Family Pension Details

     Members of the family who are eligible for family pension

Wife (lawfully married) and also judicially separated wife.

Unmarried son (including illegitimate son / legally adopted son) upto 25 years or earning livelihood whichever is earlier.

Unmarried daughter upto 25 yrs of age**.

Dependant parents provided their income from all sources is less than Rs. 3500/- plus applicable rate of dearness relief.

Unmarried physically or mentally retarded sons or daughters are entitled for family pension for life. ** From 6.9.2007, unmarried / divorced daughters are also entitled for family pension for life (provided they are otherwise entitled for family pension).

Please note :

Parents will be entitled for family pension only if the PBOR does not leave behind a widow or a child. It is effective from 1.1.1998 subject to the condition that their monthly income should not exceed Rs 2550/- and w.e.f 1.1.2006 Rs 3500/- plus applicable rates of dearness relief.

Family pension once granted to widow or child cannot be granted to the mother even after the widow/child has become ineligible.

Ordinary family pension CANNOT be divided between the wife and the motherin- law (irrespective of the fact whether she maintains cordial relations / takes care of the mother-in-law).

Ordinary family pension to the wife ceases on her remarriage/death and the same the eligible child if below 25 years. However, the childless widow of a personnel who died in harness on or after 1.1.2006, shall continue ordinary family pension even after her re-marriage subject to the condition that her independent income from all other sources should not exceed minimum prescribed family pension.

Second marriage while the first wife is alive is illegal and therefore the second wife will have no claim for grant / division of family pension. However, the children born to the second wife will be entitled for 50% share of the family pension which will be divided between the first wife and the child of the second wife. Once the child becomes ineligible (i.e. having crossed 25 yrs / starts earning livilyhood) first wife will be entitled for 100% share of family pension.

Children of divorced wife are also entitled for share of family pension of her mother.

     Grant/commencement of family pension to missing pensioners

If a pensioner is reported missing, family pension can be commenced from the date of filing of FIR, based on authorization of the Pension Sanctioning Authority (if joint notification of family pension is available).

The pensioner has to submit the following to the PDA :
  * Copy of FIR lodged with the Police Authorities
   *Final Police Investigation report stating that all out efforts have made but still not traceable.
* Indemnity bond duly countersigned by a Magistrate and signed by two sureties is also required to be produced to the Pension Disbursing Agency.

The PDA will forward the same to the PSA along with a certificate indicating the period upto which the missing pensioner has been last paid and also that the pensioner continues to be in the strength of the PDA.

The family pension will be authorized by the Pension Sanctioning Authority on expiry of one year from the date of lodging FIR and payment is to be made from the date of lodging FIR.

In case joint notification is NOT available, family pension will have to be notified in the normal manner. The pensioner is required to submit all the above mentioned documents to her Record Office for notification of family pension after which family pension can be commenced by the PDA.

Life Time Arrears will be paid to the legal heir after the presumptive date of death has been notified by the Ministry concerned / Competent Court.

        ENHANCED RATE & NORMAL RATE OF FAMILY PENSION

Enhanced rate applicable when individual has served for atleast 7 years.

Enhanced rate of family pension is payable for seven years from the date of death of the PBOR or till the date the PBOR would have attained 67 years, whichever is earlier.

Normal rate of family pension is payable thereafter.

In respect of PBOR who die in harness (i.e., during service) on or after 1.1.2006, enhanced rate of family pension is payable for TEN years from the date of commencement of family pension without any upper age limit. This is also applicable for pre 2006 PBORs who died in harness and whose spouses are in receipt of enhanced rate of family pension as on 1.1.2006.

The spouses affected by the above order may apply to the concerned Record Office who will take up the matter with the Pension Sanctioning Authority for issue of revised PPO extending the period of enhanced rate of family pension from SEVEN to TEN years.

The minimum rate of family pension in r/o pre- 2006 retirees for the various ranks is indicated below :-
No Rank and Group of the deceased soldier Normal rate of family
pension (w.e.f. 1.1.06 or date of commencement of family pension whicheveris later)
1 Reservist                                                    Rs 3500/-
2 Sepoy (all Groups)                                     Rs 3500/-
3 Naik (all Groups)                                        Rs 3500/-
4 Havildar (all Groups)                                   Rs 3500/-
5 Nb Subedar Gp I or X                                Rs 5070
6 Nb Subedar (other Gps)                             Rs 4650/-
7 Subedar Gp I or X                                      Rs 5190/-
8 Subedar - other groups                               Rs 4770/-
9 Subedar Major - Gp I or X                         Rs 5250/-
10 Subedar Major - other Gps                       Rs 4830/-
11 Sub / Hony Lt and Sub Maj / Hony Lt        Rs 8100/-
12 Sub / Hony Capt and Sub Maj/Hony Capt  Rs 8310/-

(Note : The equivalent ranks in the Navy and Air Force are also entitled for family pension as above. Dearness relief is also admissible in addition).