Union Minister of State Jitendra Singh informed today that the Central government has simplified Family Pension Rules in view of the COVID pandemic. The minister said a provision has been made to sanction the interim pension as soon as a family member makes a claim and submits the death certificate of their kin without waiting for completion of other formalities.
Giving a brief about the key reforms made by the Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare (DoP&PW), Jitendra Singh said, the provision is applicable to deaths during the pandemic irrespective of the causes.
In accordance with Rules 80 (A) of the CCS (Pension) Rule 1972, on the death of the government servant during service, Provisional Family Pension could be sanctioned to the eligible member of the family, only after the Family Pension case has been forwarded to the Pay and Accounts Office.
The Minister also informed that 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.
As per Rule 64 of CCS (Pension), 1972, Provisional Pension is normally sanctioned for a period of six months in cases whether a government servant is likely to retire before finalisation of his pension. However, in view of the COVID pandemic, instructions were issued to grant Provisional Family Pension in accordance with Rule 64 in case of delay in the submission of papers.
The Union Minister said that the Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare has been sensitively responding to the issues concerned with the pensioners and elder citizens since the onset of the pandemic. He added that reforms are being undertaken according to the need of the hour and thus several provisions have been made recently keeping in view the requirement of the public servants.
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