No.1/16/2011- P&PW(E)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare
(Desk ‘E’)

3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhavan
New Delhi, the 20th September, 2012

Office Memorandum

Sub: Family pension – list of documents to be submitted by a claimant member of family (other than spouse) along with Form 14, PPO and death certificate in respect of the deceased pensioner/family pensioner — regarding.

The undersigned is directed to refer to Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare O.M. of even number, dated 8th December, 2011 on the above subject (copy enclosed).

From the representations received in this Department, it appears that some offices ask the applicant family pensioners for the documents not indicated in the office memorandum indicated above.

All the Ministries/Departments are requested to instruct their attached/subordinate/field offices to follow the instructions contained in the 0.M., dated 8.12.2011 strictly to avoid any hardships to the family pensioners. They may also be advised to go through the other office memoranda issued during the last two years as contained in the Circulars on Family Pension on this Department’s website and also on pensionersportal.gov.in.

(O.K. Solanki)
Under Secretary

———

No. 1/16/2011- P&PW(E)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare
(Desk `E’)

3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhavan,
New Delhi, the 8th December, 2011.

Office Memorandum

Sub: Family pension – list of documents to be submitted by a claimant member of family (other than spouse) along with Form 14, PPO and death certificate in respect of the deceased pensioner/family pensioner — regarding.

The Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare has been receiving references for clarification by various Ministries/Departments of the Government regarding the documents for family pension, including certificate of income, required to be submitted by a claimant member of family (other than spouse) along with application form (Form 14), PPO and death certificate after the death of a pensioner/family pensioner. The matter was also discussed at iength in the 20th meeting of SCOVA held on 21st September, 2011 (item No. 92 of the Minutes refers). It was agreed in the meeting that a list of such documents will be made available at the website of the Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare. It was pointed out in the meeting that it is indicated in this Department’s Office Memorandum No.45/51/97-P&PW(E), dated 21.7.1999 that a self certificate for the income of those who are self employed or are in receipt of income from sources other than employment may be accepted. It was decided to send a copy of this O.M. to all member associations of SCOVA.

2. This is informed that the claims submitted by a claimant member of family (other than spouse) for family pension after the death of a pensioner/family pensioner, in Form 14 and supported by the death certificate and PPO of the pensioner/family pensioner, may be processed in consultation with the Pay and Accounts Officer, who is the custodian of the pension file which contains all relevant Forms and information of the pensioner. In a very rare case where the name of the claimant member is not available in the records of the Head of Office as well as the Pay & Accounts Officer concerned and the claimant member also fails to submit a copy of PPO or Form 3 containing ‘Details of Family submitted earlier by the deceased employee/pensioner, the certificates prescribed at serial number 9(v) of Form 14 may be accepted. In addition to these certificates, PAN Card, Matriculation Certificate, Passport, CGHS Card, Driving License. Voter’s ID Card and Aadhar Number may also be accepted. Acceptance of voter’s ID card and Aadhar Number is subject to the condition that the pensioner/family pensioner certifies that he/she is not a matriculate and he/she does not have any of the documents mentioned in Form 14 or above. Apart from these documents, the Ministries/Departments may accept any other document submitted by the claimant, which may be relied upon and which establishes the relationship of the claimant with the pensioner and/or contains his/her date of birth.

3. The applicant has also to prove that no other surviving member in the family, who may have a prior entitlement for family pension. is eligible. For this purpose, the above and/or any other documents, such as marriage/death/income certificates of the other members, which may be essential in a given situation, may be used.

4. As decided in the SCOVA meeting, a copy of O.M. No.45/51/97-P&PW(E), dated 21.7.1999 is enclosed for circulation to ali Ministries/Departments/ Associations.

(D.K.Solanki)
Under Secretary

———

No.45/51/97-P&PW(E)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
(Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare)
Third Floor, Lok Nayak Bhavan, New Delhi

Dated: 21st July, 1999

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Recommendations of 5th Central Pay Commission – Grant of Family Pension to Parents, sons and Daughters – Clarifications regarding.

