Post Office Account Freeze: If you’ve left your post office account running idle for several years, the account could end up being shut down. The Postal Department has laid out fresh guidelines for the Small Savings Schemes (SCS), and missing any of these requirements puts your account at risk. Now, once the policy reaches maturity, you must wrap up any remaining formalities within three years or risk having the post office freeze the account. These fresh guidelines cover the full roster of small savings schemes: the Public Provident Fund (PPF), the Senior Citizen Savings Scheme (SCSS), National Savings Certificates (NSC), the Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP), the Post Office Monthly Income Scheme (MIS), Post Office Term Deposits (TD), and Post Office Recurring Deposits (RD). According to the directive that went into effect on July 15, any small savings account that reaches maturity and remains open for three years without customer action will be identified and marked for freezing. The step is designed to protect investors’ funds. Twice a year, post office staff will scan for these inactive, matured accounts and freeze them unless the account holder formally extends them.When will the accounts be frozen?The Postal Department has announced that, to better protect people’s savings, accounts will now be frozen twice a year. This will begin on January 1 and July 1, and the entire process will be finished within 15 days. Any account that is exactly three years old on the maturity date will be frozen.Here is how the new rule works.Take accounts that reach three years on June 30. They can be frozen within 15 days after July 1. Similarly, accounts turning three years on December 31 can be frozen within 15 days of January 1. If you wish to prevent your savings account from being frozen, you must submit an application for an extension within the period. This rule has been introduced after the government decided to keep interest rates on all small savings schemes unchanged for the July to September 2025 quarter.
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