Postal Life Insurance (PLI): How To Login, Calculator, Features, Types and Eligibility

Postal Life Insurance (PLI) is a government-backed life insurance scheme that provides low premiums and long-term savings for eligible employees. Postal Life Insurance online services allow policyholders to access postal life insurance plan details, manage policies, pay premiums and track status digitally.

Key Takeaways

• Premiums: Low premiums with government-backed security.
• Bonus: Annual reversionary bonuses on eligible plans.
• Eligibility: Available to government employees, PSUs, banks, and approved professionals.

What is the Postal Life Insurance Scheme?

Postal Life Insurance (PLI) is a life insurance scheme offered by the Department of Posts under the Government of India. It provides long-term protection, maturity benefits and reversionary bonuses across six plans.

• Initially launched in 1884 for Post Office employees, it has now expanded to cover a wide range of eligible groups, including government employees, PSU staff, and professionals from approved private organisations. 
• A Postal Life Insurance scheme combines insurance coverage with long-term savings. 
• The plans are known for low premiums and reliable returns backed by the government.

What are the Features of Postal Life Insurance?

Postal Life Insurance (PLI) policies are known for low premiums, high returns, and government-backed security. Here are the key features of a Postal Life Insurance scheme that make it a reliable life insurance option:

• High Bonus Rates: PLI offers some of the highest bonus rates among life insurance providers in India, ensuring better returns for policyholders.
• Low Premiums: Premiums are affordable and fixed based on age, sum assured, and policy type, making PLI ideal for salaried individuals.
• Loan Facility: Policyholders can avail of loans after 3-4 years of holding select policies, depending on the type of plan.
• Nomination & Policy Transfer: You can nominate a beneficiary and even transfer the policy if you move anywhere within India.
• Duplicate Bond Issuance: A duplicate policy document can be issued in case of damage, loss, or misplacement.
• Conversion Option: Some plans like Whole Life Assurance can be converted to Endowment Assurance within a specified time frame.
• Online Access: With Postal Life Insurance online services, policyholders can register, pay premiums, and check policy status through the India Post portal or IPPB app.

What are the Types of Postal Life Insurance Schemes?

There are several types of Postal Life Insurance schemes from which you can choose as per your requirements and suitability. Check the list below for a detailed understanding of each PLI scheme and its significant features:

1. Whole Life Assurance or Suraksha Scheme

As per this PLI scheme, the assured amount of the life insurance, along with the accrued bonus, is paid to the insured upon attaining 80 years of age or to his/her legal representative on the death of the insured. 

Some key features of the scheme are:

• Minimum and maximum age for application: 19 years and 55 years, respectively.
• Minimum and maximum sum assured: ₹20,000 and ₹50 lakhs, respectively.
• Loan facility: After 4 years.
• Eligibility for bonus: Only after completing 5 years. 
• Surrender period: After 3 years.
• Premium payment age you can opt for: 55, 58 or 60 years.
• Conversion to Endowment Assurance Policy: Allowed up to 59 years of age of insured person.

2. Endowment Assurance or Santosh Scheme

In this PLI scheme, the insured person is assured of the total sum and the bonus accrued until the individual attains the predetermined age of maturity. In this case, the age of maturity may be 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 58 and 60 years. In case the insured person dies, his/her nominee, legal heir or assignee is paid the total sum and accrued bonus.

Some important features of this policy are:

• Minimum and maximum age for application: 19 years and 55 years, respectively.
• Minimum and maximum sum assured: ₹20,000 and ₹50 lakhs, respectively.
• Loan facility: After 3 years.
• Eligibility for bonus: Only after completing 5 years.
• Surrender period: After 3 years.

Note: For the above-mentioned policies, in case a policy is surrendered before maturity, a proportionate bonus on the reduced sum assured is paid to the policyholder. It is based on the number of years the policy was in force.

3. Anticipated Endowment Assurance or Sumangal Scheme

This PLI scheme is also known as a Money Back Policy. The insured person receives survival benefits regularly. Such payouts will not be considered in the case of the insured’s untimely death. 

In the event of the policyholder’s unexpected death, any survival benefit payments already made are not deducted, and the full sum assured along with the accrued bonus is payable to the nominee, assignee, or legal heir. 

• Term of policy: 15 and 20 years.
• Minimum and maximum age for application: 
  • 19 years and 40 years for a 20-year term policy, respectively. 
  • 19 years and 45 years for a 15-year term policy, respectively.
• Survival benefits are paid periodically as follows:
  • 15 years policy - 20% each on completion of 6, 9 and 12 years and 40% with accrued bonus on maturity.
  • 20 years policy - 20% each on completion of 8, 12 and 16 years and 40% with accrued bonus on maturity.

