Extension of benefits of 'Fixed Medical Allowance' to the Central Government employees covered under the Unified Pension Scheme

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Complete Guide: Fixed Medical Allowance (FMA) for UPS and NPS Pensioners

The Government of India has streamlined medical benefits for retirees under the National Pension System (NPS) and the newly introduced Unified Pension Scheme (UPS). This guide covers the rates, eligibility, and the revised claim process including the latest 2026 updates.

FMA Rate	₹1,000 per month
Payment Frequency	Quarterly (automatic credit)
Latest Revision	Extension to UPS (March 2026)
Key Prerequisite	Submission of Yearly Life Certificate in November

1. Eligibility Criteria

• Scheme Coverage: Benefits are available to Central Government civil pensioners/family pensioners covered under UPS and NPS.
• Residential Status: Retirees must reside in areas not covered by the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) or any corresponding Ministry health scheme.
• OPD Restriction: Pensioners must not be availing Out-patient Department (OPD) facilities under CGHS.
• Qualifying Service: For post-retirement CGHS membership eligibility (which impacts FMA options), a minimum of 10 years of qualifying service is generally required, except in cases of death/disability.

2. Revised Claim Process & Forms

In February 2025, the government revised all application formats to mandatory include PRAN (Permanent Retirement Account Number) details. Retirees must submit the following to their Head of Office (HOO):

• FMA Form N-1: Application-cum-undertaking for option selection.
• Form 2: Fresh details of family members at the time of retirement.
• Format N-1 (Bank): Undertaking to the bank regarding residential status changes and overpayment recovery.
• FMA Form N-2: Nomination form for arrears of medical allowance.

Automatic Quarterly Payment Cycle :

• March (1st Week): For months of Dec, Jan, and Feb.
• June (1st Week): For months of Mar, Apr, and May.
• September (1st Week): For months of Jun, Jul, and Aug.
• December (1st Week): For months of Sep, Oct, and Nov.

Note: The December payment and all subsequent credits require the submission of a Life Certificate (Digital or Physical) during the preceding November.

3. Official Download Center

Download the official Office Memorandums (OMs) and revised forms directly from the Department of Pension & Pensioners' Welfare (DoPPW):

DOWNLOAD 2026 OM (UPS EXTENSION) Extension of FMA benefits to Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) DOWNLOAD 2025 REVISED FORMS Revised Forms N-1, N-2, and Form 2 with PRAN details DOWNLOAD 2023 MASTER OM Original guidelines for NPS FMA and Procedural Modalities

Source: Department of Pension & Pensioners' Welfare (DoPPW), Ministry of Personnel, P.G. and Pensions, Government of India.

⚠️ Disclaimer

Educational Purpose Only: The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only.

Accuracy & Mistakes: While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, human errors or omissions may occur.

No Liability: Under no circumstances shall the author or this website be held liable for any loss arising from the use of this information.

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