Pension for MTNL Employees

The Cabinet on Thursday approved a pension proposal for 43,000 MTNL employees, who joined the public sector company from Department of Telecom, that would cost the government an estimated Rs 500 crore annually.

The decision to grant Pension for MTNL Employees is likely to bring additional amount of about Rs 1,500 crore (including interest) in the books of MTNL as refund from government for the pension that the PSU paid to its employees. “The Union Cabinet today approved that the erstwhile all categories of employees of the government absorbed in MTNL and who have opted for combined service may be given similar treatment in the matter of payment of pensionary benefits as available to the absorbed employees of BSNL,” an official statement said.

Year End Review-2013 Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions.

Press Information Bureau
Government of India

Year End Review-2013 Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions.

LOKPAL AND LOKAYUKTAS BILL PASSED BY PARLIAMENT

AWARENESS ABOUT GOOD GOVERNANCE INITIATIVES

SIMPLIFICATION OF PROCEDURE FOR PAYMENT OF FAMILY PENSION

During the year 2013, passing of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2011 release of documentary films on good governance initiatives, guidelines for suo motu disclosure, launching of internship scheme and simplification of procedure  for payment of family pension were some of the important highlights of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pension.

Guidelines for conducting Pension Adalats

1. Objective

   The intention of conducting Pension Adalats is to look into the grievances of Pensioners so as to redress the same by taking on-the-spot decisions there by reducing the delays, if any, in the settlement of their legitimate dues. This kind of interaction with the Pensioners would instill in them a sense of being cared for and attended to, thus, dispelling their feelings of isolation and neglect. It will also give an idea of the kind of problems/difficulties that are being faced by the pensioners and help in identifying the areas of concern in policy that require our urgent attention for amendment, etc.

2. Frequency, Date and Time

   2.1 Pensioners’ Adalats may he held twice around January and July every year. Venue and date will he fixed by the concerned organization in consultation with the stakeholders and notified through advertisements inleading newspapers/other media. For this purpose, the following time frame may be adopted:

Payment of Pension to Government Pensioners

Scheme for Payment of Pension to Government Pensioners by Authorised Banks

   Reserve Bank of India (the Bank) oversees disbursement of pension by its agency banks in respect of all Central Government Departments and some State Governments. In the process, it receives queries/ complaints from pensioners in regard to fixation, calculation and payment of pension including revision of pension/ Dearness Relief, transfer of pension account from one bank branch to another, etc. We have analysed the queries/ complaints, and put them in the form of answers to these Frequently Asked Questions. It is hoped that these will cover most of the queries/ doubts in the minds of pensioners.

1. Can the pensioner draw his/ her pension through a bank branch?

   Yes. Even the Government employees earlier drawing their pension from a treasury or from a post office have the option to draw their pension from the authorized bank’s branches.

Revision of service pension w.e.f 1.7.2009 and 24.09.2012 in terms of re-grouping of certain treads.

OFFICE OF THE PR. CONTROLLER OF DEFENCE ACCOUNTS (PENSIONS)
DRAUPADI GHAT, ALLAHABAD- 211014

Circular No. 517

Dated: 08.11.2013

Subject: Revision of service pension w.e.f 1.7.2009 and 24.09.2012 in terms of re-grouping of certain treads.

Reference: This office Circular No. 430 dated 10.03.2010, circular No 478 dated 13.02.2012 and 501 dated 17.01.2013.

   Kindly refer this office circular No. 478 dated 13.02.2012 under which instructions  regarding re-grouping of certain trades in terms of Para 7.3 of circular No. 430 dated 10.03.2010 has been issued. Some PDAs have expressed doubts regarding revision of service pension on the basis of re-trading of group due to non-indication of trade in PPO.

Implementation of income criteria for dependent parents of Armed Forces Personnel for grant of two family pensions.

O/o THE PR. CONTROLLER OF DEFENCE ACCOUNTS (PENSION)
DRAUPADI GHAT, ALLAHABAD- 211014

Circular No. 516

Dated: 6.11.2013

Subject: Implementation of income criteria for dependent parents of Armed Forces Personnel for grant of two family pensions.

Reference: This office Circular No. 400 dated 05.12.2008.

   As per para 11.2 of MOD letter No.-17(4)12008(2)/D(Pen/Pol) dated 12.11.2008 the dependency criteria for the purpose of family pension shall be the minimum family pension along with dearness relief. Now the Ministry of Defence has clarified that the GOI, Ministry of Personnel, PG& Pensions, Department of Pension & Pensioners' welfare no.- 1/11/2011- P&PW(E) dated 30th November 2011 (copy enclosed) is applicable mutatis mutandis on family pensioner of Armed Forces wherein the family pension admissible to beneficiary in respect of one deceased employee/pensioner is not to be counted as income for the purpose of determination of eligibility for another family pension which is admissible in connection with another deceased employee/pensioner. However, any other income/earning of the beneficiary under consideration will be counted towards income for deciding eligibility for family pension.

Pension Procedure for Central Government Employees

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
(Central Civil Pensioners)
Last updated/Reviewed: 04.11.2013

PENSION PROCEDURE

E.1 What is the meaning of the following terms?

(a) Pension Disbursing Authority
(b) Pension Sanctioning Authority
(c) PPO Issuing Authority

(a) Pension Disbursing Authority:

Bank Branch/Treasury/Post/PAO Office paying your pension

(b) Pension Sanctioning Authority:

The authority who sanctioned your pension before forwarding the case to Accounts.

(c) PPO Issuing Authority:

Generally, the Pay & Account Officer is the PPO issuing authority.

E.2 What should a Government servant do to claim his pension?

   During service each Govt. servant should satisfy himself that service is being verified and recorded so in the service book and that there are no gaps in this. He should also ensure that nomination for all payments due to him are current and valid.

Qualifying Service for Government Servants for Pension – FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
(Central Civil Pensioners)
Last updated/Reviewed: 04.11.2013

QUALIFYING SERVICE

B.1 Does all leave period qualify for pension and gratuity?

   All leave for which leave salary is payable qualifies for pension and gratuity. Extraordinary leave (EOL) on medical certificate (MC) also qualifies for pension and gratuity. EOL without MC qualifies only on account of inability to join duty on civil commotion or when granted for a higher scientific & technical study qualifies.

B.2 Is the benefit of counting of past service under Rule 19 available to ex-serviceman re-employed to civil service / post?

FAQ by Pensioners Portal New Pension Scheme (NPS)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
(Central Civil Pensioners)
(Last updated/Reviewed: 04.11.2013)

NEW PENSION SYSTEM

NPS.1 The CCS(P) Rules are applicable to govt. servants appointed on or before 31.12.2003.Are the employees who joined pensionable establishments of Govt. of India after 31/12/2003 eligible for any benefits under these rules?

   In accordance with DoP&PW O.M. No. 38/41/06-P&PW(A) dated 5.5.2009 such employees who joined after 31/12/2003 and/or their families may be given the benefit of disability pension or family pension provisionally till the finalization of rules under the National Pension System (NPS) on death/injury.

Revision of 1/3rd commuted pension portion of pension in respect of Government servants who had drawn lump sum payment on absorption in Central Public Sector Undertakings/Central Autonomous Bodies.

No.4/30/2010-P&PW(D)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare

Lok Nayak Bhavan, Khan Market,
New Delhi-110003,
Dated the 28th October, 2013

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Sub: Revision of 1/3rd commuted pension portion of pension in respect of Government servants who had drawn lump sum payment on absorption in Central Public Sector Undertakings/Central Autonomous Bodies-Implements of Government’s decision on the recommendations of the 6th Central Pay Commission.

   The undersigned is directed to say that orders have been issued vide this Department’s OM of even number dated 11.7.2013 for revision of 1/3rd restored pension of absorbees w.e.f. 1.1.2006 by multiplying pre-revised 1/3rd pension by a factor of 2.26, if it is more beneficial than the revised 1/3rd restored pension as per this Department’s CM. No.4/3812008-P&PW(D) dated 15.92008. These orders have been issued in compliance of the order dated 27.9.2011 of the CAT Hyderabad Bench in CA No.710/2010 read with their order dated 22.4.2013 in C.P. 26/2012.

Submission of Form 14 by the spouse to the pension disbursing bank after the death of the pensioner – instructions reg.

Latest Pensioners Portal Orders 2013

No.1/27/2011-P&PW(E)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, P.G. & Pensions
Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare

3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan,
Khan Market, New Delhi
Dated: 20th September, 2013

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Sub: Submission of Form 14 by the spouse to the pension disbursing bank after the death of the pensioner – instructions reg.

   The undersigned is directed to draw attention to the requirement of applying for family pension in Form 14 as given in rule 81 (2) (A) (ii) of the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972.

