Scheme Of Assistance To Disabled Persons For Purchase/Fitting Of Aids/Appliances 2026

Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana is a government-backed accident insurance plan that offers financial protection against death Read More... or disability caused by an accident. Read less

Details

In today's unpredictable world, having a safety net for unexpected events is crucial. The Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) is designed to provide just that – a simple yet effective accident insurance cover for Indian citizens.

What is Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY)?

PMSBY is an affordable accident insurance scheme. It aims to protect individuals and their families from financial hardship that can arise from accidental death or disability. The scheme is managed by the government and offers a significant sum assured for a very nominal annual premium.

Who is PMSBY For?

This scheme is open to all individuals who have a bank account or a Post Office account in India. It's particularly useful for those who might not have access to other forms of insurance or are looking for an economical way to secure accident cover.

Why is PMSBY Important?

Accidents can happen anytime and anywhere, leading to loss of life or permanent disability. PMSBY ensures that in such unfortunate events, the financial burden on the family is reduced. It provides a lump sum amount that can help with immediate expenses, loss of income, and rehabilitation, offering a crucial layer of security.

Objective

Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana is a government-backed accident insurance plan that offers financial protection against death or disability caused by an accident.

Benefits

QUANTUM OF ASSISTANCE(i) For aids /appliances costing up to Rs. 15,000: Full financial assistance under the scheme.(ii) For aids /appliances costing between Rs. 15,001/- to Rs. 30000/-: Financial assistance up to Rs 15000/-(iii) Further, all expensive items costing above Rs. 30,001/, except Cochlear Implant and Motorized Tricycle, eligible for assistance under the scheme, subject to income ceiling, would be listed out. The government of India shall bear 50% of the cost of these items thus listed by the Committee and the remainder shall be contributed by either the State Govt. or the NGO or any other agency or by the beneficiary concerned subject to prior approval of the Ministry on case to case basis; limited to 20% of the Budget under the Scheme.Note:For providing modern assistive devices to all categories of PWDs, the items will be decided by Expert Committees constituted in the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.(iv) Cochlear Implant and post-operative therapy and rehabilitation for children with Hearing Impairment with a ceiling of Rs. 7.00 lakh per unit (to be borne by the Government) in case of children with pre-lingual hearing loss between 1 to 5 years of age and Rs.6.00 Lakh in case of children with acquired hearing loss between 5 to 18 years. The financial support will cover the cost of the implant, surgery, therapy, mapping, travel, and pre-implant assessment in both cases.Ali Yavar Jung National Institute of Speech & Hearing Disabilities (Divyangjan), (AYJNISHD) Mumbai, will be the nodal agency for Cochlear Implant Surgery. Surgery will be done at the hospitals empaneled by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities. The Cochlear Implant devices will be procured by Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO), as per the specification recommended by the core committee.Note:Beneficiaries will be linked with Aadhar numbers. The amount of assistance will be as follows:-a) Total Income: Upto Rs. 22,500/- per month; Amount of Assistance: Full cost of aid/applianceb) Total Income: Rs.22,501/- to Rs. 30,000/- per month; Amount of Assistance: 50% of the cost of aid/applianceTraveling Costs -Traveling Costs in terms of rail fare or bus fare would be admissible separately to the PwD and one escort fare, subject to a limit of Rs. 250/- per person, irrespective of the number of visits to the center and for attending the distribution camp for aids & assistive devices. The beneficiary should attend the Rehabilitation Centre nearest to his/her place of residence except in the North-Eastern Region where he may be allowed travel costs for traveling outside the Region till such facilities become available within the North-Eastern Region.Boarding and Lodging Expenses -Boarding and lodging expenses at the rate of Rs.100/- per day for a maximum duration of 15 days would be admissible, only for those patients whose total income is up to Rs.22,500/- per month and the same will be allowed to attendant/escort. Boarding and lodging expenses will be