APY death claim - spouse and nominee guide 2026

When an Atal Pension Yojana subscriber dies, the spouse keeps receiving the exact same guaranteed monthly pension for life. To start it, the spouse files the APY Account Closure Form (Death) with the death certificate at the bank branch where the APY account is held. On the death of both the subscriber and the spouse, the nominee receives the accumulated pension corpus.

If you are short on time, jump to the step-by-step claim at the subscriber's bank below. That is the one action that releases either the continued pension or the corpus.

Atal Pension Yojana (APY) is the government-backed pension scheme for the unorganised sector. It guarantees a fixed monthly pension of Rs 1,000, Rs 2,000, Rs 3,000, Rs 4,000 or Rs 5,000 from age 60 until death, based on what the subscriber contributed.

If the subscriber is married, the spouse is the default nominee. You do not have to name the spouse separately. The spouse is built into the scheme as the first claimant.

There are three outcomes after a death. Knowing which one applies to you decides what you claim and which form you sign.

The spouse receives the same pension amount as the subscriber, for life. PFRDA states it plainly: “After the subscriber's demise, the spouse of the subscriber shall be entitled to receive the same pension amount as that of the subscriber until the death of the spouse.”

So if the deceased was drawing Rs 3,000 a month, the spouse continues to draw Rs 3,000 a month. The amount does not shrink.

The nominee receives the accumulated corpus. PFRDA: “After the demise of both the subscriber and the spouse, the nominee of the subscriber shall be entitled to receive the pension wealth, as accumulated till age 60 years of the subscriber.” This is a one-time lump sum, not a monthly pension.

Here the spouse gets a choice. Option one: continue the account. The spouse keeps paying the contributions for the remaining period, until the original subscriber would have turned 60. The account can be maintained in the spouse's name, and the spouse then draws the lifelong pension.

Option two: exit and take the corpus. PFRDA: “The entire accumulated corpus till date under APY will be returned to the spouse / nominee of the subscriber.”

Pick option one if you want a guaranteed lifelong pension and can keep up the monthly contributions. Pick option two if you need the money now. There is no penalty for choosing the corpus, but you give up the future pension.

The claim is filed at the bank branch where the APY account (linked to the savings account) is held. Do not go to a PFRDA or NSDL office. The bank is the service provider.

1. Locate the right branch. Find the bank and branch where the deceased held the APY-linked savings account. The PRAN (Permanent Retirement Account Number) is tied to that account.
2. Get the death certificate. Obtain the original death certificate of the subscriber from the municipal authority. Make a few certified photocopies; the bank keeps one.
3. Ask for the APY Account Closure Form (Death). At the branch, request the death closure form. Some banks call it the “APY Death and Spouse Continuation Form.” It covers both choices: continue the pension or take the corpus.
4. Tick your option on the form. If you are the spouse and the subscriber died before 60, mark whether you want to continue the account or take the corpus. If the subscriber was past 60, the spouse simply continues the same pension.
5. Fill in the bank account for credit. Enter the savings bank account of the spouse or nominee where the pension or corpus should be credited. Double-check the IFSC and account number.
6. Attach the documents and sign. Hand over the signed form with the death certificate, your KYC and your bank proof to the bank official. Keep the acknowledgement.
7. Track the claim. Note the date and ask the official for an expected timeline. Follow up at the branch if you hear nothing within a few weeks.

For background on enrolment and contribution amounts that decide the pension tier, see how to apply for Atal Pension Yojana and the detail on APY enrolment and contribution.

• Original death certificate of the subscriber (with certified copies).
• Completed APY Account Closure Form (Death) / Death and Spouse Continuation Form.
• KYC of the spouse or nominee (Aadhaar / PAN).
• Bank account proof of the spouse or nominee for the credit (passbook or cancelled cheque).
• Relationship proof or legal heir / family member certificate where the bank asks for it (mainly when a nominee other than the spouse claims).

No. The spouse gets the same pension amount, not a reduced one. If the subscriber was entitled to Rs 5,000 a month, the spouse continues to receive Rs 5,000 a month for life. The guaranteed tier does not change on the subscriber's death.

The nominee named in the APY account receives the accumulated pension corpus as a lump sum. This is the pension wealth built up till the subscriber's age 60. It is paid once, to the nominee, after both the subscriber and spouse have passed away.

The spouse chooses. The spouse can continue the contributions until the date the subscriber would have turned 60, then draw the lifelong pension. Or the spouse can close the account and take the entire accumulated corpus immediately. Both options are allowed under the scheme.

At the bank branch where the deceased held the APY-linked savings account. You submit the APY Account Closure Form (Death) along with the death certificate there. The bank, not PFRDA or NSDL, processes the death claim and credits the spouse or nominee.

Yes. APY pays a continuing pension to the spouse or a corpus to the nominee through the subscriber's bank. EPF death benefits run through EPFO with their own forms. If you also need that, see how to claim a PF death benefit as a nominee.

• Find the PRAN and the bank branch of the deceased subscriber's APY account.
• Confirm whether the subscriber died before or after age 60. This decides your options.
• Keep the original death certificate and 2 to 3 certified copies ready.
• Call or visit the branch and ask for the APY Account Closure Form (Death).
• If the subscriber died before 60, decide in advance: continue the pension or take the corpus.

For the bigger picture on citizen rights, deadlines and how to chase a stalled government claim, read The RTI Playbook.

• PFRDA - Atal Pension Yojana FAQs and scheme page (spouse same pension, nominee corpus, death-before-60 options, pension tiers Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000): https://pfrda.org.in/schemes/atal-pension-yojana-apy
• NPS Trust - Death of the Subscriber (APY death benefit rules): https://npstrust.org.in/death-subscriber
• Protean / NSDL CRA - APY death withdrawal and account closure forms: https://npscra.nsdl.co.in/