4. Convertible Whole Life Assurance or Suvidha Scheme

This is a Whole Life Assurance Policy where the insured person is assured of the total sum and the bonus accrued until attainment of maturity age. In case the insured person dies, his/her nominee, legal heir or assignee is paid the total sum and accrued bonus. Check the list below for its features:

• Minimum and maximum age for application: 19 years and 50 years, respectively.
• Minimum and maximum sum assured: ₹20,000 and ₹50 lakhs, respectively.
• Loan facility: After 4 years.
• Surrender period: After 3 years.
• Eligibility for bonus: Only after completing 5 years.
• Conversion to Endowment Assurance Policy: After 5 years but before 6 years.

5. Joint Life Assurance or Yugal Suraksha Scheme

This is a Joint Life Assurance policy where one of the spouses is qualified for PLI coverage. It covers the life of both spouses to the extent of the total sum assured and the bonus accrued with a single premium. Death benefits are paid to the surviving spouse in the event of the death of a spouse or main policyholder. Here are its features:

• Minimum and maximum age of both spouses for application: 21 years and 45 years, respectively.
• Minimum and maximum sum assured: ₹20,000 and ₹50 lakhs, respectively.
• Minimum and maximum policy term: 5 years and 20 years, respectively.
• Loan facility: After 3 years.
• Surrender facility: After 3 years.
• Eligibility for bonus: After completing 5 years.

6. Children Policy or Bal Jeevan Bima

A PLI scheme is also available to individuals wanting to secure their child's future. This scheme provides life insurance coverage to the children of policyholders. The policyholders of Bal Jeevan Bima can issue this scheme for a maximum of 2 children. If the policyholder (parent) dies, the premium need not be paid. In such a case, the full sum assured and bonus accrued will be paid to the children upon completion of the policy term. The salient features of this scheme are:

• Minimum and maximum age of children: 5 years and 20 years, respectively. 
• Maximum age of a parent or policyholder: 45 years.
• Maximum sum assured: ₹3 lakhs or the sum assured of the parent, whichever is less.
• Loan facility: No loan against the policy. 
• Surrender facility: No surrender facility is allowed.
• The child should be healthy, however, no medical examination is necessary.

What is the Eligibility Criteria for Postal Life Insurance?  

Below is the list of the organisations whose employees are eligible to apply for Postal Life Insurance schemes:

• Central and state government organisations.
• Paramilitary forces.
• Defence personnel.
• Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs).
• Banks.
• Educational institutions.
• Local bodies.
• Professionals, such as doctors, MBAs, engineers, chartered accountants, MBAs, lawyers, etc.
• Employees of companies listed with the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).
• Department of Posts.

Postal Life Insurance Scheme Bonus

The bonus rates for Postal Life Insurance schemes change almost every year. Here is a table showing the bonus rates for the financial year 2023-2024 that you will get from your PLI:

What are the Benefits of Postal Life Insurance?

Postal Life Insurance (PLI) offers a range of benefits that make it a trusted and cost-effective life insurance option:

• Low Premiums, High Returns: PLI schemes offer one of the highest bonus rates in the life insurance sector for minimal premiums.
• Loan Facility: Policyholders can avail loans after a minimum lock-in period—3 years for endowment-type policies and 4 years for whole life policies.
• Policy Conversion Option: Certain policies, such as the Convertible Whole Life Assurance, allow conversion to Endowment Assurance within a specified time frame.
• Duplicate Policy Bond: If the original policy bond is lost or damaged, a duplicate bond can be issued easily upon request.
• Nomination & Alteration: Nominees can be added or updated at any point during the policy term.
• Portability Across India: PLI policies are transferable across India if the policyholder relocates for work.
• Premium Payment Flexibility: Premiums can be paid through cash, cheque, IPPB app, or by setting up Standing Instructions.
• Tax Benefits: Premiums paid under PLI schemes qualify for deductions under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act. Maturity proceeds may be tax-free under Section 10(10D) subject to certain conditions.

Postal Life Insurance Login

If you are a first-time user of the Postal Life Insurance scheme, you must first register in the Customer Portal of India Post. Here is a step-by-step guide on how you can register yourself:

Step 1: Visit the official India Post website.

Step 2: Click 'Register' and select 'Retail'.

Step 3: Enter the required details and click 'Register'.

Step 4: Check the registered email address for the account activation link.

Step 5: Click the activation link within 48 hours to activate the account.

After you have successfully registered, you need to log in to your account to issue a new Postal Life Insurance policy. Here are the steps you must follow to log in for the first time:

Step 1: Visit the official PLI portal.

Step 2: Click 'Generate Customer ID' if logging in for the first time.

Step 3: Enter the policy number, sum assured, and date of birth as mentioned in the policy.

Step 4: After generating the Customer ID, return to the homepage.

