Consolidated
instructions for Pension Disbursing Authorities to ensure smooth payment of
pension/family pension to pensioners /family pensioners: DoP&PW Office
Memorandum dated 15-05-2020
No.121412020-P&PW(C)-6300
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pension
Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pension
Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare
*****
8th
Floor, Janpath Bhavan, Janpath, New Delhi,
Dated: 15th May, 2020
Dated: 15th May, 2020
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject: Consolidated Instructions for Pension Disbursing
Authorities to ensure smooth payment of pension/family pension to pensioners
/family pensioners.
On
an analysis or the grievances received In this Department, it has been observed
that updated and consolidated Instructions will help improve the processing of
Pensioner’s requests by banks and others. Hence, an attempt has been made
herein,to consolidate relevant Instructions issued by Department of Pension
& Pensioners’ Welfare from time to time with regard to disbursement of
pension and family pension. These Banks are adopting different procedures while
releasing pension/ family pension or seeking declarations/certificates from
pensioners / family pensioners at different periodicity. Therefore, the
following consolidated guidelines are being issued with an objective to create
awareness among CPPCs/ bank branches on updated rules and instructions in this
regard-:
(i) Requirement
of pensioners to be present in person before paying bank branch for credit of
first pension: The pensioner is no longer required to
visit bank in person for credit of his first pension. The undertaking with
regard to recovery of overpayment from pensioner is forwarded to concerned bank
CPPC through CPAO along with the PPO. Bank will not insist for the presence of
pensioner in order to activate their pension account. (DoPPW’s OM No.
1/27/2011-P&PW dated 7th May 2014)
(ii) Requirement of family pensioner to
submit form 14: On death or a pensioner, the
spouse is not required to submit form 14, If he/she was having a joint account
with the pensioner and authorisation for payment of family pension exists in
the Pension Payment Order (PPO) in his/her favour. In such cases, spouse will
be required to provide only a copy of the death certificate to the
pension paying branch In order to commence his/her family pension. Pension
disbursing bank will identify the family pensioners based on the information
furnished in PPO and its own Know Your Customer procedure without insisting
him/her to physically present himself/herself in the paying bank. (DoPPW’s OM No.
1/27/2011-P&PW dated 20th September 2013)
(iii) Insisting spouse to open separate
bank account for getting family pension:- Banks
will not insist for opening a new account when the spouse was having a joint
account with the pensioner and authorisation for payment of family pension
exists in the Pension Payment Order (PPO) in his/her favour. (RBI Circular – Disbursement of
Government Pension by Agency Banks dated September 9, 2019)
(iv) Submission of declaration for
taking up commercial employment after retirement: This
declaration Is required from pensioners who have retired from Group ‘A:
services/posts.This declaration is required only in the first year after
retirement of a Group A officer. Therefore, this declaration may not be sought
from the pensioner after expiry of one year from the date of retirement. If a
pensioner declares that he has taken up commercial employment within one year
from the date of retirement without obtaining permission of Government. Pension
disbursing bank will seek the orders of the Government through the CPAO before
making further pension payments. However, if a pensioner declares that he has
taken up commercial employment within one year after retirement with the
permission of the Government. Pension disbursing bank will continue to pay his
/her pension.(Rule 10 of CCS Pension Rule).
(v) Submission of re· employment
certificate: A pensioner is required to
furnish a re-employment declaration once in a year i.e.in the month of
November every year. If a pensioner declares that he is re-employed under the
Central or State Government, or a Corporation/ Company/ Body/ Bank under them,
the element of dearness relief during the period of re employment may not be
credited by the bank during the period of such re employment. However , if a
pensioner declares about his re-employment and also states that in accordance
with the relevant rules instructions, entire amount of his/her pension has been
ignored while fixing his/her pay in the re- employment post, he will continue
to be eligible to draw dearness relief along with pension. If a pensioner fails
to submit requisite declaration in the month of November, the element of
dearness relief on his monthly pension may not be credited by the bank and he
may be paid pension excluding the dearness relief. Employment/re-employment of
spouse does not affect his/her family pension. Therefore, Dearness Relief will
continue to be paid with family pension to the spouse who is
employed/re-employed in the aforesaid organizations. (Rule 55 of CCS Pension
Rules, 1972).
(vi) Submission
of non-earning certificate: A family pensioner, other than spouse, has to submit a
declaration of non-earning his/her livelihood every year in the month of
November. As per rule 54(6) of CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972, family pension is
allowed to a son, daughter, disabled sibling or parents of a deceased pensioner
or a deceased Government servant until he/she starts earning his/her livelihood.
