Govt simplifies pension process

The government on Monday said it has simplified the process of sanction and payment of pension for its employees by revising the application and disbursement forms among others.

"The objective is to simplify the forms as well as to do away with the requirement of submission of affidavit and to accept all information and documents on the basis of self certification," said a statement by Ministry of Personnel.

As many as 26 forms under pension rules have been reviewed and modified where necessary, it said.

The revised forms have been posted on the department's website-- www.persmin.nic.in.

The Department of Pension and Pensioners' Welfare proposes to dispense with the requirement of a number of nomination forms for various benefits like General Provident Fund, arrear of pension and commutation of pension

by the employees.

"Instead, an employee will be required to fill up only one nomination form during the service and another nomination form at the time of retirement.

“Amendment to the forms and relevant rules in this respect would be notified by the department very soon," the statement said.

Revision of forms under general or contributory provident fund rules, extraordinary pension rules and commutation of pension rules was under process, it said.

The department is also reviewing the rules with a view to reducing the time prescribed for sanction of pension from the current 24-30 months to a more reasonable 12 months.

An online pension sanction and payment tracking system 'Bhavishya' has been launched, initially in 15 ministries.

This will enable retiring government servants to themselves track progress of sanction of pension and other retirement dues against the time lines prescribed, the statement said.