Govt. Simplifies Pensioner Life Certificate Process
The central government has issued directives to banks responsible for disbursing pensions, aimed at simplifying the process for pensioners. Firstly, banks are required to assign representatives who will provide doorstep assistance to bedridden and hospitalised pensioners in submitting their life certificates. This move acknowledges the challenges faced by some pensioners and aims to make the process more accessible.
Additionally, the Department of Pension and Pensioners' Welfare (DoPPW) has issued an order instructing banks to raise awareness about the convenience of obtaining digital life certificates through face authentication technology. This awareness campaign primarily targets super senior pensioners, those aged 80 and above, who may find traditional methods challenging.
Annually, all pensioners must provide a life certificate as proof of their continued existence to continue receiving their pensions. The current initiative seeks to use digital life certificates (DLCs) with face authentication technology. Pensioners can now submit DLCs from the comfort of their homes using an Android smartphone or by visiting a bank branch. The order emphasises the need for banks to inform pensioners about this convenient option.
Banks have been granted the authority to streamline the life certificate submission process by assigning doorstep banking representatives. Furthermore, they are encouraged to promote DLC submission through informative posters at their branches and ATMs. Banks can also use various communication channels such as SMS, email, or WhatsApp to send pensioners links to the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for face authentication. This empowers super senior pensioners to independently submit their life certificates using their Android smartphones.
To ensure seamless implementation, the DoPPW has instructed banks to distribute the SOP on Digital Life Certificates (DLC) through email to their officials, ensuring they are well-versed in the utilisation of this technology.
The new directive mandates that all bank branches make suitable arrangements for super senior pensioners aged 80 and above to submit their life certificates from 1 October of each year. This adjustment aligns with the government's efforts to simplify the process for pensioners, particularly those in this age group.
In 2019, the government had already made changes to the submission timeline, allowing senior pensioners aged 80 and above to submit their life certificates annually starting from 1 October, as opposed to the previous requirement of November. However, pensioners below the age of 80 are still required to provide their life certificates in November.
