Investment Options for Senior Citizens

After years of hard work, retirement help provide individuals with an opportunity to relax, follow their interests, and spend quality time with their loved ones and family. However, financially planning for unexpected health issues and medical expenses is also necessary. Various pension plans available in India can help you in this planning, as they provide you with funds you will need to manage your monthly expenses. This article explains various investment options available for senior citizens.
 

Should you choose a pension plan or an investment option?

In India, a pension plan, pension scheme or retirement plan is a retirement benefit that one can avail of from their insurance provider either as a regular stream of income or as a lump sum payout. The primary purpose of pension plans is to cover the financial needs of an individual after their retirement. However, there are also several other investment options for retirees which offer the benefits they often look for.
 

If you are looking for investment options after retirement, there are multiple options you can choose from. You can select the investment tenure and invest your savings to ensure that, at the time of retirement, you will have enough funds to meet your basic day-to-day expenses as well as any emergency that may arise.
 

For an elderly person or a retired individual, an appropriate investment would be one with a consistent flow of income throughout their retirement period. The corpus will be saved during the investment period and distributed either as one lump sum after the end of the investment period or as an ongoing income throughout the retirement period.
 

However, there are also investment options that one can opt for closer to their retirement to build their retirement fund.

Safest investment options for senior citizens

There are many investment option in India designed for helping senior citizens by providing financial security and a stable income after their retirement. Some of the most popular plans are the Senior Citizen Savings Scheme (SCSS), Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana (PMVVY), Post Office Monthly Income Scheme (POMIS), National Pension System (NPS), and Equity Linked Savings Scheme (ELSS).
 

1. Senior citizen savings scheme (SCSS)

SCSS is a secure investment scheme for retirees. It's a government-sponsored scheme, so your funds are safe, and you receive a fixed income in retirement.
 

1. Eligibility: You must be 60 years or more to create an SCSS account. There is an exception, though; retired government or defence personnel between the ages of 55 and 60 can also invest under certain conditions.

2. Rate of interest: The government sets this rate and reviews it every quarter. Right now, it is typically between 7% and 8.5% per year. Once you open your account, the rate prevailing at that time stays locked for the full five-year tenure.

3. Amount to invest: Usually a minimum of ₹1,000, and the maximum of ₹30 lakh can be invested. But don't forget, your total deposits in all SCSS accounts cannot exceed ₹30 lakh.

4. Time Period: The time period for SCSS is five years, and you can extend it once for another three years.

5. Withdrawing funds ahead of time: You can withdraw early, but not immediately. You need to wait at least one year. After that, a 1.5% deduction applies if you close before two years, and a 1% deduction if you close after two years.

6. Tax* consequences: Your investment isn't taxable. But the interest earned gets added to your income and taxed* according to your slab. If your yearly interest crosses ₹50,000, Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) applies. Additionally, SCSS falls under the ETT category, which means principal is tax-free*, interest is taxable*, and there are no tax benefits* on withdrawal.
    

2. Pradhan mantri vaya vandana yojana (PMVVY)

The government introduced this retirement-cum-pension scheme in 2017 exclusively for elderly citizens. You can put in a lump amount once, and then you get a steady income periodically. The scheme ran from May 4, 2017, to March 31, 2020, and was later extended until March 31, 2023.
 

1. Eligibility: Any Indian citizen who is 60 years or older is eligible. The scheme is limited to senior citizens, and there is no upper age limit. NRIs are not eligible to invest in PMVVY. 

2. Interest rate: The return on PMVVY is nearly 8% per year depending on the chosen payout period. The rate was reviewed after the Union budget for 2018-19 and was set to 7.40% for the year 2020-21, and the rate will continue to be reviewed and reset for each year until March 31, 2023.

3. Amount to invest: A minimum of ₹150,000 with a maximum of ₹1,500,000, and this maximum was increased from ₹750,000 in the first year.

4. Time period: 10 years, however, payout can be made monthly, quarterly, half-yearly, and yearly.

5. Withdrawing early: Early withdrawal is possible in cases of critical or terminal illness, and you can withdraw 98% of your initial investment amount or purchase price.

