Important Pension Updates: Enhanced Family Pension & Life Certificate Clarifications - November 2025
📢 What's New?
The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has endorsed three crucial Office Memoranda issued by the Department of Pension and Pensioners' Welfare on October 27-28, 2025. These clarifications address important aspects of family pension for central government pensioners and their families.
Overview of the Three Key Circulars
| Sr. No. | OM Number & Date | Subject |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1/1(90)/2024-P&PW(E)-Part(1)/10344 Dated: 27.10.2025 |
Clarification regarding Enhanced Rate of Family Pension: Death after Retirement cases |
| 2 | 1/1(33)/2024-P&PW(E)/9629 Dated: 27.10.2025 |
Settlement of Family Pension between two wives under CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021 |
| 3 | 1/11/2025-P&PW(F) (11190) Dated: 28.10.2025 |
Clarification regarding submission of Life Certificate by both parents for enhanced family pension |
1️⃣ Enhanced Family Pension After Death After Retirement
The Clarification
When a government employee dies after retirement, the family pension is granted to eligible family members at an enhanced rate. This circular clarifies the duration for which this enhanced rate applies.
🔑 Key Points:
- Duration of Enhanced Family Pension: Enhanced family pension is payable for:
- A period of seven years from the date of death, OR
- Until the deceased would have attained 67 years of age (had they survived)
- Whichever is LESS
- Applicable to ALL Retirement Ages: This rule applies regardless of whether the retirement age was 60 years or 65 years (like CHS doctors).
- Example Scenario: If a CHS doctor retires at 65 and dies before turning 67, the enhanced family pension would be payable only until the date they would have turned 67 (less than 7 years).
Who Benefits from This Clarification?
This clarification is particularly important for families of:
- Central Health Service (CHS) doctors who retire at 65 years
- Any government employee with retirement age beyond 60 years
- All pensioners' families seeking enhanced family pension benefits
2️⃣ Family Pension Settlement Between Two Wives
Legal Position on Multiple Spouses
This circular re-emphasizes the legal position regarding family pension in cases where a government servant/pensioner has more than one wife.
⚠️ Important Legal Clarification
Having a second wife while the first wife is alive is:
- Against the provisions of Hindu Marriage Act, 1955
- Contradictory to the provisions of CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021
Order of Family Pension Payment
As per Rule 50(6), family pension is payable in the following order:
- Widow/Widower (including post-retirement spouse and judicially separated spouse)
- Children (including adopted children, step-children, and children born after retirement)
- Dependent Parents (including adoptive parents)
- Dependent Siblings (brother/sister suffering from mental or physical disability)
Definition of Widow/Widower
As per Explanation to Rule 50(6)(1): 'Widow' and 'Widower' means a spouse legally wedded to the deceased government servant or pensioner.
🔑 Key Points for Multiple Widow Cases:
- If more than one widow survives, family pension is paid in equal shares
- On death or ineligibility of a widow, her share passes to her eligible children
- Administrative authorities must carefully examine such cases with proper application of mind
- Mandatory Consultation: All Ministries/Departments must consult the Department of Legal Affairs before deciding such cases
Action Required by Departments
All Ministries/Departments are instructed to:
- Follow proper consultation process with Department of Legal Affairs
- Bring such cases to the notice of officers dealing with pensioners' benefits
- Prepare suitable replies/briefs for tribunals/courts in accordance with CCS (Pension) Rules
3️⃣ Life Certificate Submission by Both Parents
The Issue
When enhanced family pension is payable to parents (in cases where the deceased government servant died as a bachelor or widower without children), the rate differs based on whether both parents are alive or only one.
Enhanced Family Pension Rates for Parents
Payment Rates:
- Both Parents Alive: 75% of pay last drawn (or 75% of family pension entitled to widow)
- Single Parent Alive: 60% of pay last drawn (or 60% of family pension entitled to widow)
Payment Priority: Family pension is payable first to the mother, failing which to the father.
⚠️ New Requirement: Life Certificate by Both Parents
Previously, there was no specific provision requiring both parents to submit life certificates separately. This led to cases where enhanced family pension at the higher rate (75%) continued even after the death of one parent.
🔑 New Rule - Effective Immediately:
- Both parents must submit Life Certificates every year
- This applies when family pension is being received at the enhanced rate of 75%
- Purpose: To prevent overpayment in case of demise of one parent
- Required under Categories C & D of CCS (EOP) Rules, 2023 / Categories D & E of CCS (EOP) Rules, 1939
Who is Affected?
This applies to parents receiving family pension in the following situations:
- When the government servant died as a bachelor (unmarried)
- When the government servant died as a widower without children
- When widow/widower and all children cease to be eligible for family pension
- Both parents are alive and receiving enhanced family pension at 75%
📋 Action Points for Pensioners and Families
What You Should Do:
- For Enhanced Family Pension: Understand the 7-year or age-67 rule (whichever is less) when claiming enhanced family pension after death post-retirement
- For Multiple Spouse Cases: Be aware that only legally wedded spouses are eligible; consult legal authorities for complex cases
- For Parents Receiving Pension: Both parents must now submit life certificates annually to continue receiving 75% enhanced pension
- Contact Your PAO: For any clarification, contact your Pension Disbursing Authority or Pay and Accounts Office
📥 Download Official Circular PDF
Get the complete official document for your records
⬇️ Download PDF📞 Need Help?
For queries or clarifications regarding these circulars, you may contact:
- Your Pension Disbursing Authority
- Pay and Accounts Office of your organization
- Department of Pension & Pensioners' Welfare: 3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhavan, Khan Market, New Delhi
- Telephone: 011-24641627
Comments
Post a Comment