admissible for the following:-i. To attend the camp for receiving aids and assistive devices.ii. Persons with Locomotor disability:a. Corrective/reconstructive surgeryb. Cases requiring stay for fitment of artificial limb/caliperiii. Person with Hearing disability: Cases requiring stay for earmould fabrication/fitment Implementing agencies will, as far as possible, avail the facilities of boarding and lodging available in the Dharamshalas attached to Hospitals.Types of Aids/AppliancesThe following aids and appliances may be allowed for each type of disability. However, any other item as notified from time to time by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities for the purpose will also be allowed.PERSONS WITH LOCOMOTOR DISABILITYa) All prosthetic and orthotic devices, mobility aids, surgical foot wears, MCR chappals, and all types of devices for ADL (activity of daily living) as recommended by an expert committee from time to time.b) HIGH-END PROSTHESIS:-High-end Prosthesis (Below Knee, Above Knee, Below elbow, and Above elbow) to Persons with disabilities having 80% and above disability. The extent of the subsidy would be Rs.30,000/-.c) Motorized tricycles and Motorized wheelchairs for persons with severe locomotor disability, Stroke, Cerebral Palsy, Hemiplegia, and any other person with similar conditions, where either three/four limbs or one-half of the body are severely impaired. Persons with Disabilities 80% and above disability would be eligible for assistance with a Motorized tricycle and a Motorized wheelchair. The extent of the subsidy would be Rs.50,000/-. This will be provided to persons aged 16 years and above, once in five years. Persons with severe disabilities of 16 years and above age having mental impairment shall not be eligible for Motorized tricycles and wheelchairs since it puts them at risk of serious accident/physical harm. Within the maximum subsidy to be provided for the distribution of motorized tricycles, the year's specific limit would be decided by a Committee having representation of DEPWD, ALIMCO and if required, other concerned agencies.PERSONS WITH VISUAL DISABILITIES INCLUDING DEAF-BLIND AND WITH OTHER DISABILITIES.a. Accessible Mobile Phone to visually impaired students aged 18 years and above, once in five years, and Laptop, Braille Note Taker andBrallier to school-going students with disability (class 10th and above), once in 10 years. However, the extent of financial support under the scheme would be in accordance with the provisions contained in para7.0.b. Learning equipment.c. Communication equipment.d. Low vision aids.e. Special mobility aids for persons with visual disabilities with muscular dystrophy or cerebral palsy like adapted walkers.f. Any suitable aids & assistive devices as recommended by the Expert committee from time to time.PERSONS WITH HEARING DISABILITYa. Various types of hearing aids, including BTE, etc.b. Educational kits.c. Assistive and Alarm devices.d. Any suitable aids & assistive devices as recommended by Expert Committee from time to time.Persons With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilitiesa. Teaching and Learning Material (TLM) Kits.b. Multi Sensory Inclusive Education Development (MSIED) Kit.c. Any suitable device/kit/learning material as advised by Expert Committee from time to time.MULTIPLE DISABILITYAny suitable device as advised by Expert Committee from time to time.LEPROSY CURED PERSONSi. Assistive Daily Living Kits (ADL) for Leprosy cured persons.ii. Any suitable device as advised by Expert Committee from time to time.NEW DISABILITIES ADDED IN THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES RPWD ACT, 2016Any suitable aids and assistive devices as may be specified by Expert Committee from time to time for new disabilities added in the PWD Act, 2016.Periodic revision of aids/appliancesThe list of assistive devices may be revised periodically by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), without seeking the approval of the Expenditure Finance Committee/Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, within the financial ceiling prescribed by the Expert committee constituted in the Department. Department may also issue further guidelines in pursuance of the aims & objectives of the Scheme.

Sources and references

Guidelines

Who Can Apply for PMSBY?

To be eligible for the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, you must meet the following criteria:

You must be an Indian citizen.
You need to have a bank account or a Post Office account.
Your age must be between 18 years (completed) and 70 years (age nearer to your birthday) at the time of joining.
You must give your consent to join the scheme and allow auto-debit of the premium from your account.