Orders were issued in this Department’s Office Memorandum of even number dated 5th March, 1998 prescribing the income criterion and certain other eligibility conditions for the grant of Family Pension to the dependent parents and widowed or divorced daughters of deceased Central Government employees in pursuance of the recommendations of the 5th Central Pay Commission. This Department has been receiving a number of references seeking clarifications on issues of relevance for implementation of these orders. After consideration of these references, the following clarifications are furnished for the guidance of all concerned:

1. In terms of the OM dated 5th March, 1998, parents who were wholly dependent on the deceased Government Servant when he/she was alive will also be entitled to Family Pension with effect from 1st January, 1998 subject to the fulfilment of the other conditions prescribed in this regard. Doubts have been raised whether parents of Government Servants who died prior to 1st January, 1998 will also be entitled to Family Pension. It is clarified that Family Pension will be admissible in these cases subject to the following:

a. The parents were wholly dependent on the Government Servant when he/she was alive;

b. The Government servant has not left behind a widow/widower, eligible son or daughter or a widowed/divorced daughter, who will have a prior claim to Family Pension in the order indicated;

c. All other prescribed conditions are fulfilled.

The Family Pension will, however, be payable only with effect from 1st January, 1998. It will be the responsibility of the pension sanctioning authorities concerned to satisfy themselves, based on a scrutiny of the service records and other relevant documents, that the parents were, in fact, wholly dependent on the deceased Government Servant when he/she was alive and that he/she has not left behind any of the other specified beneficiaries who have a prior claim to the family pension.

d. The family pension wherever admissible to parents. the mother will receive the pension first and after her death the father will receive the family pension.

2. The production of Income Certificate as stipulated in this Department’s OM of 5th March, 1998 is also required to be insisted upon before authorizing the Family Pension to the eligible sons and daughters (including widowed/divorced daughters) and dependent parents. In case they are self-employed or are in receipt of income from sources other than employment, Income Certificates furnished by the concerned beneficiaries themselves may be accepted for the purpose.

3.Eligible sons of deceased Government employees will also be required to furnish six-monthly certificates in regard to their marital status as is required of eligible daughters.

4.Payment of Family Pension is to be discontinued in the event of the eligible sons/daughters ( including widowed/divorced daughters) getting married/remarried or on their earning a monthly income exceeding Rs.2550/- or on attaining 25 years of age whichever is earlier. The crucial date for determining their continued eligibility to Family Pension shall be 1st January, 1998 and not 5th March, 1998 (the date of issue of this Department’s earlier Office Memorandum) as has been presumed by some of the ministries and departments.

These clarifications issue with the concurrence of the Department of Expenditure, vide their No.1064/EV/98 dated 29.6.1999.

(RATTAN LAL)
Deputy Secretary to the Government of India

Original Order:

http://circulars.nic.in/WriteReadData/CircularPortal/D3/D03ppw/FP_200912.pdf

The Union Cabinet has approved the recommendations of the Committee headed by Cabinet Secretary for benefits to ex-servicemen on four issues. The financial implications of the improvements made as per the Cabinet decision on the four items are broadly estimated at Rs.2300 crore per annum. The details are as follows:

I. One Rank One Pension:

On One Rank One Pension, the demand of the Defence Forces and Ex-Servicemen Associations is that uniform pension be paid to the Defence Forces personnel retiring in the same rank with the same length of service irrespective of their date of retirement and any future enhancement in the rates of pension be automatically passed on to the past pensioners.

The difference in the pension of present and past pensioners in the same rank occurs on account of the number of increments earned by the defence personnel in that rank. There is also a difference between the pension of pre 1.1.06 and post 1.1.06 retirees belonging to a particular rank. The UPA Government on two previous occasions has taken decisions to narrow the gap between the present and past pensioners, particularly those belonging to the ranks of JCOs and Other Ranks.

On the issue of One Rank One Pension, the following have been approved by the Cabinet:

(i) Bridging of the gap in the pension of pre 1.1.06 and post 1.1.06 JCO/OR retirees by determining the pension of pre 1.1.06 retirees on the basis of notional maximum for ranks and groups across the three Services as in the case of post 1.1.06 retirees. In addition, the weightage of qualifying service in the ranks of Sepoys, Naik and Havaldar would be increased by two years for both pre and post 1.1.06 retirees.
(ii) The pension of pre 1.1.06 Commissioned Officer pensioners would be stepped up with reference to the minimum of fitment table for the ranks instead of the minimum of pay band.

These are expected to largely meet the demands of the defence pensioners on one rank one pension.