This declaration is, however, not required from the spouse for continuing
his/her family pension. (Rule 54 (6) of CCS Pension Rule).
(vii) Submission of declaration of marriage:
A family pensioner, other than spouse has to submit a declaration of non-marriage/non
re-marriage every six months. The family pension is discontinued if she/he gets
married/re-married .If the spouse is a recipient of family pension, no
certificate of remarriage is required to be furnished by him/her. At the lime
of commencement of family pension, an undertaking will be obtained from him/her
o the effect that in the event if his/her re· marriage, he/she will report the
fact to the pension disbursing bank promptly. However childless widow of
deceased Government servant and disabled child of a pensioner/ Government
servant will continue to get family pension even if they get
married/re-married. (Rule 54(6) of CCS (PENSION) RULES, 1972)
(viii) Submission of life certificate:
Life certificate has to be submitted by every pensioner/family pensioners in
the month of November every year. Pension Disbursing bank will also accept
Aadhar enabled Digital Life Certificate Jeevan Pramaan . Old aged pensioners
who are 80 years and above can submit life certificate In the month of October
also. (D/o Pension & Pensioners Welfare’s OM No. 1/20/2018 P&PW (E)
Dated 18.07.2019)
(ix) Submission of disability certificate: If
family pension has been sanctioned to a disabled child and tho disability is
temporary, the guardian of such disabled child shall produce disability
certificate once in every 5 years to the effect that he/she continues to suffer
from such disorder /disability In order to continue family pension. No fresh
certificate of disability would be required In the case of a child with
permanent disability. A disabled child will also be required to self-certify
every year that he/she has not started earning his/her livelihood (Rule 54(6)
of CCS Pension Rule,1972)
(x) Restoration of commuted portion of
pension: Restoration of commuted portion of pension after
15 years is to be made automatically by bank. Pensioner will not be asked to
make application for restoration of commuted portion of pension. In cases where
the date of commutation is not readily available in the PPO, the bank will
obtain the information from the Accounts Officer who issued the PPO through
Central Pension Accounting Office before restoring the commuted portion of
pension. The amount of commuted pension will not be deducted from family
pension. (Rule 10 of CCS (Commutation or Pension) Rules,1972)
(xi) Paying additional amount of
pension on attaining the age of 80 years and above: The
additional quantum of pension/family pension will be paid on attaining the age
80 years and above. Additional pension is paid from the first day of the month
in which a pensioner/family pensioner completes the age of 80 years and above.
For example, if a pensioner /family pensioner completes the age of 80 years in
the month of August, 2020, he will be paid additional pension/family pension
from 1st day of the month of August, 2020. Bank will not insist for any request
/application from pensioners/family pensioners In order to pay additional
pension to them. The quantum of additional pension/family pension to the
pensioners/family pensioners is as follow:·
|
Age
of Pensioner
|
Additional
quantum of pension
|
|
From
80 years to less than 85 years
|
20%
of basic pension
|
|
From
85 years to less than 90 years
|
30%
of basic pension
|
|
From
90 years to less than 95 years
|
40%
of basic pension
|
|
From
95 years to less than 100 years
|
50%
of basic pension
|
|
100
years or more
|
100%
of basic pension
|
(D/o
Pension & Pensioners Welfare’s OM No. dated 38/37/08 P&PW(A) dated 2nd
September & 3rd October
2008)
(xii) Obtaining of Life Certificate from the
doorstep of the pensioners:- The Department has issued
directions to all the Pension Disbursing Banks to send SMSs/Emails to all their
pensioners on 24th October, 1st November, 15th November and 25th November every
year reminding them to submit their Annual Life Certificates by 30th November.
The Department directed all Pension Disbursing Banks to make an exception list
as on 1st December
every year of those pensioners who fall to submit their Life Certificate and
issue another SMS/Email to them for submitting the Life Certificate. The bank
in addition will also ask such pensioners through SMS/Email as to whether they
are interested in submission of Life Certificate through a chargeable door-step
service, on a nominal charge not exceeding Rs. 60/-. (D/o Pension
&Pensioners Welfare’s Circular No.12/4/2020-P&PW(C)-6300 dated 17.01.2020).
2.
All banks are advised to comply with the above Instructions and to give wide
publicity by putting up these instructions on their websites and also on the
notice boards of the branches of the bank etc.
3.
This issues with the approval of the competent authority.
(Rajesh
Kumar)
Under Secretary to the Government of India
Under Secretary to the Government of India
