The Chief Minister of Delhi, Rekha Gupta, directed the officials to survey the older adults in the state receiving old-age pensions in the complaint regarding eligibility.
The social welfare department in Delhi may soon start the exercise. This is expected to be a door-to-door survey to verify beneficiaries’ details and authenticity, as reported by PTI. The old age pension provides Rs 2,000 per month to the elderly who are 60 years or older and fulfill the other eligibility criteria and Rs 2,500 to those aged 70 and above.
Notably, in the budget announcement in March this year, Gupta announced an increase of Rs 500 in the old age pension for both age cohorts, making it Rs 2,500 for 60 years and older and Rs 3,000 for 70 years and above beneficiaries. Now, she asked for the survey to cross-check the beneficiaries’ details and remove those who are on the list but are not eligible.
Advertisement
Old Age Pension Scheme In Delhi
The old age pension is the welfare social security scheme for those who are destitute, have no means of subsistence, and have nobody to support them financially in old age. States run welfare schemes to support such elderly residents in the state. The government provides them a monthly payment which may differ from one to the other state. In Delhi, such elderly receive a minimum of Rs 2,500.
Who Is Eligible To Receive An Old-Age Pension?
A senior citizen who fulfills the following criteria is eligible for the monthly pension:
The individual should be 60 years or older
The person should be a resident of Delhi (at least five years before the date of application)
The applicant should have an Aadhaar number
Annual family income of the applicant and spouse, including different sources, such as interest and dividends from savings and investment, rent, property sale, etc., should be less than Rs 1 lakh
The applicant should have a ‘singly-operated’ bank account in any bank in the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi. It should be mapped with an Aadhaar to receive the pension
If an elderly is already availing pension or other financial assistance under some other scheme of the central or state government, then this scheme will not be offered.
While the government is surveying the already listed beneficiaries, new applicants eligible for the scheme can simultaneously apply for enrollment.
Advertisement
How To Apply For The Pension?
Visit the Delhi government’s official portal online or visit the concerned District Social Welfare Office (DSWO)
Scan the necessary documents and upload them on the online portal (Aadhaar is mandatory and other required documents include an age proof, an address proof, a bank account number, one passport-size photo, an income declaration in the given format on the portal, and a caste certificate if the belongs to scheduled caste or scheduled tribe. For minority applicants, a self-declaration verified by religious institution is required)
The DSWO verifies the application and disposes of the applications within 45 days from the application date. For approved applications, a pension is sanctioned, and payment begins from the next month from the month of application. The payment is done directly in the beneficiary’s bank account.
