Every pensioner is required to submit a life certificate, also known as 'Jeevan Pramaan Patra,' in the month of November for the continuation of their pension. Those aged 80 years or above can submit it between October 1 and November 30. Pensioners can either submit it physically by visiting the bank or avail of doorstep services. The life certificate can also be submitted online.
But what about those pensioners who are living abroad i.e. non-resident Indians (NRIs)?
According to the Department of Pension and Pensioners' Welfare (DoPPW), in the case of a pensioner/family pensioner residing abroad and drawing their pension/family pension through any bank included in the Second Schedule to the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, the life certificate may be signed by an officer of the bank. A pensioner/family pensioner gets exemption from personal appearance subject to production of a life certificate signed by the above-mentioned officer of the bank.
Also, the pensioner/family pensioner not residing in India is exempted from personal appearance if their duly authorised agent produces a life certificate signed by a magistrate, a notary, a banker, or a diplomatic representative of India.
Pensioner/family pensioner can even provide a digital life certificate online through Aadhaar-based biometric authentication system.
"In the 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 authorised official of the Indian Embassy/High Commission of India or Consul of Indian Consulate in the country where the pensioner/family pensioner is residing. This certificate is to be issued on verification of Pensioner/Family Pensioner on the basis of photographs pasted in the PPO (pension payment order) or on the basis of a photograph pasted on the Passport or any other such document," as per DoPPW.
In case the pensioner/family pensioner is unable to visit the embassy of the Indian consulate, he/she may submit requisite documents by post to the embassy/consulate, including a doctor's certificate showing the pensioner's/family pensioner's inability to present himself/herself in person. Embassy of India/High Commission/Indian Consulate may also assist pensioners/family pensioners in the submission of the life certificate, the ministry said.
There have been complaints that life certificates submitted over the counter of pension-paying branches are misplaced, causing a delay in the payment of monthly pension. In order to alleviate the hardship faced by pensioners, agency banks are instructed to mandatorily issue duly-signed acknowledgments. They were also advised to consider entering the receipt of the life certificate in the CBS (core banking system) and issue a system-generated acknowledgment which would serve the twin purpose of acknowledgement as well as real-time updating of records.
When a foreign-resident pensioner passes away, the following process will be performed to begin the family pension: If the pensioner and spouse have a joint account, the Form 14 requirement has been waived. Through a simple letter, the spouse may notify the pension-disbursing bank of the pensioner's death and request that the family pension be started. They may send a copy of the pensioner's death certificate, PPO, proof of their own age/date of birth, and a commitment to reclaim excess payment.
In other circumstances, such as when the pension is not credited to the pensioner's joint bank account, the banks will continue to acquire Form 14 from the family pensioner. However, the requirement of attestation of Form 14 has been removed, and two witnesses are regarded as adequate.
