Losing a loved one, be it your spouse, parent or sibling, who served in the Indian Armed Forces is nothing short of an emotional and life-changing moment. For their families, especially widows and their dependents, like old parents and kids, it's also a time filled with serious practical challenges, understanding what support is available and how you can access it.

Who Can Get the Defence Family Pension?

When a defence personnel passes away, the family pension is meant to support those who were financially dependent on them. Here is a list of people eligible for defence family pension after the death of the defence personnel, as per the current rules set by the Ministry of Defence and the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules:

• Widow: The pension is first given to the legally married wife. Irrespective of whether the couple was judicially separated the widow is still eligible for the pension.
  
• Children: This children categories has some age rule to be eligible for the defence family pension benefits:
  
• Unmarried or divorced daughters can get the pension until the age of 25. If they are disabled and unable to support themselves, they can receive it for life.
• Unmarried sons, whether biological or legally adopted, are also eligible until they turn 25, or longer if they are disabled and unable to earn.
  
• Disabled Children: If a son or daughter has a permanent mental or physical disability and cannot earn a living, they can receive the pension for life, as long as they are unmarried and remain dependent.
  
• Dependent Parents: If the deceased had no surviving spouse or children, the parents can claim the pension, but only if they were fully dependent and their income is below INR 3,500 plus applicable dearness allowance (DA).

Types of Family Pension That You Can Benefit From

There are two main types of family pension, depending on how and when the defence personnel passed away. Here is a quick outline for your understanding:

1. Ordinary Family Pension

This applies when the death is not related to military service, usually after retirement or due to natural causes during service.

• For the first 7 years after the death (or until the deceased would have turned 67, whichever is earlier). The family receives an enhanced pension, which is often about 50% of the final pay.
• After that period, the pension continues at a lower rate, often 30% of the last salary, paid for life (or as long as the person is eligible).

2. Special Family Pension

This is given when the death is related to service, such as during war, operations, training, or if the person dies within 7 years of discharge due to a service-connected disability.

• The amount is normally 60% of last salary (this one is also called a reckonable emoluments).
• There's a guaranteed minimum of INR 7,000 per month, even if the calculation gives less.
• The pension continues for the family, even if the widow remarries or circumstances change.

How Is Military Pension Calculated and Reckonable Pay & Enhanced Benefits

First we will know what counts as Reckonable Emoluments? Well, these are the parts of your salary that are used to calculate your pension. They include:

• Your last basic pay
• Grade pay
• Classification allowance
• Military Service Pay (MSP)
• X-Group pay (if applicable)

Types of Family Pension That You Can Benefit From

These elements together form the base for working out your pension amount.

Next, we will know What are Enhanced Rates of Pension? Enhanced pension means you get a higher pension amount for a certain period. Here's when and how it applies:

• For Normal Retirement aka Ordinary Pension: You get the enhanced rate for 7 years, or until you turn 67, whichever comes first.
• If Defence Personnel Dies While in Service (post-2006 rules): The family gets the enhanced pension for 10 years, with no age limit.

Pension Update for Pre-2006 PBORs - Effective from 1 July 2009

As per a government order dated 8 March 2010, the pension structure for PBORs (Personnel Below Officer Rank) who retired before 1 January 2006 was revised.

• All pre-2006 retirees were placed at the same level, regardless of their exact retirement date.
• This change came into effect from 1 July 2009, making pensions uniform for all PBORs who retired before 1 Jan 2006.

How the New Pension Was Calculated

Here is how the pension is calculated:

• Take the highest pay for your rank (as per old scale)
• Multiply it by 1.86

Then add:

• 50% of the top classification allowance
• Military Service Pay (MSP)
• X-Group Pay, if you were eligible for it

At last the total of this will be your national pay.

Minimum Family Pension for Pre-2006 Defence Retirees (Effective from 1 Jan 2006)

(Or from the date family pension begins, whichever is later)

Dearness Relief

• Dearness Relief (DR) is an inflation-linked top-up paid on top of your pension, including any disability or war-injury pension.
• It updates every six months, on every 1st of January and 1st of July.

