Disability Pension: When Can You Claim It?

On a question in Lok Sabha on March 11, 2025, about the disability pension criteria, the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, B. L. Verma, clarified that the disability should be 80 per cent for getting the disability pension. In the written reply, the minister said, “Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme was formally launched in February 2009 with the criteria of 80% as disability level”.

Parliamentarian Umeshbhai Babubhai asked about the criteria and whether the criteria were 40 per cent earlier in the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. In response to this, Verma’s reply didn’t give a direct reply but stated, “IGNDPS introduced in 2009 under National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) does not have universal coverage. Out of the disabled persons, in terms of scheme guidelines, the most vulnerable category of persons with severe or multiple disabilities belonging to the BPL category in the age of 18 years and above is eligible for assistance under IGNDPS”. 

What Is Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS)?

In 2009, the Ministry of Rural Development launched the scheme under the NSAP. Its objective was to support disabled people live their lives with dignity. The central government provides the funds for the scheme. It provides:

• Rs 300 per month to beneficiaries between 18 and 79 years

• Rs 500 per month to beneficiaries aged 80 years and above 

Who Can Apply For Disability Pension?

• The person should be at least 18 years of age and resident of India

• The scheme permits disability pension to a person with 80 per cent or above

• The scheme covers physical as well as mental disability

• The person should belong to the ‘below poverty line (BPL)’

• Dwarfs are also eligible for the scheme benefits.

The central government sanctions the funds to the State or UT.

“As per guidelines, in view of the limitation of funds available, if there are more deserving beneficiaries, the State/UT has the option to give them a pension from its own resources. Funds under this Scheme are sanctioned to State/UT up to the number of digitized beneficiaries or the State/UT cap, whichever is lower", said the minister in reply.

So, it is important that a person’s record is digitised. Further, if the State or UTs have resources, they can decide to pay the pension to more people from their funds.

The Process To Apply:

A potential beneficiary can apply for disability pension both online and offline.

For online: One needs to visit UMANG app or the official website of it and log in with the mobile number and OTP. In the NSAP tab, click ‘Apply Online’, fill in personal details, upload a photo, select mode of pension and submit. 

For offline: One needs to submit the application form to the Gram Panchayat or the Block Office in the rural areas and to the Municipal Council in the urban areas. The application is verified by the authorities to establish the disability level after discussion with the state-designated area sabhas. Finally, the Sanctioning Authority decides to accept or reject the application.

Once the pension is approved, beneficiaries are issued a pension passbook, and the pension is transferred directly to the beneficiaries’ bank account.