6. Tax* consequences: Your investment amount is tax-exempt*. But the interest income and maturity proceeds are taxable* according to your income slab. TDS is not deducted, there is no Section 80C deduction, and there is no GST on purchase.
    

3. National pension scheme (NPS) 

NPS is a pension fund cum retirement savings plan, which allows individuals to create a corpus for their pension over a working life. The contribution is invested in debt and equity instruments with the objective of generating regular income post-retirement.
 

1. Eligibility: Indian nationals aged between 18 to 70 years of age can join. For this plan both salaried and self-employed individuals, including NRIs, are eligible.  

2. Rate of interest: Returns¹ are market-linked and professionally managed but not assured and based on fund performance.

3. Amount to invest: The minimum amount is typically ₹500 per month in the form of SIP or a one-time payment. Larger contributions are permitted according to fund regulations, and there is no predetermined upper limit of investment.

4. Time period: Contributions continue until retirement. Longer tenure can increase the potential pension due to compounding.

5. Withdrawing funds ahead of time: Partial withdrawals can be made after 3 years for certain purposes such as education, medical care, or buying a house. Early withdrawals reduce the corpus, and full withdrawal is allowed at retirement. 

6. Tax* consequences: Contributions to NPS are eligible for tax* benefits under Sections 80CCD (1) and 80CCD (1B). Partial withdrawals from the corpus may be tax-free*, but any annuity income received after retirement is taxable* as per your income tax slab.

4. Post office monthly income scheme (POMIS)

Post Office Monthly Income Scheme (POMIS) is a government-guaranteed savings scheme that offers senior citizens a regular monthly income. This investment scheme may be suitable for those seeking steady returns1 and financial stability.
 

1. Eligibility: Indian residents of all ages can invest, but it is particularly suitable for senior citizens. Joint accounts are also allowed, and NRIs are not eligible for this scheme.

2. Interest rate: As of 2025, MIS offers a competitive interest rate of 7.4% per annum, payable monthly. The rate is fixed and guaranteed by the Government of India.

3. Amount to invest: The minimum deposit is ₹1,000. Single accounts can invest up to ₹9 lakh, while joint accounts allow up to ₹15 lakh. 

4. Time period: The scheme has a lock-in period of 5 years. Investors may reinvest upon maturity for continued returns1.

5. Withdrawing funds ahead of time: Partial withdrawals are not allowed before maturity. Premature closure may be allowed under exceptional circumstances as per post office rules.

6. Tax* consequences: Interest earned is taxable* according to the investor’s income slab. There is no TDS deduction for senior citizens if applicable thresholds are not exceeded.

5. Equity-linked savings scheme (ELSS)

ELSS is a mutual fund scheme that primarily invests in equity to build long-term wealth with the added advantage of tax* benefits. It provides an opportunity to investors to save taxes under Section 80C and take part in the equity market.
 

1. Eligibility: Any resident Indian, including senior citizens, is eligible to invest in ELSS. HUFs and NRIs are not eligible subject to certain scheme conditions.

2. Rate of interest: ELSS does not have a fixed interest rate, as returns1 depend on the performance of underlying equity investments. The growth rate varies with market conditions and fund management but generally aims for long-term appreciation.

3. Amount to Invest: The minimum investment is usually ₹500 per month through SIP or a lump-sum payment. Higher contributions are allowed as per fund rules, and there is no fixed upper investment limit. 

4. Time period: ELSS comes with a mandatory lock-in period of three years from the investment date. Early redemption is not allowed, but investors who hold for longer periods may benefit from potential returns1.

5. Withdrawing funds ahead of time: During the lock-in period, individuals are not permitted to make withdrawals. After the lock-in period of three years, individuals can make partial redemption post-maturity.

6. Tax* consequences: Investments in ELSS qualify for deductions under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act. Long-term capital gains usually above ₹1 lakh are taxed* at 10%, whereas short-term gains are taxed* according to the investor’s income slab.
    

Conclusion

There are various secure and stable investment options available for retired individuals. Out of the investment plans discussed above, pension plans that provide higher returns, including annuity plans, are usually preferred by retirees. Furthermore, annuity pension plans have flexible provisions for payouts, investment amounts, etc., while also enabling investors to choose a simple and hassle-free single premium payment.