45 days from the date of intimation

If the insurer misses this, it must pay interest at bank rate plus 2% from the date of intimation until payment, without you having to ask.

Some insurers still describe the period differently, for example counting from complete documents or in working days. The regulator's text says from intimation. If you are told otherwise, ask them to show you the rule.

If the policy document is lost

Do not let this stop you. The regulator's rules say: "No claim shall be rejected or closed for want of documents or for delayed intimation of claim." Tell the insurer in writing, get an acknowledgement, and ask exactly what it needs instead. Insurers commonly ask for an indemnity bond.

If you do not know which policies exist

Look for premium receipts, bank debits, emails from insurers, and old income tax returns, which often list premiums paid. Ask the person's agent, if you know who that is.

The regulator's Bima Bharosa site has an Unclaimed Amount page that links to each insurer's own search. These usually match on any two of policy number, PAN, name and date of birth. It finds amounts already due and unpaid, so it may not show every policy.

Can an insurer reject the claim?

Under Section 45 of the Insurance Act, a policy cannot be questioned on any ground once three years have passed from the later of the policy's issue, the start of risk, its revival, or a rider. Within three years, the insurer can raise fraud or a material misstatement, but it must give you its grounds in writing.

So if a policy is older than three years, a rejection for non-disclosure deserves a hard look.

Nominee or family: who keeps the money?

The insurer pays the nominee. Who finally keeps it is a harder question.

Section 39 of the Insurance Act says that where the nominee is a parent, spouse or child, they are "beneficially entitled" to the money. But courts have not been fully consistent. The Allahabad High Court has held that such a nominee holds the money in trust for the legal heirs unless a will or other title says otherwise, and the Supreme Court has not settled the point. If a dispute is likely, please take legal advice. See our nominee vs legal heir guide.

If the nominees died before the policyholder, the money goes to the policyholder's heirs or legal representatives, or the holder of a succession certificate.

If your claim is stuck or rejected

Go in this order. All of it is free.

Complain to the insurer in writing. It has 14 days to resolve your complaint.
Bima Bharosa, the regulator's portal: bimabharosa.irdai.gov.in, toll free 155255 or 1800 4254 732. The portal warns that it never asks for payment.
Insurance Ombudsman: free, for claims up to ₹50 lakh (the older ₹30 lakh figure is out of date). You can apply if the insurer rejected the claim, did not reply within one month, or you are unhappy with the reply. Apply within one year. You can file online. Legal heirs and nominees may both file. An award comes within three months of receiving all requirements.

Be wary of anyone who charges a commission to "get your claim passed".

Make this easy for your family

Most lost claims begin with a family that did not know the policy existed. Write down the insurer, policy number and nominee for each policy. Our free family checklist shows what to note, and Aakhri Pal keeps it in one private place.

Last checked: 30 October 2026. This is general guidance, not legal or financial advice. Please confirm the latest position with your insurer or a qualified professional.

Sources: IRDAI Master Circular 2024 (copy) · Bima Bharosa · Insurance Ombudsman Rules · Sarbati Devi v. Usha Devi