How to Enroll in PMSBY

Enrolling in the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana is straightforward:

Visit your nearest bank branch or Post Office where you hold an account.
Fill out the PMSBY enrolment form.
Provide your consent for the annual premium of Rs. 20 to be automatically debited from your bank/Post Office account. This deduction typically happens on or before June 1st each year for the coverage period of June 1st to May 31st.

You can also check with your bank for online application options.

Documents Needed for PMSBY

To enroll in PMSBY, you generally need:

A valid bank or Post Office account.
A completed PMSBY enrolment form, which includes your consent for auto-debit.
Proof of identity and address might be required as per bank norms.

Official Sources

For detailed information and forms, you can refer to the official websites of participating banks or the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance.

FAQ’s

How is the premium paid for PMSBY?

The annual premium of Rs. 20 is automatically deducted from your bank or Post Office account. You need to give your consent for this auto-debit facility when you join the scheme.

Can I join PMSBY from multiple bank accounts?

No, you can only be enrolled in the scheme through one bank or Post Office account. If you are enrolled through more than one account and premium is debited, the insurance cover will be limited to Rs. 2 Lakhs.

What happens if my bank account has insufficient funds for the premium auto-debit?

If there are insufficient funds in your account, the insurance cover will lapse. You should ensure sufficient balance to keep your insurance active.

Does PMSBY cover accidents resulting from natural calamities like floods or earthquakes?

Yes, deaths or disabilities (as defined by the scheme) resulting from natural calamities like earthquakes or floods are covered, as these are considered accidents.

What is the age limit for joining PMSBY?

You can join PMSBY if you are between 18 years (completed) and 70 years (age nearer your birthday) old.

Who receives the money if the account holder who enrolled passes away?

If the account holder dies, the nominee or appointee named in the enrolment form will receive the claim amount. If no nominee was appointed, the legal heir(s) can file the claim.

Is there any coverage for hospitalization expenses after an accident?

No, the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana only covers death and disability due to accidents. It does not cover hospitalization expenses.

Will the family get any benefit if the insured person commits suicide?

No, death due to suicide is not covered under the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana.

If a person goes missing and their death cannot be confirmed, will their family get the insurance benefit?

The PMSBY scheme covers deaths that are confirmed by documentary evidence to have been caused by an accident. If death cannot be confirmed, a claim may not be processed.

What happens if I leave the scheme and want to join again later?

Yes, if you exit the scheme, you can rejoin in future years by paying the annual premium, subject to any conditions that may be set at that time.

Do I need to report an accident to the police for a claim?

For accidents involving vehicles, drowning, or crimes, reporting to the police is necessary. For incidents like snake bites or falls, immediate hospital records supporting the cause are required.

Does PMSBY cover death or disability from murder?

Yes, death resulting from murder is covered under the scheme.

What is the coverage period for PMSBY?

The coverage under PMSBY is for one year, from June 1st to May 31st of the following year, provided the annual premium is paid.

Can people who missed enrolling initially join PMSBY in later years?

Yes, eligible individuals who could not join in the initial year can join in subsequent years by paying the annual premium through auto-debit. New eligible individuals can also join in future years.

If I am covered by other insurance schemes, can I still join PMSBY?

Yes, PMSBY coverage is in addition to any other insurance schemes you may already be covered under.

What benefit will I receive for partial disability if it doesn't involve complete loss of sight or limb use?

If the partial disability does not result in the irrecoverable loss of sight of one eye or the loss of use of one hand or foot, no benefit will be payable under the scheme.

Are NRIs eligible to join PMSBY?

NRIs with an eligible bank account in India can join PMSBY. However, any claim benefit will be paid only in Indian currency.

Can all account holders of a joint bank account enroll in PMSBY?

Yes, all holders of a joint account can join PMSBY if they meet the eligibility criteria and pay the Rs. 20 annual premium per person through auto-debit.

Which types of bank accounts are eligible for PMSBY subscription?

All individual bank and Post Office accounts are eligible. Institutional accounts are not eligible.

Can I claim insurance benefits from more than one bank if I enrolled through multiple accounts?

No, the insured person or their nominee is eligible for only one claim, even if enrolled through multiple accounts.