Odisha Pension Dues: 20.33 Lakh Beneficiaries To Get Pending Payments By October

The Odisha government is planning to clear pending old-age pension payments for beneficiaries under the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) by October. A total of 20.33 lakh beneficiaries are covered under the scheme in the state.

The issue came up in the Odisha Assembly on Friday, September 25, when Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Minister Nityananda Gond provided details of the pending payments in a written statement, according to PTI.

Some beneficiaries have not received their pension for about five months because of technical glitches. The government is now working on the payment backlog and plans to release the pending amount, along with arrears by October.

Odisha Government Coordinates With Finance Department

The state is working with the finance department, the central government and treasury authorities to resolve the problems linked to pension disbursal, stated PTI.

The pending payments are not being treated as fresh applications. The government’s stated plan is to clear the dues of beneficiaries whose regular pension payments were held up because of technical issues.

The matter had also come under discussion after opposition parties in Odisha raised concerns over social security pension payments for elderly beneficiaries.

Pension Amount For Elderly Beneficiaries

Under the IGNOAPS, eligible senior citizens aged 60 to 79 receive Rs 1,000 per month in Odisha. Those aged 80 years and above receive Rs 3,500 per month.

The higher pension for beneficiaries aged 80 and above follows an Odisha government notification issued in January 2025. The notification increased the social security pension for this age group to Rs 3,500 per month with effect from January 2025. Odisha government records also list the same monthly amounts for beneficiaries under the old-age pension scheme.

What Can The Beneficiaries Expect

Beneficiaries who have missed pension payments because of the reported technical glitches are expected to receive their unpaid instalments along with arrears by October.

The exact arrears for each person will depend on the number of monthly payments pending in their case. The state government is coordinating with the departments and authorities involved in the payment process to address the technical problems.

The October timeline specifically relates to beneficiaries whose pension payments have been held up because of these issues. The government has not indicated a change in the existing monthly pension amounts.