Life certificate for super senior pensioners: How to submit it via face authentication process?

Super senior pensioners i.e. those of 80 years and above can submit their Life Certificate (Jeevan Pramaan Patra) now, ensuring uninterrupted receipt of their pensions. For senior citizens, the process will start from November 1. A life certificate is produced by a trusted entity to confirm that an individual is alive at the time of its creation.

While can the same can be submitted physically, the government also offers the Face Authentication Technology, allowing pensioners to submit their certificates conveniently from the comfort of their homes using an Android smartphone or at a bank branch.

The Digital Life Certificate (Jeevan Pramaan) is a biometric-enabled digital service designed for pensioners from central or state government agencies, the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation, or any other government organisation.

Step 1: Pensioners can download "Aadhaar Face RD (Early Access)" from Google Play Store and install it on their Android smartphones. They are also required to download the "Jeevan Pramaan" application.

Step 2: Further, they should open the "Jeevan Pramaan" application and go to "Operator Authentication" screen.  Here, the can provide personal details, including Aadhaar Number, Mobile Number, and Email Address.

Step 3: After entering the information, pensions are required to submit the One Time Password (OTP) sent to the mobile number and email address.

Step 4: The app will now direct pensioners to a screen where they are required to enter the Aadhaar Number and Name, check the box, and select "Scan." The should now authorise the Face Scan, and proceed by clicking "Yes."

Step 5: The app will provide guidelines for the face scan, and users must select the "I am aware of this" checkbox to continue. The app will then capture a picture of their face.

Step 6: After Operator Authentication, a screen for Pensioner Authentication will appear, where pensioners must provide Aadhaar Number, Mobile Number, and optionally Email Address.

Step 7: Now, users can provide additional information such as Full Name, Type of Pension, Sanctioning Authority, Disbursing Agency, PPO Number, and Account Number. Further, they must confirm the declarations and submit the information.

Step 8: After this, users can provide consent and permission for the face scan. The scanning process will commence, and upon completion, pensioners will receive a Pramaan ID and PPO number on their mobile screen.

Recently, the Department of Pension and Pensioners' Welfare (DOPPW) issued guidelines for banks to support pensioners in this digital transition. It said that banks should share the standard operating procedure (SOP) with pensioners through SMS, emails, or WhatsApp, making them aware of the digital submission process. Banks have also been asked to depute doorstep banking executives to aid bedridden or hospitalised pensioners in submitting their life certificates.