How Can One Withdraw Money From A Child Plan?

In this article, we will know about how one can withdraw money from a child’s plan before maturity. Let us begin by knowing a little about child plans, types, features, benefits, and everything related.

What is a Child Plan?

A child plan is an investment plus insurance plan offered by many companies for the safety of your child’s future dreams and goals. It offers life cover and provides flexible playouts during all the crucial steps in your child’s life. A child plan is one of the best ways to save a good amount of money with regular investments for your child’s future.

Types of Child Plans

Broadly these are the Child plans available in India

1. Child ULIP

   Child ULIP comes with 3 pronged advantages broadly. They are as follows:

   • High insurance coverage
   • Disciplined investments
   • Participation inequity market

   It means that

   • Sum assured is provided to the nominee child on the death of the parent or legal guardian
   • Future premium is waived off after the demise of the parent
   • Maturity value is paid during the time of maturity.

   Child ULIP ensures that your child’s future dreams are fulfilled with or without you

2. Unit Linked Insurance Plans

   The payouts at the time of maturity of ULIPs are determined by the market. This is a great plan for long tenures, say, more than 10-15 years. Companies provide options between different investment funds, allowing you to receive more money than you invested. There are some plans under ULIPs where profits are directly transferred from equity to debt instruments

3. Traditional Endowment Plans

   These are simple plans that provide stable returns in the form of bonuses over the sum assured. Generally, under Traditional Endowment Plans, bonuses are paid from the 2^nd year onwards.

4. Single-Premium Child Plan

   The policyholder pays a lump sum amount in the form of a single premium for the entire policy term and stays worry-free from remembering the due dates of premium payment. You’ll not have to come across any hassles of arranging finances for the premium payment. Some insurance providers additionally offer appealing discounts or reduce the premium on child plans.

5. Regular Premium Child Plan

   Unlike a single premium child education plan, a regular premium child policy offers you flexibility on payment of premium. You can pay the premium monthly, quarterly, half-yearly, or yearly.

Withdrawals Under Child Plan

Withdrawals can be made partially under Child Plans only after the completion of the lock-in period. Here are few withdrawal choices available when you invest in Unit Linked Insurance Plans under Child Plans.

1. Withdrawals Before 5 Year Lock-In Period

   Normally, every ULIP comes with a 5-year lock-in period. If the amount is withdrawn partially or entirely by surrendering the policy altogether, or by discontinuing the premium payments, funds accumulated can only be received after the ULIP investment completes 5 years. The maturity amount will also be paid in a lump sum and consequent charges are applied after the discontinuation of the policy.

   As the ULIP life cover becomes null and void after the withdrawal before the lock-in period, you will have to repurchase life insurance online.

2. Withdrawal After 5 Year Lock-In Period

   Generally, it is advised that instead of withdrawing the whole amount, the policyholder should make partial withdrawals once your ULIP crosses the lock-in period. By partial withdrawals, you can overcome your financial emergencies without dissolving your whole policy or breaking your fixed deposits, or taking loans.

   Depending on the policy terms and conditions offered to you by the company, certain restrictions are levied upon withdrawals. Some of them are stated as under:

   1. Limit On Withdrawal

      Withdrawal limits differ from one insurance company to another. While some companies allow 10% of the premium paid, others may allow 20% or so. The limit could also be based on the remaining fund value post withdrawal. Sometimes, if you withdraw a huge amount from ULIP, chances are you are liable to face policy termination.

   2. Withdrawals In Case Of Top-Ups

      If a top-up investment is made to your child’s plan and you are planning to withdraw an amount, the insurer will settle it from the top-up amount. It is to be noted that the withdrawals can be claimed from top-up only if it has been completed 5 years.

3. Important Things To Remember While Withdrawing From A ULIP

   • Understand the withdrawal terms and conditions properly
   • Pay premium before or on time to avoid termination of the policy
   • Partial withdrawals can be made only after regular premium payment for 5 years
   • Partial withdrawals lead to a reduction in the Sum Assured for 2 years from the time money is withdrawn

   Here is an illustration of the Child Plan withdrawal criteria

   Details	Child Plan
   Premature Closure Penalty	No Charges
   Premature Closure Criteria	No Criteria
   Rate of Return	12% to 14%
   Safety of Returns in Case of Demise of a Parent Before Completion of Payment Term	Yes
   Time When Amount Can be Withdrawn	Entire Amount Any time After 5 years
   One Time Payout for Child In Case of Demise of the Parent	Yes
   Guaranteed Regular Income for Child Education In Case of Demise of Parent	Yes

Key features of Child Insurance Plan

A Child insurance plan comes with many useful features to ensure a rewarding return and protection for your child. Here are some key features of the best Child Insurance plans in India:

• Capital guarantee
• Waiver of premium
• Partial payments
• Partial withdrawals
• Sum assured
• Tax benefits
• Immediate financial protection
• Loan benefits

Additional riders

Certain riders are available, which give you more than just a simple life insurance policy. These riders are available in three sub-categories:

1. Accidental Death and Disability Benefit

   The Accidental Death and Disability Rider Benefit pay the extra sum assured in the event of your unfortunate mishap causing death or disability

2. Premium Waiver Benefit

   This rider may be already added to the best child education plan, so check your policy document in this regard

3. Critical Illness Rider Benefit

   Critical Illness rider benefit offers coverage for a pre-determined set of critical diseases

Benefits of Child Insurance Plan

• Flexible payment of funds
• Secured loans are available
• You can choose from either ULIP or Endowment plan
• Flexible premium payment options
• Funds available on the demise of the insured or after the maturity of the policy

Summing It Up

If a person has to enjoy partial withdrawals from a child plan, all he has to do is pay the premiums on time. If premium payment dates are missed out, then the policyholder is restricted from using withdrawal benefits and also the policy would be terminated. So, if you are planning to go for a child plan withdrawal, make sure your previous premiums are duly paid to avoid termination.