Guide To Family Pension For Next Of Kin Of Deceased Indian Military Pensioners In SPARSH

This guide provides the Next of Kin (NoK) of deceased Indian Navy pensioners with the structured application process for initiating Family Pension, depending on the migration status of the veteran’s pension to the SPARSH system.

A. Understanding the SPARSH System

SPARSH (System for Pension Administration – Raksha) is an initiative of the Government of India for online pension processing and management.

Administration: It is managed by the Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (PCDA – Pension), Prayagraj¹.
Mandatory Use: Pension processing for Naval Sailors released on or after June 1, 2021, and Naval Officers retired on or after July 1, 2021, is done exclusively through SPARSH².
Existing Pensioners: Existing pensioners are being migrated to SPARSH progressively³.
PCDA (Pension), Prayagraj Contact Details:
- Toll-Free: 18001805325 ⁴
- Phone: 0532-2421877, 0532-2421879 ⁵
- Email: sparshnavy.dad@gov.in ⁶

B. Process for Pensioners Migrated to SPARSH

If the deceased pensioner’s records have been migrated to the SPARSH system, the NoK must follow this online procedure:

1. SPARSH Account Creation and Death Intimation

Visit the Portal: Go to the SPARSH website: www.sparsh.defencepension.gov.in⁷.
Veteran’s Login: Log in using the veteran’s SPARSH PPO Number with the suffix 01 (e.g., PPO-01)⁸.
Death Intimation: Initiate the process to submit the death intimation of the veteran⁹.
Family Pensioner Login: After the death intimation is approved by PCDA (Allahabad), an SMS confirmation will be sent to the registered mobile number¹⁰.
NoK Login: The beneficiary must then log in using the SPARSH PPO Number with the suffix 02 (e.g., PPO-02) as the Username¹¹.
Password Reset: Use the “Forgot Password” option to reset the password and gain access to the Family Pensioner’s account¹².

2. Post-Login Activities (Data Verification and Correction)

Data Verification: Log into your SPARSH account to verify all the displayed data.
Data Correction:
- Simple Corrections: For discrepancies like Address, Email ID, or Bank details, raise a Profile Service Request (PSR) under Manage Profile by uploading supporting documents¹⁴. Correction visibility takes 5-7 working days¹⁵.
- Complex Corrections: For data like name, Date of Birth (DOB), or Marital Status, the PSR requires approval from the Record Office¹⁶. Correction visibility takes 10-12 working days¹⁷.

C. Process for Pensioners NOT Migrated to SPARSH

If the deceased pensioner’s record has not yet been migrated to SPARSH, the NoK must approach the Pension Disbursing Bank with the following documents and steps:

Original PPO Copy: A copy of the first Pension Payment Order (PPO) that indicates the NoK’s name as the spouse¹⁸.
Death Certificate: A copy of the Death Certificate of the pensioner¹⁹.
Ex-Servicemen Identity Card: The Ex-Servicemen Identity Card issued from the concerned Zila Sainik Board (ZSB)²⁰.
Address Proof: An Address proof (some banks may require this)²¹.
Pension Amount: Seek assistance from NAVPEN or DPA to determine the entitled family pension amount²².
Revised Family Pension: Once the Family Pension is revised, obtain Annexure – IV (Application for deceased claim) from the Pension Disbursing Bank²³.