NPS - Additional Relief Scheme Beneficiaries FAQ
Q. 1. Who is a beneficiary under the NPS - Additional Relief Scheme (NPS-AR)? What is the
benefit under NPS- Additional Relief Scheme?
A. Provisional Pension is sanctioned in
case of death/disability of Government Employees who joined Government of India service on or after
1st January 2004 and were covered under the New Pension Scheme. This is payable to the spouse/family
pensioner of the deceased Government employee or to the disabled Government employee. The additional
relief is in the form of provisional pension on defined benefit lines and as an interim relief till
the finalization of pending issue of Rules& Regulations for the New Pension Scheme.
Q. 2. What is the Provisional Pension Payment Order (PPPO) under NPS- Additional Relief
Scheme?
a. A PPPO is a Provisional Pension Payment Order for
Disbursement of pension provisionally under NPS- Additional Relief Scheme. It is issued in
triplicate (three copies) by the pension sanctioning Ministry, Where the Government employee was
working:-
- Disburser's Copy (First) retained in CPAO, as the Disbursing Authority;
- Pensioner's Copy (Second); and
- Bank's Copy (Third - not for payment )for information to the pension account holding branch
(referred to as 'Pension Account Holding Bank Branch' below)
b. PPPO No. contains Alphanumeric number (N+11 digits) starting with 'N'. This PPPO
number is to be quoted in all correspondence as this is the key reference number.
Q. 3. How is the benefit under NPS- Additional Relief Scheme disbursed?
The
monthly provisional pension is paid direct to the bank account of pensioner/family pensioner
electronically by the Central Pension Accounting Office (CPAO).
Q. 4. How will the pensioner receive copy of the Provisional Pension Payment Order (PPPO)?
The Pensioner's portion shall be handed over by Pension Account Holding Bank Branch
at the time of first time identification process (Please refer to Q.5&6 below).
Q. 5. When and how will provisional pension commence?
a. After Ministry has
sanctioned the provisional pension, PPPO will be sent to CPAO.
b. CPAO will scrutinize the same and forward the pensioner's copy and the bank's copy by Speed Post
to Pension Account Holding Bank Branch with an endorsement to pensioner by Speed Post.
c. On receipt of the same, Pension Account Holding Bank Branch will call pensioner for the first
time identification and will hand over pensioner's copy of the PPPO. They will report back
electronically to CPAO to disburse the pension each month thereafter.
d. In case pensioner do not receive a call from the Pension Account Holding Bank Branch for
completion of the first time identification process after pensioner receive the endorsement of
CPAO's letter to bank enclosing PPPOs, pensioners are to present themselves for identification in
the bank along with the papers mentioned below.
Q. 6. What is the first time identification process?
a. The beneficiary has
to visit the Pension Account Holding Branch for commencement of the provisional pension. The
beneficiary would be required to produce his/her copy of the authority letter to the bank received
from CPAO sanctioning the pensionary benefits,
b. The Pension Account Holding Bank Branch would verify the beneficiary w.r.t. photographs and
specimen signatures available in the PPPO booklet (Bank's Copy) and obtain the same specimen
signatures once again in the Bank's Copy in the space provided for record.
c. On successful verification, the Pension Account Holding Branch must hand over the beneficiary's
copy of the PPPO booklet.
d. The Pension Account Holding Branch then confirms to CPAO, the completion of the first time
identification and for the payment of provisional pension payment to start.
e. The Pension Account Holding Bank Branch will also obtain the signature of the beneficiary on an
undertaking authorizing recovery of overpayments as per para 12.3 of the Scheme for Payment of
Pensions.
Q. 7. How many days are given to Pension Account Holding Bank Branch to complete the first
time identification process of the pensioner?
A. The Pension Account Holding Bank
Branch should invite the pensioner for identification, complete the process and communicate the
completion of the identification process to CPAO within seven days from the receipts of the PPPO.
The first time identification can also be electronically intimated by banks to CPAO at npsdbs-exp
[at] nic.in or fax at 011-26162083.
Q. 8. What are Pensioner's responsibilities for facilitating regular payment of Provisional
Pension?
a. Pensioner's have to collect copy of the PPPO after first time
identification and retain it in safe custody.
b. Pensioner's have to submit Life Certificate in the month of November every year.
c. Pensioner's have to submit certificate/undertaking for recovery of excess payment if any, on
account of delay in receipt of any material information or due to any bonafide error at first time
identification stage.
d. Pensioner's have to ensure that nominations have been provided for
the bank account.
e. Pensioner's have to submit Re-marriage/Re-employment Certificates, wherever applicable, in the
month of November along with the Life Certificate.
f. Pensioners/family pensioners are encouraged to open their pension account with bank branches
which are - Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS)/National Electronic funds Transfer System (NEFT) -
enabled, and which have Core Banking solutions (CBS) facility.
g. Pensioner's have to intimate any change in correspondence address to the pension account holding
branch and CPAO at the address given below immediately. h. In case pensioners want to shift their
bank accounts to another bank branch of the same bank or another bank, they have to apply to the
Branch Manager of present pension account holding branch, with a copy to CPAO.
Q. 9. Whether the pensioner is allowed to open a joint account? If yes, with
whom.
a. Yes, Pensioners may open joint account with spouse (husband/wife only) to
whom family pension is authorized in the PPPO in the event of death.
b. Family pensioners cannot have a Joint Pension Account.
c. Pensioner's have to complete nomination formalities
Q. 10. Who is responsible for the issuance of pension slip, annual statements of income tax
deducted and due drawn statements in respect of pension/arrear payment to the pensioner/family
pensioner?
a. CPAO is responsible for the issuance of pension slip, annual statements
of income tax deducted and due-drawn statements. These statements shall be made available to
pensioner/family pensioner through their pension account holding branch on request.
b. Annual Statement of Income Tax deducted will be sent by Speed Post annually by CPAO.
c. Pension Slips can also be obtained by post on request to CPAO.
Q. 11. Is the identification of pensioner done by bank one time process i.e. only at the
time of commencement of pension?
No, fresh identification is required when the
pensioner/family pensioner transfers the pension account from one bank branch to another (within the
same bank) or another different bank branch. Pensioners also have to submit Life- Certificate every
year in the month of November to the pension account holing branch, which in turn must forward the
same to CPAO through e-mail/fax/speed post.
Q. 12.To whom pensioner/family pensioner can contact in CPAO for any query/grievance?
Pensioner may directly write to CPAO at the following address:
Asstt. Accounts officer (NPS)
Central Pension Accounting Office,
Trikoot-2, Bhikaji Cama
Place,
New Delhi -110066
Phone No. 011-26162691,Fax-011-26162083
e-mail: npsdbs-exp
[at] nic.in
Q. 13. Whom should pensioners/ family pensioners approach if they have any grievance(s)?
a. Pensioners may approach their pension account holding branch which in turn shall
forward their grievances to CPAO.
Or
b. Pensioners may directly write to CPAO at the following address or contact by phone or e-mail:
Senior Accounts officer (NPS)
Central Pension Accounting Office,
Trikoot-2, Bhikaji Cama
Place,
New Delhi -110066.
Phone No.011-26162691, 011-26162083 (Tele-fax)
e-mail:
npsdbs-exp [at] nic.in
c. In case grievances of pensioners have not been redressed within 15 days, they may forward their
grievances to CPAO at the following address, by post or e-mail or phone:
Controller of Accounts
Central Pension Accounting Office,
Trikoot-2, Bhikaji Cama Place,
New Delhi -110066
Phone No. 011-26174809
e-mail: ccpao [at] nic.in
