Revision of Family Pension

No.45/51/97-P&PW(E) Government of India Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare) Third Floor, Lok Nayak Bhavan, New Delhi

Dated: 21st July, 1999

OFFICE MEMORANDUM Recommendations of 5th Central Pay Commission - Grant of Family Pension to Parents, sons and Daughters - Clarifications regarding.

Orders were issued in this Department’s Office Memorandum of even number dated 5th March, 1998 prescribing the income criterion and certain other eligibility conditions for the grant of Family Pension to the dependent parents and widowed or divorced daughters of deceased Central Government employees in pursuance of the recommendations of the 5th Central Pay Commission. This Department has been receiving a number of references seeking clarifications on issues of relevance for implementation of these orders. After consideration of these references, the following clarifications are furnished for the guidance of all concerned: In terms of the OM dated 5th March, 1998, parents who were wholly dependent on the deceased Government Servant when he/she was alive will also be entitled to Family Pension with effect from 1st January, 1998 subject to the fulfilment of the other conditions prescribed in this regard. Doubts have been raised whether parents of Government Servants who died prior to 1st January, 1998 will also be entitled to Family Pension. It is clarified that Family Pension will be admissible in these cases subject to the following: The parents were wholly dependent on the Government Servant when he/she was alive; The Government servant has not left behind a widow/widower, eligible son or daughter or a widowed/divorced daughter, who will have a prior claim to Family Pension in the order indicated; All other prescribed conditions are fulfilled. The Family Pension will, however, be payable only with effect from 1st January, 1998. It will be the responsibility of the pension sanctioning authorities concerned to satisfy themselves, based on a scrutiny of the service records and other relevant documents, that the parents were, in fact, wholly dependent on the deceased Government Servant when he/she was alive and that he/she has not left behind any of the other specified beneficiaries who have a prior claim to the family pension. The family pension wherever admissible to parents, the mother will receive the pension first and after her death the father will receive the family pension. The production of Income Certificate as stipulated in this Department’s OM of 5th March, 1998 is also required to be insisted upon before authorizing the Family Pension to the eligible sons and daughters (including widowed/divorced daughters) and dependent parents. In case they are self-employed or are in receipt of income from sources other than employment, Income Certificates furnished by the concerned beneficiaries themselves may be accepted for the purpose. Eligible sons of deceased Government employees will also be required to furnish six-monthly certificates in regard to their marital status as is required of eligible daughters. Payment of Family Pension is to be discontinued in the event of the eligible sons/daughters (including widowed/divorced daughters) getting married/remarried or on their earning a monthly income exceeding Rs.2550/- or on attaining 25 years of age whichever is earlier. The crucial date for determining their continued eligibility to Family Pension shall be 1st January, 1998 and not 5th March, 1998 (the date of issue of this Department’s earlier Office Memorandum) as has been presumed by some of the ministries and departments. 2.  These clarifications issue with the concurrence of the Department of Expenditure, vide their U.O.No.1064/EV/98 dated 29.6.1999. 3.  Ministry of Agriculture, etc. are requested to bring the contents of this Office Memorandum to the notice of their Controllers of Accounts, Pay & Accounts Officers and Attached and Subordinate Offices for their guidance and necessary action.

(RATTAN LAL) Deputy Secretary to the Government of India

To All Ministries/Departments of the Government of India.

Department of Personnel and Training
Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances.