New Pension Rules: With new rules for pension benefits announced by the government, there is great relief and increased benefits for senior citizens, widows, and persons with disabilities. The transformation is meant to be one aspect of a social welfare reform program, seeking to uplift the lives of the most affected classes in society.
The New Pension Laws: A Few Highlights
1. Increased Amount In Monthly Pensions
- The new rules envisage an increase in pension amounts to the tune of 30% for eligible pensioners across different categories. The base pension will thus be paid in terms of higher states to senior citizens above 60 years of age, with an extra amount as a kind of bonus to those above 80 years.
2. Faster From Application To Sanctioning
- To ensure easy accessibility, the procedure for application has been streamlined. Beneficiaries can now apply online or through district/local offices of the department with very little paper work. Verification period has been curtailed so that the payments can reach the beneficiaries quickly.
3. Automatic Inclusion From Government Databases
- Widows, differently-abled persons, and aged persons present in eligible government databases such as in ration cards or BPL lists will be automatically considered for pension benefits without any requirement to apply anew.
4. DBT System
- With a view to prevent any further delays and for transparency, all pensions shall henceforth be disbursed by the central government under the DBT scheme. Pensioners are requested to get their bank accounts linked with Aadhaar in order to have a smooth transaction for payments.
5. Special Support To Disabled Persons
- Apart from mobility aids, medical care, and caregiver allowances, persons with disability will be given additional support-a greater one being provided to persons with 75 percent and above levels of disability.
Eligibility Criteria
- Senior citizens above 60 years
- Widows above 18 years of age
- Persons with disabilities with 40% and above disability percent
- BPL or recognized economic category as the case may be
Application Procedure
Usually, applications are filed through the official website of the State Social Welfare department, common service Centres (CSC), or the local municipal offices. Typically, a set of documents needs to be submitted, which includes Aadhaar, proof of income, disability certificate, death certificate (if applicable), and bank details.
Conclusion
One of the enormously positive effects on the inclusion of welfare for providing social and financial securities to millions of people. Beneficiaries are advised to ensure that their applications are completed or verified before June 30 for timely payment.
Also Read:New RS 3,500 Monthly Scheme For Seniors: Who Qualifies And How To Apply