   2. This Department has been receiving representations from various quarters to do away with the condition of applying for family pension in Form 14 as it is causing inconvenience to widows, who find it difficult and embarrassing to present themselves before two Gazetted Officers/persons of repute for attestation of Form 14.

Eligibility of widowed/divorced daughters for grant of family pension — clarification regarding.

No. 1/13/09-P&PW (E)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, P.G. & Pensions
Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare

3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan,
Khan Market, New Delhi,the 11th September, 2013.

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Sub: Eligibility of widowed/divorced daughters for grant of family pension — clarification regarding.

   Provision for grant of family pension to a widowed/divorced daughter beyond the age of 25 years has been made vide OM dated 30.08.2004. This provision has been included in clause (iii) of sub-rule 54 (6) of the CCS (Pension), Rules, 1972. For settlement of old cases, it was clarified, vide OM dated 28.04.2011, that the family pension may be granted to eligible widowed/divorced daughters with effect from 30.08.2004, in case the death of the Govt. Servant/pensioner occurred before this date.

   2.    This Department has been receiving communications from various Ministries/ Departments seeking clarification regarding eligibility of a daughter who became widowed/ divorced after the death of the employee/pensioner.

Grievances Related to Family Pension.

   As on 23.08.2013, no grievance relating to non-payment of arrears of family pension which are registered in System in pending at CPAO level.

   As per information available with the Central Pension Accounting Office (CPAO), during the period from 25.03.2011 to 22.08.2013, 541 numbers of grievances relating to family pension were registered with CPAO. Out of these, 200 numbers of grievances were registered during the current year 2013.

Review of Forms for Pensionary/retirement benefits and Nominations under various Rules of the Department of Pension & Pensioners' Welfare.

No. 1/19/2013-P&PW (E)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, P.G. & Pensions
Department of Pension & Pensioners' Welfare

Lok Nayak Bhawan,
Khan Market, New Delhi
Dated: 1st August, 2013

Circular

Sub: Review of Forms for Pensionary/retirement benefits and Nominations under various Rules of the Department of Pension & Pensioners' Welfare.

   The undersigned is directed to state that the Department of Pension &PW is in the process of reviewing Forms for Pensionary/retirement benefits and Nominations under the following Rules administered by this Department:

23rd meeting of Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies (SCOVA) scheduled to be held in the month of September, 2013.

F. No. 42/6/2013-P&PW(G)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Department of Pension & Pensioners' Welfare

3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhavan,
Khan Market, New Delhi - 110003
Date: 26th July, 2013

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: 23rd meeting of Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies (SCOVA) scheduled to be held in the month of September, 2013 under the Chairmanship of Hon'ble MOS (PP).

   The 23rd meeting of Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies (SCOVA) of the Department of Pension & Pensioners' Welfare is scheduled to be held shortly. The details of the date, time and venue of the meeting will follow. The meeting will be chaired by the Hon'ble Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Pubic Grievances & Pensions.

Grant of Family Pension and Gratuity to the eligible member of the family of any employee/pensioner.

   Family pension is payable to the family of a Government employee or pensioner after his death. Difficulties in payment arise when a Government Servant or pensioner goes missing. Clarificatory instructions have recently been issued by the Central Government for payment of benefits in such cases.

   According to these instructions, the family must lodge a report with the concerned police station and obtain a report from the police, that the employee or pensioner or family pensioner has not been traced despite all efforts made by them.

   The report may be a First Information Report or any other report such as a Daily Diary or General Diary Entry.

Payment of Arrears of family pension.

   In case of death of a pensioner, all money payable to the pensioner on account of pension are payable to the nominee of the deceased pensioner. In the absence of any valid nomination made by the pensioner, the arrears of his/her pension are paid to the legal heir. However, dependants of some pensioners expressed difficulties in obtaining the legal heir-ship certificates and represented that the necessity of production of legal heir-ship certificates may be waived where the amount of arrears payable is small.

   In such cases a provision had been made in 1985 for Payment of Lifetime Arrears of Pension on the basis of any documentary proof regarding the relationship and heir-ship of the claimant if the gross amount of arrears does not exceed Rs.25,000. If the gross amount did not exceed Rs.5,000 and case represented no peculiar features, the Accounts Officer was authorised to make the payment on his own authority.

