Key legal / administrative references (primary documents)
- DOP&PW (Dept. of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare) OM No. 1/13/09-P&PW (E), dated 11-Sep-2013 — Clarification that children are treated as dependents and the dependency test (income threshold; order of payment among children; disabled children treated differently). (DOPT Circulars)
- PCDA (P) Allahabad — Circular G1/C/067/Vol-XIV/Tech dated 02-Sep-2014 (Circular No. 123) — Office circular to all Heads of Defence Departments clarifying the DOP&PW OM application for defence pension cases (the document you uploaded).
- DOP&PW / Earlier OM dated 30-Aug-2004 (incorporated into CCS (Pension) Rules) — provision for grant of family pension to widowed/divorced daughters beyond 25 years, subject to dependency and other conditions.
- DESW (Dept of Ex-Servicemen Welfare) circulars / clarifications (e.g., 2015–2017) — implementation notes & clarifications for ex-servicemen cases; reproduces/links the DOP&PW clarifications for armed forces context. (Department of Ex-servicemen Welfare)
- Pensioners’ Handbook / CGDA guidance — practical guidance on documents, order of payment, disabled children, parental claims, and sharing of family pension among eligible claimants. Useful for procedural checklists. (Pensioners’ Portal)
These five documents are the most load-bearing authoritative references for family pension eligibility and processing for defence personnel. I cite them again in the relevant sections below.
Who may get family pension (short summary)
- Children (sons & daughters) are eligible as dependent children if they meet dependency and age/condition criteria at the time of death of the Government servant / pensioner. The children are considered in order of birth; a younger child does not become eligible while an elder child continues to be eligible. For details on dependency test see DOP&PW OM 11-Sep-2013. (DOPT Circulars)
- Age limit (general rule): Unmarried/widowed/divorced children (sons/daughters) — ordinarily eligible up to 25 years of age unless disabled (disability may permit life-long eligibility) or other special provisions apply. Widowed/divorced daughters beyond 25 may be eligible if they fulfil dependency & other conditions laid down in the OMs and rules.
- Widowed / divorced daughters (>25 yrs): Grant permitted provided they were dependent on the deceased government servant/pensioner at the time of his/her death and meet other eligibility conditions (and as clarified in the 2004 OM and 2013 clarification). The PCDA circular (02-Sep-2014) reiterates application in Defence cases. )
- Disabled children: Disabled children who cannot earn a livelihood are entitled to family pension beyond age limits — subject to medical certification/assessment as per rules. The DOP&PW OM & pension handbook set out how to treat disabled dependents. (DOPT Circulars)
- Dependency test (income threshold): A child who is not earning equal to or more than the sum of the minimum family pension + dearness relief thereon is to be considered dependent (see DOP&PW OM 11-Sep-2013). That OM also clarifies that authorities should not insist unduly on exhaustive income disclosures for disabled dependents (see later notes & recent case law). (DOPT Circulars)
Order of precedence & sharing
- Family pension is normally payable in the order of precedence laid down in the rules (wife/widow first, then dependent children in order of birth, then dependent parents, etc.). If more than one child is eligible at the same time, family pension may be shared among them as per rules. Once a child becomes ineligible (marriage, gains income above threshold, reaches age limit), the share is re-distributed as per rules. See the Pensioners’ Handbook and CGDA guide for illustrative scenarios. (Pensioners’ Portal)
Practical interpretation of the PCDA (P) circular you uploaded
- The PCDA (P) Circular dated 02/09/2014 (your uploaded image) instructs Heads of Defence Offices to process claims for widowed/divorced daughters in accordance with the DOP&PW OM dated 11-Sep-2013 and earlier OMs (2004/2011 clarifications), i.e., the same dependency and timing tests apply to defence pension cases. It emphasizes that eligibility is to be judged at the time of death/turn to receive family pension, and that appropriate instructions must be issued to subordinate offices.
Step-by-step: Application process (what claimant must do / submit)
This checklist is tailored to dependent sons/daughters of armed forces pensioners. Present this to the Record Office / Zila Sainik Kalyan/PCDA (P) depending on case.
A. Early steps (immediately after death of pensioner / when claim arises)
- Obtain Death Certificate / Discharge certificate / PPO copy of the deceased pensioner (Principal Pensions Order — PPO) if available. If the pensioner died in service, obtain Service/Death in Service certificate from Unit/Record Office.
- Lodge claim for family pension with the concerned Pension Disbursing Authority (usually the Record Office / PCDA(P) for Defence pensions) — use the prescribed claim form (as indicated in PCDA/CGDA guidance).
B. Documents to be submitted with the family-pension claim (typical checklist)
- Application/Claim form for family pension (as per PCDA / Record Office format).
- Death certificate of the pensioner / government servant.
- Copy of PPO (if pensioner already in receipt of pension) or service particulars showing last pay & service.
- Proof of relationship (birth certificate / school certificates / service records showing son/daughter).
