Central govt. has decided to provide 3 months pension in advance to around 3 crore widows, senior citizens and differently abled persons. The Old age / Widow / Disabled Pension beneficiaries will get advance pension in 1st week of April 2020. This decision comes as govt. feels that people needs money in cash to tackle Novel Coronavirus Pandemic. The central govt. led by PM Narendra Modi had earlier announced national level lockdown in which people are required to stay at their homes to curb COVID 19 menace.
This 3 Months Advance Pension amount for elderly, vidhwa and viklang jan is required to sustain their livelihood during this difficult times. Till 7 Arpil 2020, the central govt. will release the advance pension money directly to the pension bank accounts of beneficiaries.
The transfer of advance pension money will be done through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) Mode.
3 Months Advance Pension to Senior Citizens / Vidhwa / Viklang
After the announcement of 21 day lockdown over Novel Coronavirus (COVID 19), govt. will now provide 3 months pension in advance to old age / widow / disabled beneficiaries. The senior citizens, widow and persons with disabilities can utilize this amount while staying at home. Govt. wants to ensure that there is no shortage of cash, food items, ration, vegetables during curfew in the country. Moreover, the people who are most susceptible to this diseases must stay at home and come out victorious after lockdown is over.
Under the National Social Assistance Program (NSAP), central govt. provides monthly pension to the poor senior citizens, widows and differently abled. NSAP programme comes under the Ministry of Rural Development of Indian government. There are around 2.98 crore beneficiaries who receives pension every month. The pension amount are transferred into beneficiary bank accounts through DBT mode.
The centre has now decided to give three months pension in advance to all the 2.98-crore beneficiaries by the first week of April 2020. Now let’s check the amount which would be given to beneficiaries:-
- Senior Citizens (Old Age Pension) – As per the NSAP, each elderly citizen in the age group of 60 to 79 years gets Rs. 200 per month. Moreover, Rs. 500 per month is given to senior citizen beneficiaries whose age is above 80 years.
- Vidhwa (Widow Pension) – As per NSAP, each widow women in the age group of 40 to 79 years gets Rs. 200 per month while Rs. 500 per month is given to widow women above 80 years of age.
- Viklang (Disabled Pension) – For the differently-abled, the pension is fixed at Rs. 300 per month up to 79 years of age and Rs. 500 for 80 years and above.
Along with this pension, Finance Minister had also announced an ex-gratia amount of Rs. 1,000 over the next 3 months and it will be given in two installments. This ex-gratia amount will be over and above the pension which is given on a monthly basis.