Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Inclusion of the names of members of family in the PPO and proof of age


F.No.1/19/11-P&PW(E) 
  
Government of India                                                                                                                                         
Ministry of Personnel, P.G. & Pensions                                                                                                                       
Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare                                                                                                 
 ********                                                                                                               
Lok Nayak Bhawan,                                                                                                                                                     
Khan Market, New Delhi                                                                                                                                              
Dated: 03.08.11                                                                                                                                                                                   
OFFICE MEMORANDUM 
 
 Subject:      Inclusion of the names of members of family in the PPO and proof of age for additional quantum of  family pension – requirement of certificates etc. – regarding.

The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department’s O.M. No. 1/6/2008/-P&PW(E), dated 22.06.10 and No. 1/21/91/-P&PW(E), dated 20.01.93, regarding intimation of names of eligible family members by the pensioner or the spouse to the Head of Office for inclusion in the Pension Payment Order (PPO). It has been clarified in the O.M. dated 22.06.10 that in cases where the pensioner or his/her spouse has expired, the widowed or divorced or unmarried daughter/parents/dependent disabled children/disabled siblings can themselves intimate such details to the pension sanctioning authority, who can process such cases if sufficient proof of entitlement is produced by the claimant and all other conditions for grant of pension are fulfilled.

2. Attention is also invited to this Department’s O.M. No. 37/38/08-P&PW(E), dated 21.05.09, wherein detailed instructions regarding admissibility of documents as proof of date of birth of very old pensioner who neither have a birth certificate nor any corroborating document  and whose date of birth is not available in the PPOs as well as in the office records of CPAO/PAO have been circulated.

3. It is a matter of concern that a large number of complaints have been received in this Department from various pensioners associations and individuals that the documents submitted by them to the Heads of Office concerned are not accepted by them.  Complaints of inordinate delay of 2-3 years in settling the claims have also been received.
4.  It is hereby reiterated that documents indicated in para 5 of O.M.  dated 21.05.09 may be relied upon by the Heads of Office for admitting claims of family pensioners. In addition to these, the Aadhaar number  issued by Unique Identification Authority of India may also be accepted  by the Heads of Office/Pension Disbursing Authorities as valid proof of Identity. It is also emphasised that the date of birth of the applicant may be ascertained at the time of sanctioning family pension as it may be required for deciding the quantum of additional family pension when the family pensioner attains the age of 80 years or above.

5.  In case the applicant is unable to submit any of the documents indicated above but claims family pension based on some other documentary evidence, such cases may be submitted to the administrative Ministry/Department. The decision of the administrative Ministry/Department will be final.

6. Requests have also been received for inclusion of the name of the dependent disabled child(ren) in the PPO during the life-time of the pensioner. It is hereby clarified that neither dependence  nor disability are bound to be permanent in nature. Therefore, the name(s) such child/children may be included in the details of the family by the Head of Office on receiving a request from the pensioner or his/her spouse. However, family pension would be sanctioned only when their turn comes to receive the pension on the demise of the pensioner/family pensioner, after examining the claim(s) of such disabled children for family pension subject to the fulfilment of conditions stipulated in CCS(Pension) Rules,1972.

7. All Ministries/Departments are requested to give wide publicity to these clarifications.


(Tripti P. Ghosh)                                                                                                                                                       
Director                                                                                                                                                             
Ph. 24624802