Military disability pension regulations for those who retire after completing military service in 2024

Indian Military Veterans

Military disability pension regulations for those who retire after completing military service in 2024 

Even during peacetime, soldiers, sailors, and aviators are  often tasked with a variety of missions in difficult terrain such as mountains, deserts, jungles, and  deep sea. During wars and conflicts with neighboring countries, they sacrificed their lives to protect our country's security. Many of these service members are injured or sick due to the stress and strain of their military service and  are classified as Low Medical Category (LMC) personnel.

 Military service members of color are discharged from the military at a very young age. Each year, a large number of military personnel are found to be discharged from the military with disabilities or illnesses resulting from or acquired during military service. These disorders are classified into two main types depending on their cause. One is severe disability due to cause, and the other is severe disability due to non-causal.

 The application of disability compensation in the form of disability pension or disability compensation is governed by the revised entitlement regulations. Compliant with the Entitlement Regulations 2023, ER 2008 and earlier Entitlement Regulations for Injury Pension Benefits, 1982, 1961, etc. The  2023 Benefits Regulations make significant changes to disability pension coverage for regular retirement/post-tenure retirement.

Applicability of Disability Pensionary benefit to those retired before October 2023

According to Entitlement Rules in vogue (for Pre October 2023 retirees), Disability element/Pension is applicable to those LMC Armed Forces Personnel who retired on completion of coloured service/terms of engagement  if disability  at the time of retirement is –

1.  Attributable to or aggravated by military service.
2. The severity of disability assessed by RMB not less than 20%.

Applicability of Disability Pensionary benefit to those retired after  October 2023

According to Entitlement Rules in vogue (for post October 2023 retirees), Disability element/Pension is not applicable to them.   Instead, they are entitled to get only Impairment relief ( lump sum or on monthly basis) if LMC Armed Forces Personnel who retired on completion of coloured service/terms of engagement  and his disability  at the time of retirement is –

3.  Attributable to or aggravated by military service.
4. The severity of disability assessed by RMB is not less than 20%.

No DR(DA)  is applicable on this Impairment relief as DR is applicable only on Pension.  It has been clarified by the defence medical authority that those already retired before October 2023, will not be treated under the ER & GMO 2023.

Applicability of Disability pension to Invalided out of service personnel with less than 15 years of service has been discussed in our another article in this website.