Pensioners Portal Order 2013: Enhancement of amount of Ex-gratia payable to pre-1986 CPF retirees and dependent family members of the deceased pre-1986 CPF employees - regarding.

No.l/l0/2012-P&PW (E)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
(Department of Pension & Pensioners' Welfare)

3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhavan,
Khan Market, New Delhi 03
Dated: 27th June, 2013

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Sub: Enhancement of amount of Ex-gratia payable to pre-1986 CPF retirees and dependent family members of the deceased pre-1986 CPF employees - regarding.

   The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department's OM No.45/52/97- P&PW(E), dated 16th December, 1997 sanctioning monthly payment of an amount of Rs.600/- as ex-gratia, to CPF beneficiaries who had retired from service prior to 1.1.1986. This amount was payable w.e.f. 01.11.1997. Similarly, monthly ex-gratia being paid to the widows and dependent children of the deceased CPF beneficiaries who had retired from service prior to 1.1.1986 and the widows and dependent children of the CPF beneficiaries who died while in service prior to 1.1.1986 had been revised from Rs.150/- to Rs. 605/-.

   2. Reference is also invited to this Department's O.M. No.42/2/2004-P&PW (G), dated 15th March, 2004. In terms of this O.M., dearness relief equal to 50% of the above amounts of ex-gratia had been converted into dearness ex-gratia w.e.f. 1st April, 2004. Consequently, dearness relief, as announced from time to time is being paid, on the sum of the amounts of ex-gratia and dearness ex-gratia.

   3. This Department has since been receiving representations from the CPF retirees who are in receipt of ex-gratia in terms of the above instructions, to enhance the amount of ex-gratia. The matter has now been considered and the President is pleased to enhance the existing amount of ex-gratia of Rs. 600/- p.m. being paid to the surviving CPF retirees and the amount of ex-gratia of Rs. 605/- p.m. being paid to dependent members of the families, i.e., widows and dependent children of deceased beneficiaries at the following rates w.e.f, 4th June, 2013:

S. No.	Group of Service to which CPF retirees belonged at the time of retirement	Enhanced amount of basic monthly ex-gratia
1.	Group 'A' Service	Rs. 3000/-
2.	Group 'B' Service	Rs. 1000/-
3.	Group 'C' Service	Rs. 750/-
4.	Group 'D' Service	Rs. 650/-
5.	Widows and dependent children of the deceased CPF beneficiary	Rs. 645/-

   4. Dearness ex-gratia equal to 50% of the enhanced amount of ex-gratia and Dearness Relief, as notified from time to time, on the sums of enhanced amounts of ex-gratia and dearness ex-gratia shall also be admissible to them.

   5. The terms and conditions for grant of ex-gratia and dearness relief will continue to be governed by this Department's O.M. No.4/1/87-PIC, dated 13th June, 1988 and O.M. No. 45/52/97-P&PW (E), dated 16th December, 1997 and subsequent Office Memorandums issued in this regard.

   6. As laid down in the Ministry of Finance O.M. dated 28.11.1969, the ex-gratia payment is not admissible to (a) those who were dismissed/removed from service and (b) those who resigned from service.

   7. It shall be the responsibility of the Head of the Department of the Ministry, Department, Office, etc. from which the CPF beneficiary had retired or where he was working prior to his demise to revise the ex-gratia with effect from 4th June, 2013 and to issue revised Ex-gratia Payment Order (EPOs). Action to revise ex-gratia in terms of these provisions shall be initiated by the concerned Heads of Departments. In the case of the Defence Civilian Employees, however, the procedure prescribed in this regard by the Ministry of Defence shall be followed. It is emphasised that the Sanctioning Authority, in no case, will ask the beneficiary to surrender his/her original Ex-gratia Payment Order (EPO) for issuing revised authority.

   8. The CPF beneficiaries may send applications to the Head of Office and/or Disbursing Authority concerned for revision of ex-gratia amount indicating the EPO details and the office from which he/she retired/last served. The Disbursing Authority shall intimate the details of the beneficiaries to the Central Pension Accounting Office and the Pay & Accounts Offices concerned in the proforma enclosed as Annexure to this O.M.

   9. The periodical certificates such as life certificate, non- employment certificate etc. prescribed for drawal of pension will also be required to be submitted by the recipient of the ex-gratia payment to the appropriate disbursing authorities for drawal of ex-gratia.