- For widowed/divorced daughters: marriage certificate (if previously married), divorce decree/maintenance documents as applicable, and proof that she was dependent at the time of death (e.g., affidavit of dependence, evidence of financial non-ability). The 2004 OM and 2013 clarification detail treatment—submit a covering note citing these OMs.
- For disabled children: valid disability certificate issued by appropriate medical board/authority and any earlier medical records; if unable to work, submit medical certificate confirming inability to earn. Avoid unnecessary income disclosure demands for disabled dependents — authorities must accept medical evidence.
- Affidavit(s) of dependency and non-employment (if required) — signed and notarized.
- Bank account details and identity proof (Aadhaar, PAN as required) for payment.
C. For claims by widowed/divorced daughters >25 years
- Core proof requirement: show dependency at the time of the pensioner’s death and that all other eligibility conditions (no income above threshold, not remarried, etc.) are satisfied. Attach copies of DOP&PW OM (11-Sep-2013) / 30-Aug-2004 OM as annexure to the claim to speed processing. The PCDA circular instructs defence offices to accept such claims when conditions are met.
Processing by authorities (what to expect from PCDA / Record Office)
- The Record Office / PCDA will verify service records, relationship, dependency, and other documents. If accepted, PPO for family pension will be issued and family pension payment started from the admissible date (date of death or date of application as per rules) — see Pensioners’ Handbook for computation/commencement rules.
- If more than one child is eligible, the pension share will be worked out and payment arranged accordingly. If an eligible child later becomes ineligible (e.g., marriage, starts earning more than threshold), the change must be notified for re-fixation of shares.
Common issues, clarifications & legal position
- Dependency judged at time of death: Key legal test reiterated by DOP&PW OM 11-Sep-2013 and PCDA circular 02-Sep-2014 — dependency (income less than minimum family pension + DA) and other eligibility conditions at the time of death decide entitlement.
- Widowed/divorced daughters: Inclusion beyond 25 years is permitted where dependency and other conditions are satisfied; courts have upheld generous interpretation where reality shows clear dependency (see DESW clarifications and tribunals/court orders reproduced in guidance documents).
- Disabled children: Should not be denied family pension for inability to earn; recent judicial directions emphasize administrative leniency and prompt grant when medical certificate establishes incapacity. (See Pensioners’ Handbook and recent HC rulings cited in public domain).
- What to do if claim rejected/delayed: First obtain written reasons. Follow up with Record Office → PCDA(P) → DESW/Ministry channels. For service matters, approach Zila Sainik Kalyan / ROs / Veterans’ associations for assistance. Judicial/tribunal remedies (AT/AFT) are available where administrative remedies fail.
Quick claimant checklist (one-page)
- Death certificate of pensioner — original + 2 copies.
- PPO / Service certificate showing last pay.
- Proof of relationship (birth certificate / school record).
- Affidavit of dependency / non-employment (if applicable).
- For widowed/divorced daughter >25: Divorce decree / marriage certificate / proof of dependency; attach DOP&PW OM ref.
- For disabled child: Disability certificate + medical records.
- Bank details, Aadhaar, PAN (if required).
Useful contact points / where to file
- Record Office / Unit of the deceased (if in service / recently retired) — first point of contact for defence cases.
- Controller of Defence Accounts (Pensions), PCDA(P) Allahabad — issues/revises PPOs for defence pensioners; referenced PCDA circular (02-09-2014).
- CGDA / Zila Sainik Kalyan / DESW — for policy clarifications and escalation.
Recommended wording for covering letter to PCDA / Record Office
“Ref: Claim for family pension in favour of [name of claimant], daughter/son of Late [name of pensioner], PPO No. [●]. Please find enclosed documents in support of claim. This claim is submitted under CCS (Pension) Rules and in terms of DOP&PW OM No. 1/13/09-P&PW(E) dated 11-09-2013 and OM dated 30-08-2004 (for widowed/divorced daughters). Kindly process issue of PPO and commence family pension from admissible date. Encls: [list].”
If you want, I can (pick one)
- Draft a precise claim letter (in official format) ready to submit to the Record Office / PCDA.
- Prepare a one-page checklist / printable PDF with the documents to carry to the Record Office.
- Draft an appeal template for escalation to PCDA (P) / DESW if the claim is rejected.
Tell me which of the three you want and I’ll prepare it immediately (with the exact OM citations inserted into the draft).
Sources quoted (primary)
- DOP&PW OM No. 1/13/09-P&PW(E) dated 11-Sep-2013 — Eligibility of widowed/divorced daughter and dependency clarifications.
- PCDA (P) Allahabad Circular G1/C/067/Vol-XIV/Tech dated 02-Sep-2014 (Circular No.123).
- DOP&PW OM (30-Aug-2004) incorporated into CCS (Pension) Rules — widowed/divorced daughter provision.
- Pensioners’ Handbook / DOP&PW consolidated guidance (family pension chapters).
- DESW circulars / clarifications (implementation guidance for ex-servicemen).