II. Enhancement of Family Pension :

(i) The pension of pre – 1.1.2006 family pensioners(Commissioned Officers, Honorary Commissioned Officers, JCOs/ORs ) be stepped up based on the minimum of the fitment table instead of the minimum of the Pay Band;

(i) Establishing linkage of the family pension with the pension of JCOs/ORs, in those cases where the death takes place after the retirement of the JCO/OR since such a JCO/OR drew a pension based on the maximum of the pay scales, 60% of the pension applicable to JCO/OR pensioners would be granted to the family pensioner in case of normal family pension calculated a 30% of last pay drawn. Accordingly, based on the rank, group and length of service of the deceased JCO/OR pensioner, his pension would first be determined on notional basis. In cases where death of JCO/OR took place after retirement, the family pensioners in receipt of normal family pension would become entitled to 60% of the said pension determined on notional basis and those in receipt of enhanced family pension will be entitled to 100% of this pension. Similar entitlements would be determined in the case of Special Family Pension; and

(iii) The family pensioner of the JCO/OR would be granted pension arrived at on the basis of the family pension worked out as per the formulation at (i) above or the pension on the basis of stepping up with reference to the minimum of the fitment table, whichever is beneficial. Further, the linkage of family pension with retiring pension be applied in the case of post 1.1.2006 family pensioners of JCOs/ORs also.

III. Dual Family Pension:
Dual family pension would be allowed in the present and future cases where the pensioner drew, is drawing or may draw pension for military service as well as for civil employment.

IV. Family pension to mentally / physically challenged children of armed forces personnel on marriage:

Grant of family pension to mentally/physically challenged children who drew, are drawing or may draw family pension would continue even after their marriage.

The above recommendations made by the Committee on pension issues of Ex-Servicemen may be implemented from a prospective date and payment made accordingly.

No.1/23/2012-P&PW(E)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare

3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhavan,
Khan Market, New Delhi
Dated: 13th September, 2012

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Sub: Change in date of birth/age of family pensioners — regarding.

In accordance with the instructions issued vide this Department’s OM No.38/37/08-P&PW(A) dated 21.5.2009, 11.8.2009, 25.6.2010 & 28.9.2010 and OM No.1/19/11-P&PW(E) dated 3.8.2011, additional pension/family pension to old pensioners/family pensioners is allowed on the basis of the date of birth/age recorded in the Pension Payment Order (PPO) or other office records. Only in case the details regarding date of birth/age are not available in the PPO/office records, additional pension/family pension to old pensioners/family pensioners has been allowed on the basis of certain documents i.e. PAN Card, Matriculation certificate. Passport, CGHS Card, Driving Licence, Voter’s ID Card and Aadhaar Number issued by UIDAI.

2. During his service and at the time of retirement, a Government servant is required to give details of his family, including date of birth of its members, in Form 3.Date of birth/age of the members of family mentioned by the Government servant in Form 3 was not mandatory to be verified by the Head of Office. It is felt that in some case, the date of birth/age of a family pensioner, as recorded in the PPO/office records might be incorrect.

3. Some representations have been received in this Department regarding the hardship being caused to old family pensioners in getting the additional pension on account of incorrect recording of the date of birth/age in the PPO. They have been requesting for allowing the change of date of birth in the PPO on the basis of the documents prescribed in the various OMs mentioned in Para I above.

4.The matter has been considered in this Department in consultation with the Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure and the following decisions have been made:

i. Since the date of birth of the Government servant is recorded in the PPO on the basis of the service records and the date of superannuation etc. also is determined on the basis of this date of birth, there is no question of allowing change in the date of birth of the retired/deceased pensioner in the PPO.

ii. The request for change of date of birth/age of the family pensioner (parents and spouse) in the PPO may be submitted by a pensioner/family pensioner to the Head of the Department of the organisation where the Government servant had last served along with at least one of the documents mentioned in Para 1 above and a declaration on a non-judicial stamp paper regarding the correct date of birth of the family pensioner. The Head of the Department may allow the change in the date of birth of the family pensioner if he is satisfied that the conditions indicated in this Department’s OM No.38/37/08-P&PW (A) dated 21.5.2009 have been fulfilled and that a bona-fide mistake has been made in recording the date of birth in the PPO.

iii. No other document will be accepted for allowing the change in date of birth/age of the family pensioner in the PPO.

iv. In order to avoid any possibility of recording an incorrect date of birth in the PPO, in future, the Government servant may be required to submit one of the documents indicated in Para 1 above as proof of date of birth of spouse or parents along with the details of family in Form 3. In the case of children certificate of birth from the Municipal authorities or from the local panchayat or from the head of a recognised school if the child is studying in such a school or from a Board of Education may be accepted.

5. As regards pensioners/family pensioners belonging to the Indian Audit and Accounts Departments, these Orders issue after consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

6. This issues with the concurrence of Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure vide their I.D. No 428/E.V/2012, dated 27/8/2012.

7. Hindi version will follow.

(Sujasha Choudhury )
Deputy Secretary

Original Order:

http://circulars.nic.in/WriteReadData/CircularPortal/D3/D03ppw/PPWE_age_130912.pdf