   10. These orders apply to all civilian Central Government employees covered under Contributory Provident Fund scheme retired/died before 1986, including civilians paid from Defence Service Estimates but will not apply to Railway Employees. Separate orders will be issued by the Ministry of Railways (Railway Board) for revision of ex-gratia payable to the dependent members of families of eligible employees covered under the State Railways Provident Fund (Contributory).

   11. In their application to the persons belonging to Indian Audit and Accounts Department these orders issue in consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

Sd/-
(Sujasha Choudhury)
Deputy Secretary

Source:http://ccis.nic.in/WriteReadData/CircularPortal/D3/D03ppw/EnhancementEx-gratia_280613.pdf

PENSIONERS PORTAL ORDER 2013: Grant of Ex-gratia to those pre-1986 Contributory Provident Fund (CPF) employees who retired otherwise than on superannuation after 20 years of service - regarding.

No. 41/26/2010- P&PW(E)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Pension & Pensioners' Welfare

3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhavan,
Khan Market, New Delhi,
Dated 25th June, 2013

Office Memorandum

Sub: Grant of Ex-gratia to those pre-1986 Contributory Provident Fund (CPF) employees who retired otherwise than on superannuation after 20 years of service - regarding.

   In this Department's OM No.45/52/97-P&PW(E), dated 22.03.2004, it was clarified that the following categories of CPF beneficiaries would not be entitled to grant of ex-gratia payment in terms of OM No.45/52/97-P&PW(E), dated 16.12.1997:-

Revision of provisional pension sanctioned under Rule 69 of the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972.

No.38/6/2010-P&PW(A)(Pt.)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, PG & Pensions
Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare

3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan
Khan Market, New Delhi
New Delhi, the 18th March, 2013

Office Memorandum

Sub:- Revision of provisional pension sanctioned under Rule 69 of the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972.

   The undersigned is directed to say that in pursuance of Government’s decision on the recommendations of Sixth Pay Commission, orders for revision of pension of pre-2006 pensioners w.e.f. 1.1.2006 have been issued on 1.9.2008.

   The following categories of pensioners were entitled to provisional pension as in the pre-2006 pay-scale:-

   a) Employees suspended before 2006 and also retired before 1.1.2006

   b) Employees suspended before 2006 but retired after 1.1.2006

   c) Employees who retired before 1.1.2006 and against whom departmental/judicial proceedings were pending at the time of retirement.

   It has been decided that in all the above cases, the provisional pension sanctioned under Rule 69 of CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 will be revised in terms of this Department’s OM No. 38/37/08-P&PW(A) dated 1st September, 2008 as clarified/modified from time to time. An illustration regarding revision of provisional pension sanctioned under Rule 69 of CCS (Pension) Rules 1972 before 1.1.1996 is enclosed.

    As regards revision of provisional pension in case of employees who are drawing provisional pension in 4th CPC scales, their provisional pension would be brought over to 5th CPC and thereafter to the 6th Central Pay Commission and their provisional pension would be revised in accordance with the instructions contained in DoP&PW OM No.38/37/08-P&PW(A) dated 1st September, 2008 as clarified/modified from time to time.

   This issues with the approval of Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance ID No.61 /E.V/2013 dated 4th January, 2013 and No.214 /E.V/20l3 dated 16th January, 2013.

   Hindi version will follow.

Sd/-
(Tripti P. Ghosh)
Director

Illustration

   Revision of Provisional Pension sanctioned Under Rule 69 of CCS (Pension) Rules 1972 before 1.1.1996.

1. Pay Scale of a Government Servant
who retired on superannuation on 31.1.1994                       3000-4500

2. Basic Pay/Average Emoluments                                           3500

3. Provisional Pension w.e.f. 1.2.1994                                      1750

4. Revised Pay-Scale w.e.f. 1.1.1996                                  10000-15200

5. Revised provisional pension w.e.f. 1.1.1996                           5265
[As per OM No.45/86/97-P&PW(A)-Part.II

6. Revised Pay Band [PB-3]+Grade Pay                           (15600-39100)+6600

7. Revised Provisional Pension w.e.f. 1.1.2006                          11900
[As per OM No.38/37/08-P&PW(A)
Dated 1st September, 2008.

8. Revised Provisional Pension w.e.f. 24.9.2012                        12600
[As per OM No.38/37/08-P&PW(A)
Dated 28th January, 2013.

Source:http://ccis.nic.in/WriteReadData/CircularPortal/D3/D03ppw/RevisionOfPension_180313.pdf