Synopsis: The Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW) has released detailed timelines for processing pension and gratuity after a government employee’s superannuation. The new framework aims to ensure timely pension authorization and hassle-free disbursement to retirees.
In a major move to streamline pension and gratuity disbursement, the Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW) under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions has issued an Office Memorandum (OM) specifying strict timelines for the completion of various activities related to authorization of pension and gratuity upon a government servant’s retirement on superannuation.
The new directive, based on provisions under the Central Civil Service (Pension) Rules, 2021, defines a structured timeline for every stage of the pension process—from the identification of upcoming retirees to the final disbursement of pension. The goal is to prevent delays and ensure smooth financial transition for retiring government employees.
Key Timelines and Procedures for Pension & Gratuity Authorization
Rule 54: Every Head of Department (HoD) must prepare a monthly list by the 15th of each month of all government servants who are due to retire within the next 15 months. This ensures that departments can initiate early action for processing retirement benefits.
Rule 55: The HoD must obtain complete details of government accommodation from the retiring employee at least one year before the expected date of retirement. These details must be sent to the Directorate of Estates to issue a ‘No Demand Certificate’ eight months before retirement, confirming that there are no pending dues related to official accommodation.
Rules 56 & 57: A detailed preparatory procedure must begin one year before retirement. This includes:
- Verification of service records,
- Correction of omissions or errors in the service book, and
- Ensuring accuracy of qualifying service for pension computation.
Rule 57(2)(a): The retiring government servant must submit a duly completed Form 6-A to the Head of Office no later than six months prior to the date of retirement.
Rules 59 & 60: The Head of Office is responsible for completing Part-I of Form 7, the checklist, and the pension calculation sheet (Format 10) at least four months before retirement. This forms the official pension case to be forwarded for authorization.
Accounts Officer (Pension Payment Order):
Upon receiving the pension case, the Accounts Officer must verify the documents and issue the Pension Payment Order (PPO) not later than two months before the date of superannuation.
Rule 63(4)(a):
The Accounts Officer must forward a copy of the PPO or Revised Pension Payment Authority along with the employee’s Form 6-A to the Central Pension Accounting Office (CPAO) within two months from receiving the pension papers.
Central Pension Accounting Office (CPAO):
The CPAO is required to issue the Special Seal of Authority and send it to the Pension Disbursing Authority within 21 days of receiving the PPO from the Accounts Officer.
Pension Disbursing Authority:
The authority must ensure that the pension is credited to the retiree’s account on the due date of retirement, as per the directives of the Controller General of Accounts and the CPAO.
Objective of the Timelines
The DoPPW emphasized that these guidelines are meant to eliminate procedural delays, increase accountability, and ensure that no retiree faces financial hardship due to delayed pension or gratuity disbursement.
By setting a clear timeline across departments and agencies involved—from the Head of Department to the Pension Disbursing Authority—the government aims to enhance efficiency and transparency in handling post-retirement benefits.
Disclaimer: This article summarizes official guidelines issued by the Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare. Employees are advised to refer to the official Office Memorandum and CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021 for complete and updated details.
