Female Government Pension Update: How To Change Your Nominee?

In a move that, prima facie, appears to give an impetus to women's empowerment, new rules have been framed by the government, enabling women employees to nominate their children.

In a press release, it was announced by the government that the new rules will now allow the right for female central government employees to nominate their child(ren) for family pension. The new rules mean that she does not need to necessarily nominate her husband.

Photo Credit: Unsplash

How to make this happen?

In a statement by the Department of Pensions and Pensioners' Welfare (DoP&PW), it has been outlined that the initiation of family pension nominations for female government servants or pensioners can be achieved through a written request submitted to the head of the office.

This request should specify the preference for granting a family pension to her eligible child or children over her spouse in the event of her demise. Upon the demise of the female government servant or pensioner, the disbursement of the family pension will be carried out following the established preferences.

Survival Scenario without Eligible Children

When a woman employee, lacking eligible children, is survived by a widower, the family pension will be payable to the widower.

Guardianship of a Child with a Mental Disorder

If the widower assumes guardianship of a minor child or a child suffering from a mental disorder, the family pension will be payable to the widower as long as he remains the guardian. Upon the child attaining majority while still eligible for family pension, the payment will be directed to the child directly, as clarified in the notification.

Family Pension for Children After Majority

In cases where the deceased female government servant or pensioner is survived by a widower and children who have attained majority but remain eligible for family pension, the family pension will be payable to such children.

Following the cessation of eligibility for family pension by all qualified children, it will then be directed to the widower until his death or remarriage, whichever occurs first, according to the notification.

Missing Employee Scenarios under NPS

In situations involving the National Pension System (NPS), families of missing employees covered under the NPS can now receive a family pension within six months of lodging an FIR, eliminating the previous waiting period of seven years.

Additionally, in cases where a government servant dies before completing seven years of service, a family pension will be payable to the family at an enhanced rate of 50 per cent of the last pay for the first 10 years, and thereafter at the rate of 30 per cent of the last pay.