Guwahati: Union Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions, Jitendra Singh on Monday, announced that Central Government employees retiring in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic shall be entitled to "provisional pension" till their regular Pension Payment Order (PPO) is issued.
Singh said that this decision has been taken as a Government official may find difficulty in submitting pension forms to the Head office or he/she may find trouble in forwarding the claim form in hard copy along with service book to the concerned Pay & Accounts Office. This might especially be difficult if the two offices are in different cities.
Singh announced that the Department of Pensions and Pensioners' Welfare had upgraded and equipped itself to deliver the PPO to the Central government employees concerned without delay on the day of his/her superannuation.
He further informed that the department has also created a portal, which can be accessed by any central government employee approaching superannuation to find out the status of his or her pension papers.
Jitendra Singh said that some of the Central Government employees who retired during this period may not have been provided with PPO. However, a decision was taken that in order to avoid a delay in the start of regular pension covered under CCS (Pension Rules) 1972, rules may be relaxed to enable seamless payment of 'Provisional Pension' and 'Provisional Gratuity' till the regular pension is issued to the concerned individuals.
According to Singh, the payment of "Provisional Pension" will continue for a period of six months from the date of retirement. In some exceptional cases, however, it may be extended to a year.
Singh further informed that the Government's instructions shall also be applicable to Government servants who opt for voluntary retirement, retirement under FR 56, etc.
Meanwhile, Singh announced, the Department of Pensions and Pensioners' Welfare has directed all offices maintaining GPF (General Provident Fund) accounts to complete all credit entries including accruing interest to the employees two years before retirement and then one year before retirement so that provident fund is also paid in time to the Central Government employees.
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