OROP Family Pension Revision

Under One Rank One Pension (OROP), family pension rates are revised every five years

What Difference Does it Make?

Well you get quite a few benefits:

• Your pension gets topped up every six months depending on inflation.
• Family pension under OROP changes every five years.
• The latest DR is 53% (from 1 July 2024); pensioners also received 50% from Jan 2024, and 46% prior to that.
• Arrears are paid in October pension disbursements.

Along with these you also get many other benefits to make your life easier after losing your loved one in the armed forces.

Additional Pension for Seniors Above 80 Years Under Defence Family Pension

If you're 80 years or older, you're entitled to extra pension every month, starting from 1st January 2006. This applies to both pensioners and family pensioners.

This additional amount is calculated on your revised basic pension, not including Dearness Relief.

The Pension Disbursing Agency (PDA) checks your records to figure out when to start paying this extra pension. If your Date of Birth is clearly mentioned in your Pension Payment Order (PPO) or other records, you will start getting the extra pension automatically, from the first of the month after you cross the milestone age.

Family Pension in Case a Pensioner Goes Missing

When a retired pensioner goes missing, the family may be eligible to receive family pension. However, there’s a specific process that you need to follow.

When Can Family Pension Start?

In case the pensioner is reported missing, the family pension can be availed from the date the FIR is filed with the police. However, it is possible if:

• There is a joint notification in the Pension Payment Order (PPO), and
• The Pension Sanctioning Authority (PSA) authorizes the payment.

What Documents Need to Be Submitted?

To start this process, the family must provide the following to the Pension Disbursing Agency (PDA), usually a bank or treasury:

• Copy of the FIR filed with the local police
• Final report from the police, confirming that despite all efforts, the person could not be traced
• Indemnity Bond - This must be:
  • Signed by two sureties, and
  • Countersigned by a Magistrate

Then, the DA will go ahead and forward these provided documents to the Pension Sanctioning Authority, along with:

• A certificate showing the last date pension was paid, and
• Confirmation that the pensioner was on the PDA’s rolls.

The family pension will be approved after 1 year from the FIR date, but when approved, payment is made from the original FIR date, not after the one-year wait.

If the pensioner is eventually declared presumed dead (either by the Ministry or a court), the legal heir will be eligible to receive the Life Time Arrears, i.e., unpaid pension up to the official date of presumed death.

How to Apply for Family Pension

When the defence pensioner passes away, here’s what the family needs to do to apply for the family pension:

1. Step 1- Report the Death: Inform the Record Office as soon as possible. This is the first step to begin the family pension process.

2. Step 2 - Collect Necessary Documents: Make sure to collect the following documents:

• The death certificate, issued by the local authority

• The official family pension application forms, available from the Record Office or online

3. Step 3 - Submit to Pension Sanctioning Authority (PSA): Send the filled forms along with the death certificate to the Pension Sanctioning Authority. They will process your claim and issue a new Pension Payment Order (PPO) in the name of the eligible family member (widow, widower, etc.).

4. Step 4 - Bank Starts the Pension: Once the PPO is issued, the bank or pension disbursing agency will begin monthly family pension payments.

Note: For additional pension for senior citizens over 80 years of age, make sure to submit their age proof.

How Can I Track and Manage Pension Online?

The government has made everything simple and convenient, so now you don’t have to wait in line or make repeated visits. You can make use these online platforms:

SPARSH Portal

This one is managed by the Ministry of Defence. You can do it just by visiting the SPARSH portal. There you can avail the following facilities:

• Track your pension status
• Download PPOs and forms
• Raise service requests or queries

CGDA Portal

The other option you have is CGDA Portal. You can go to the CGDA website and get the following services:

• Detailed pension guides
• PDF downloads of current pension rates
• Policy circulars and updates

The Ministry of Defence has made everything easier for the defence personnels and their families. Now, no more standing in long lines or visiting different govt. Offices just to get your pension