Dependents Of ESM - Eligibility Criteria Update For ECHS Membership Of Son Daughter Parents And Spouse

Daughters are Eligible for ECHS benefits withe these Criteria

Unmarried and Unemployed Daughters: They are considered dependents regardless of age, until they get married or start earning an income exceeding ₹9,000 per month (excluding DA).

Married Daughters: Once married, daughters are no longer eligible as dependents under ECHS, irrespective of their employment status or income.

Divorced, Abandoned, or Widowed Daughters: If they are dependent on the ECHS beneficiary and have an income less than ₹9,000 per month (excluding DA), they remain eligible as dependents, irrespective of age.

Physically or Mentally Challenged Daughters: Unmarried daughters suffering from any permanent disability covered under the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Act 2016 are considered dependents for life, regardless of age.

So, for unmarried and unemployed daughters, there is no specific age limit for dependency under ECHS; they remain dependents until they marry or start earning above the specified income threshold.

Sons are Eligible for ECHS benefits withe these Criteria

Sons upt the age of 25 are gnerally considered as dependents, until they get married or start earning an income exceeding ₹9,000 per month (excluding DA).

Son once married, are no longer eligible as dependents under ECHS, irrespective of their employment status or income.

Physically or Mentally Challenged son : son suffering from any permanent disability covered under the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Act 2016 are considered dependents for life, regardless of age.

Son is eligible for ECHS membership till he starts earning or attains the age of 25 years or gets married, whichever is earlier. A mentally/ physically handicapped son who is unable to earn his livelihood is permitted to be dependent for
life time. It means that ECHS benefits are entitled to dependent disabled son beyond 25 years of age subject to the following eligibility conditions:-

(a) Should be disabled.
(b) Disability should be 40% and above.
(c) Should be unmarried.
(d) Income should be less than Rs 9000/- per month excluding DA thereon.
(e) Should be normally residing with the primary ECHS beneficiary.

Parrents are Eligible for ECHS benefits withe these Criteria

(a) Father and mother of ESM pensioner shall be deemed to be dependent if they normally reside with the ESM pensioner and their combined income from all sources does not exceed Rs 9000/- per month excluding DA thereon.

(b) Parents of the spouse of ESM are not permitted to become members.

(c) In case a widow, who is in receipt of family pension joins the ECHS, then parents of her late husband can be made dependents.

(d) In case both husband and wife are defence personnel, parents of both members are eligible if both pay subscription subject to meeting dependency criteria. As well as in case of female employees, parents or parents-in-law at her option subject to the conditions of dependency and residence etc. being satisfied.

(e) If adoptive father has more than one wife, only the first wife is eligible.
(f) Step Parents are not eligible to avail ECHS benefits.

Spouse are Eligible for ECHS benefits withe these Criteria

(a) Legally wedded wife including more than one wife. Spouse living separately is included as dependent, as long as the ESM pensioner is responsible for her maintenance. In case spouse remarries, then he/she is not
entitled.

(b) When the spouse is legally separated, he/ she cannot be termed as a dependent and hence cannot be made member of ECHS.

c) In the event of plural marriage, where it is permitted by the rules, the following conditions should be fulfilled for claiming ECHS membership:-

(i) Necessary casualty for entering into plural marriage should have been published through unit Part II orders and names of both the wives should be found recorded in the service discharge book/ service particulars of retired officer’s booklet issued by respective Service HQ.

(ii) The names of both the wives should be found recorded in the PPO for grant of family pension award.
(iii) In the case of widows, both wives should be in receipt of a share of family pension and PPO should be produced in support of evidence.
(iv) If a war widow remarries then she and her children from first marriage are eligible. Her husband, however, will NOT be eligible.