7th Pay Commission: New family pension rules simplified; Check the details

In order to provide special benefits to the family members of deceased government pensioners, the central government has simplified the 7th pay commission family pension rule. This move is aimed at giving relief to more than 60 lakh central government pensioners.

The Department of Pension & Pensioners' Welfare in a tweet said, "Department of Pension & PW has issued instructions for Expeditious settlement of family pension cases by banks." 

The DoPPW letter further read, "...... instances have been brought to the notice of this Department where, on the death of a pensioner, the spouse/family members of the deceased pensioner are asked by the Pension Disbursing Banks to submit details and documents, which are otherwise not required for commencement of the family pension. This amounts to harassment of the spouse and family members and often leads to avoidable delay in commencement of family pension by the Banks."

The DoPPW letter revealed that the spouse/family member, whose name is included in the PPO issued to the deceased pensioner, will be asked to submit the below-mentioned details or documents:

1] Deceased pensioner and spouse holding a joint account:

a) A simple letter/application for commencement of family pension;

b) Death certificate in respect of the deceased pensioner;

c) Copy of PPO issued to the pensioner, if available; and

d) Proof of age/date of birth of the applicant.

2] Spouse did not have the joint account with the deceased pensioner:

a) Application in Form 14 bearing the signatures of two witnesses;

b) Death certificate in respect of the deceased pensioner;

c) Copy of PPO issued to the pensioner, if available; and

d) Proof of age/date of birth of the applicant.

With this, no Form 14 is required to be attested by a Gazetted officer, etc. The paying bank will identify the spouse/family member based on the information given in the PPO and its own "Know Your Customer" procedures.

3] On the death of the pensioner and spouse, the family pension has to pass over to another family member;

a) If the other family member has been co-authorized for family pension in the PPO, the same procedure as in sub-para II above shall be followed.

b) If the name of the other family member is not included in the PPO, he/she may be advised to approach the office which the Government servant/pensioner last served, for issue of a fresh PPO.

The DoPPW circular further revealed, "You are requested to issue suitable instructions to the CPPC(s) and the pension paying branches of your Bank to obtain only the minimum essential details/documents, as mentioned above, from the claimants of family pension, and to ensure that they are not subjected to any harassment by seeking unnecessary details and documents. The details of family members, other than the Applicant, are not relevant for commencement of family pension by the bank and the same should not, therefore, be sought from the Applicant under any circumstances."