According to the new notification of the Government of India, all pensioners must submit their life certificate on or before November 30, 2021. In this, it has been asked to simplify the process of pension distribution and to keep a record of the members receiving pension.
Life certificate acts as a tool, which proves that the person is alive. The certificate helps the pensioner to get monthly without any interruption. It also helps in withholding payments when the pensioners are no more. The process of submitting life certificates for persons above the age of 80 years had already started from October 1.
People aged 80 years or above can submit it between October 1 and November 30. Pensioners can deposit it either by visiting the bank or by availing door to door service. Life certificate can also be submitted online. But what about pensioners who are living abroad? As per the circular issued by the Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW), the following procedures are available for submission of Life Certificate by a pensioner residing abroad.
The circular states that in the case of a pensioner/family pensioner residing abroad and receiving his pension/family pension through any bank included in the Second Schedule to the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, on life certificate Can be signed by a bank official. The pensioner/family pensioner is exempted from personal appearance subject to production of life certificate signed by the above officer of the bank.
The pensioner/family pensioner not resident in India is exempted from personal appearance. If his duly authorized agent produces a life certificate signed by a Magistrate, Notary, Banker or diplomatic representative of India. Pensioners/Family Pensioners can also provide Digital Life Certificate online through Aadhaar based Biometric authentication system. In case the pensioner/family pensioner is unable to visit the Indian Embassy/Consulate, he/she may submit the required documents to the Embassy/Consulate by post.
In which the doctor’s own certificate showing the inability of the pensioner / family pensioner to present himself is also included. Indian Embassy/High Commission/Indian Consulate may also assist pensioners/family pensioners in submission of Life Certificate.
In case of NRI pensioners/family pensioners who are unable to come to India for personal identification, pension/family pension may be allowed on the basis of a certificate to be issued by an authorized officer of the Embassy of India/High Commission. Consulate of India in India or the country where the pensioner/family pensioner is residing. This certificate is to be issued on verification on the basis of the photograph affixed in the PPO of the pensioner/family pensioner or the photograph affixed on the passport or any such other document.
The Life Certificate also known as ‘Jeevan Pramaan Patra’ has to be shown to the authorized person or agency in charge of pension disbursement in order to receive the payment. For making a life certificate, one has to appear in the office before the document is issued, but since not all senior citizens can do so. That’s why the government has come up with a ‘Digital Life Certificate’ (DLC). DLC uses biometric details to generate life certificate. This system was launched in India in November 2014.