Step 5: Click 'Login' and select 'Retail Login'.

Step 6: Enter the Customer ID and click 'Forgot Password' to create a new password.

Step 7: Complete the OTP verification using the OTP sent to the registered mobile number.

Step 8: Set the new password and log in using the Customer ID and password.

Once you log in for the first time and change the password, you can log in to the India Post website by entering your User ID and password subsequently.

Postal Life Insurance Forms

Users can get the application form for the Postal Life Insurance scheme using both online and offline methods. The steps to follow to download the form online are:

Step 1: Visit the official India Post Customer Portal.

Step 2: Navigate to 'Miscellaneous' and click 'Download Forms and Documents'.

Step 3: Locate and click the PLI Proposal Form (or RPLI Proposal Form for rural insurance).

Step 4: Download the PDF, fill it in CAPITAL letters, and attach the required documents.

Step 5: Submit the completed form and documents at the nearest post office or upload them on the portal, as instructed.

Postal Life Insurance Online Payment

Postal Life Insurance online payment can be made using different methods. Here is a detailed discussion of the types of online payment methods for PLI schemes:

I. IPPB Mobile App

The step to pay PPB Mobile App are as follows:

Step 1: Download and install the India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.

Step 2: Log in using the registered mobile number and MPIN.

Step 3: Go to the 'Services' section and select 'PLI/RPLI Premium Payment'.

Step 4: Enter the policy number, verify the details, and complete the premium payment.

Step 5: Optionally, set Standing Instructions (SI) to automatically pay premiums on the 7th, 12th, or 17th of every month.

II. DoP Internet Banking

If you have a Post Office Savings Bank (POSB) account and have activated DoP internet banking, you can pay PLI premiums via the online portal

III. Credit/Debit Card and Net Banking (via PLI Portal)

You can also pay premiums directly through the using debit/credit cards or net banking:

Step 1: Visit the PLI Customer Portal.

Step 2: Log in to the account and navigate to the 'Premium Payment' section.

Step 3: Select the preferred payment method—Credit Card, Debit Card, or Net Banking.

Step 4: Complete the payment through the secure 3D authentication gateway.

IV. CSC (Common Service Centres)

Premiums can also be paid in person at any authorized Common Service Centre (CSC) across India.

Step 1: Visit the nearest Common Service Centre (CSC) with the PLI policy number.

Step 2: Provide the policy details to the CSC operator for verification.

Step 3: Pay the premium with the operator's assistance.

Step 4: Collect the digital receipt after the payment is successfully completed.

Postal Life Insurance Offline Payment

You can visit any Department of Posts branch to pay premiums via cheque or demand draft.

Postal Life Insurance Policy Status

There are various ways to check your Postal Life Insurance policy status:

I. Through the PLI Customer Portal

Visit the official PLI portal. Log in with your Customer ID and password. Go to the “Proposal Track” section under "Purchase a Policy" to check your policy status.

II. Using Proposal Number (No Login Needed)

Users can also track your PLI policy status directly using your proposal number by visiting the Proposal Status Tracking Page. Just enter your proposal number and click on 'Check Status'.

III. Contact via Phone

Contact the toll-free numbers to check your policy status:

• 1800‑180‑5232/155232
• You can also reach their landline support at 011‑24673177.

Postal Life Insurance Premium Calculator

The Postal Life Insurance Premium Calculator are subject to underwriting and can vary based on your age, sum assured, policy type, and other factors. 

To ensure smooth policy management and avoid service disruptions, here are key guidelines every Postal Life Insurance policyholder should follow:

• Keep the Policy Bond Safe: The original policy bond is a crucial document required for claims and service requests. Store it securely and inform your family about its location.
• Pay Premiums Timely: Regular premium payment is essential to keep the policy active. Missing payments can lead to policy lapse and loss of benefits.
• Note Your Policy Number: Every PLI bond has a 13-digit unique policy number. Keep it noted for reference in any communication or online services.
• Register Mobile Number & Email: Ensure your current mobile number and email are linked to your policy for OTPs, alerts, and online access. Visit your nearest post office to update these details if needed.
• Update Nominee Details: Always assign a nominee to your policy. You can add or change nominees anytime during the policy term to ensure smooth claim settlement.
• Policy Transfer Facility: If you're transferred to a different location in India, you can easily transfer your PLI policy to the new jurisdiction without affecting coverage.
• Use Online Services Safely: When accessing the India Post PLI portal or IPPB app, avoid sharing login credentials and regularly update your password for added security.

Final Word

Postal Life Insurance provides secure, affordable, and high-return life insurance options backed by the Government of India. PLI provides multiple plans, flexible features, and easy online access. Review the plan details, bonus rates, and premium tables carefully before selecting a policy.