Pension: Govt Allows Female Employees To Nominate Children For Family Pension

Previously, a family pension was awarded to the spouse of a deceased government servant or pensioner, while other family members became eligible only after the spouse's ineligibility or demise

The new amendment now permits female government servants or pensioners to request the allocation of family pension to their eligible child/children

Source : Canva

In a move to empower women in India, the Government announced on Monday that they amended the long-standing established rule, thereby allowing female employees to nominate their son or daughter for a family pension instead of their husband. Union Minister of State for Personnel, Dr Jitendra Singh, said, “ The Department of Pensions and Pensioners' Welfare (DoP&PW) has introduced an amendment to the CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021, allowing female government employees or pensioners to grant family pension to their eligible child/children after their own demise, instead of their spouse.”

“The amendment will address situations where marital discord leads to divorce proceedings or cases filed under acts such as the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, Dowry Prohibition Act or the Indian Penal Code,” he added.

Previously, a family pension was awarded to the spouse of a deceased government servant or pensioner, while other family members became eligible only after the spouse's ineligibility or demise. The new amendment now permits female government servants or pensioners to request the allocation of family pension to their eligible child/children after their own demise rather than their spouse.

In an office memorandum, Singh said that the female government servant or pensioner must make a written request to the concerned Head of Office, stating that family pension should be granted to her eligible child/children in precedence to her spouse in the event of her death during the ongoing proceedings. If the female government servant or pensioner passes away during the proceedings, the family pension will be disbursed accordingly.

He further added that if a widower with no eligible child survives a woman employee, the family pension will be payable to the widower. However, suppose the widower is the guardian of a minor child or a child who has a mental disorder. In that case, the family pension will be payable to the widower as long as he remains the guardian. Once the child attains majority and remains eligible for a family pension, it will be paid directly to the child.

“If the deceased female government servant or pensioner is survived by a widower and children who have attained maturity but are still eligible for family pension, the family pension will be payable to such children. After all eligible children cease to be eligible for family pension, it will become payable to the widower until his death or remarriage, whichever occurs first,” the official release reads.