Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
(Central Civil Pensioners)
(Last updated/Reviewed: 04.11.2013)
FAMILY PENSION
E.12 Who is to authorize payment of family pension and death gratuity when a Govt. servant dies while on deputation ?
In the case of a Govt. servant who dies while on deputation to another
Central Govt. Deptt., action to authorize family pension and death
gratuity in accordance with the provisions of chapter IX of the pension
Rules shall be taken by his Head of Office of the borrowing department.
In the case of a Govt. servant who dies while on deputation to a State
Govt. or while on Foreign Service, action to authorize the payments of
family pension and death gratuity in accordance with the provisions of
Chapter IX of the pension Rules shall be taken by the Head of Office or
the cadre authority which sanctioned the deputation of the Govt. servant
to the State Govt. or to his Foreign Service.
E.13 When should a family member become eligible for the grant of family pension to get the family pension?
Normally, the amount of family pension is sanctioned and authorized at
the same time as pension and indicated in the Pension Payment Order and
is to be drawn after the death of the pensioner. In case of Govt.
servant dying while in service, the widow or widower has to make a claim
in Form 14 to the Head of Office who will sanction and authorize the
family pension through its Pay & Accounts Officer. Where the
deceased Govt. servant is survived only by a child or children, the
guardian (in case of minor and/or mentally disabled child/children) or
such child or children may submit a claim in Form 14, along with all
relevant information/certificates, to the Head of Office for sanction
and authorization of family pension. In the case of death of a
pensioner, the deceased pensioner's wife or a disabled child or
dependent parents or a disabled sibling should apply in Form No. 14
along with a copy of the death certificate of the deceased pensioner to
the Pension Disbursing Authority. Where the pensioner and spouse held a
joint account, Form 14 is not required and the spouse may inform the
Bank of death of the pensioner by way of a simple letter enclosing a
copy of death certificate. The paying bank will identify the spouse
based on the information given in the PPO and its own “Know Your
Customer” procedures. In other cases, i.e., where the pension is not
being credited to the joint bank account of the pensioner and his/her
spouse, Family is still required however the condition of attestation of
Form 14 has been done away with and giving witness of two persons has
been considered as sufficient. The other children will apply to the Head
of Office for sanction of family pension.
E.14 Up to which period family pension is payable?
Family pension is payable to one member of the family at a time in the order and for the period as under:
a) In the case of a widow or widower, up to the date of death or
remarriage, whichever is earlier. Family Pension shall continue to be
payable to a childless widow after her re-marriage if her income from
all other sources is less than the amount of minimum family pension and
the dearness relief thereon.
b) When widow or widower becomes ineligible, children below 25 years of
age in the order of their age, up to 25 years of age or till they get
married or till they start earning more than the amount of minimum
family pension along with dearness allowance thereon.
c) After (a) & (b) above; for the lifetime to any son/daughter who
is suffering from any disorder or disability of mind (including mentally
retarded) or physically crippled or disabled and who is unable to earn a
living.
d) If no spouse/children below 25 years of age/disabled children above
25 years of age are eligible for family pension, it may be granted to
unmarried/widowed/divorced daughters above the age of 25 years in the
order of seniority of their age.
e) Thereafter, family pension may be paid to the parents who were wholly dependent on the Govt. servant when he/she was alive.
f) Disabled siblings (i.e. brother and sister) who were dependent on the
Government servant immediately before the death of the Government
Servant, for life.
E.15 Is family pension payable to more than one person at a time?
Normally, the family pension is payable to one eligible member at a
time. However, in certain specific cases, the family pension is divided
among eligible members of the family. The family pension will be paid in
equal
shares where the deceased Govt. servant or pensioner is survived by –
a) More than one widow (except in the case of Hindu widow or where polygamy/polyandry is not allowed).
b) A widow and an eligible child through another widow which she would have received had she been alive.
c) A widow and an eligible child from a divorced/illegally wedded wife;
the child will be entitled to the share of family pension which the
mother would have received had she not been divorced/ had she been
legally wedded.
d) Twin, triplet or quadruplet children In all the above cases, on the
death of one recipient, his/her share of the family pension shall become
payable to other member(s) of family who was/were sharing family
pension with him/her.
E.16 How is the family pension payable to twin children?
As in reply to Q. No. E.16
E.17 Is family pension payable to a spouse judicially separated?
Family pension is payable to a spouse judicially separated provided
there is no child who is eligible for family pension. But it is not
payable to a spouse judicially separated on the ground of adultery and
who had been held guilty of committing adultery.
E.18 Whether family pension may be sanctioned to a disabled
child/dependent parent/disabled sibling during lifetime of a pensioner
who has no wife or any other children.
Yes, family pension in certain cases may be sanctioned to a disabled
child/dependent parents/disabled siblings. For further details, please
refer to this department OM No. 1/27/2011-P&PW(E), dated 1st July,
2013, available at the website under the Circulars on Family Pension.
E.19 Is the family pension admissible to parents; widowed/divorced/unmarried daughters?
As in reply to Q.E.14
E.20 What is enhanced family pension and for what period it is payable?
Ordinarily, family pension is paid @ 30% of the pay last drawn by the
Government at the time of his retirement/death. However, in the
following three cases, family pension is payable at the enhanced rate of
50% of the last pay drawn:
a) From 1.1.2006, where a person not governed by the Workmen’s
Compensation Act dies while in service after rendering not less than
seven years continuous service, the rate of family pension shall be
equal to 50% of last pay drawn from the date of death of deceased
Government Servant, payable for a period of ten years provided that the
deceased employee had completed seven years of continuous service.
b) In case a Government servant had died while in service after 1.1.1999
and before 1.1.2006 and his/her family was being granted family pension
at enhanced rates, i.e., period of 7 years of enhanced rate had not
been completed on 1.1.2006, the family pension will be allowed to be
paid till the completion of the period of 10 years from the date of date
of the Government servant.
c) In the event of death of Government Servant after retirement, the
enhanced family pension shall be payable for a period of seven years or
for a period up to the date the deceased would have attained the age of
67 years, whichever is earlier. In no case the amount of family pension
exceed the pension authorised on retirement from Government. After the
lapse of the period of 10 or 7 years, as the case may be, the family
pension is payable at the ordinary rate.
E.21 Is family pension available to a spouse after remarriage ?
Family pension has now been made available even after remarriage to
childless widow of the deceased employee subject to her earnings not
exceeding the prescribed minimum family pension with DR. Family pension
is not available to a childless widower after his remarriage.
E.22 Whether the period of 10 years for payment of enhanced family
pension would also apply in the case of a Government servant who died
before 1.1.2006 and in respect of whom the family was receiving enhanced
family pension as on 1.1.2006 ?.
Yes. The period of 10 years for payment of enhanced family pension will
count from the date of death of the Government servant. These orders
will, however, not apply in a case where the period of 7 years for
payment of enhanced family pension has already completed as on 1.1.2006.
Source: www.pensionersportal.gov.in