Procedure for sanction of family pensions simplified

The Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare (DoPPW) has taken measures to simplify the sanction of family pensions.   The provisional family pension will now be sanctioned immediately on receipt of the claim for family pension and death certificate from the eligible family member without waiting for other formalities or procedural requirements to be completed.

Earlier, under Rule 80 (A) of the CCS (Pension) Rules 1972, the provisional family pension on death of the government servant during service could be sanctioned to the eligible member of the family only after the family pension was forwarded to the Pay and Accounts Office (PAO). However, in view of the ongoing pandemic, the Government decided that provisional family pension may be sanctioned immediately on receipt of a claim for family pension and death certificate from the eligible family member, without waiting for forwarding of the Family Pension case to Pay and Accounts Office.

According to another important reform announced by the Government recently, the payment of provisional pension may be extended up to a period of one year from the date of retirement with the concurrence of PAO and after the approval by the Head of the Department.

Rule 64 of CCS (Pension), 1972 says provisional pension is normally sanctioned for a period of six months in cases whether a government servant is likely to retire before finalization of his pension.

However, in view of the COVID pandemic, the DOPPW issued instructions for the grant of Provisional Family Pension in accordance with Rule 64 where there is a delay in the submission of papers.