24. Assurance amount.- How to be paid.- (1) The nominee or nominees or other claimants shall send a written application to the Commissioner through the employer in such form as the Commissioner may specify, to claim payment under this Scheme. (2) If the person to whom any amount is to be paid under this Scheme is a minor or a lunatic, the payment shall be made in accordance with the provisions in the Employees’ Provident Funds Scheme, 1952, relating to payment to such persons. (3) The payment may be made, at the option of the person to whom payment is to be made, (i) by postal money order, or (ii) by deposit in the payee’s bank account in any Scheduled Bank or any Co-operative Bank (including the Urban Co-operative Banks) or any post office, or (iii) by deposit in the payee’s name (the whole or part of the amount) in the form of annuity/term deposits scheme in any nationalised bank, or (iv) through the employer. (4) The claims, complete in all respects submitted along with the requisite documents shall be settled and benefit amount paid to the beneficiary within thirty days from the date of its receipt by the Commissioner. If there is any deficiency in the claim, the same shall be recorded in writing and communicated to the applicant within thirty days from the date of receipt of such application. In case the Commissioner fails without sufficient cause to settle a claim complete in all respect within thirty days, the Commissioner shall be liable for the delay beyond the said period and penal interest at 12 per cent per annum may be charged on the benefit amount and the same may be deducted from the salary of the Commissioner. | 
