Here is some bitter truth about our life and future. No body wants to leave this beautiful world but this is the only truth that, we are in this world untill our last breath but after that, our family members should not be in trouble in terms of pension and other benefits available through the Defence and civil authorities. In this article a thorough guide has been provided to manage the situation by the Family members , after death of the pensioner. All ESM are requested to educate their fammily members so that they can manage as and when it requires.
Step-1: Collect Medical Certificate from Hospital/ Authorised Doctor, in which “Cause of Death” is clearly written.
Note: In case of Unnatural death (Suicide or Accident), then you have to collect copies of Medical Report, Postmortem Report, FIR, Police Investigation Report when possible.
Step-2: Decide place and date of funeral/cremation. Inform relatives.
Step-3: Inform nearest Army/Navy/Air Force Stations regarding Funeral. A contingent will be sent from military base to pay last respect and lay wreath on the dead body.
(a) Army: Call 1904 to get connect to nearest Army Stn. (For all India)
(b) Navy: Call CRSO, INS Netaji (Kolkata) on 033-22314965. Or INS NETAJI EXO on 03322221400. ( for other state, kindly contact your RSB Concerned)
(c) Air Force: Call nearest AF Stn (AF Stn Barrackpore No 033-25933917). (for other state- kindly contact your nearest AF Stn)
Step-4: Complete funeral, collect Cremation Certificate and Apply for Death Certificate (DC) within 15 days of Death at the Registrar of Births & Deaths Office.
Step-5: Collect 10/15 copies of the Death Certificate.
Step-6: Intimate Death in SPARSH Website and upload DC. Procedure is given in another article.
Step-7: If widow’s name is written in the SPARSH PPO of ESM, then apply online in SPARSH Website to START Family Pension for the Widow.
Step-8: If Pension is NOT transferred to SPARSH, apply to Pension paying Bank to STOP Service Pension of deceased ESM. Submit Death Certificate.
Step-9: If Widow’s name is written in PPO, then it is called jointly Notified (JN-PPO) but NOT migrated to SPARSH, then apply to your Bank to START Family Pension (FP) of Widow. Submit copies of DC, PPO, Widow’s Adhaar Card, PAN Copy, 2XPassport Size Photos, Life Certificate and Bank Passbook.
Step-10: If widow starts getting FP, then submit FORM-A to bank to NOMINATE someone, who will withdraw balance amount from account after widow’s death.
Step-11: If Widow’s Name is NOT Jointly Notified (Name not mentioned in ESM’s PPO), then widow should visit ZSB to apply for Family Pension.
Step-12: Apply online for Widow’s ID Card and then submit Offline Application and all required documents in a folder at ZSB for Widow ID Card. Please Return ID Card of deceased ESM and Dependent I Card of Wife (if issued) to ZSB Concerned. Procedure given in another article.
Step-13: If wife has already expired before, then submit the ESM’s ID Card with Death certificate.
Step-14: Apply for Widow I Card at ZSB, Concerned. See another article.: Widow will get ID Card if her name is in JN-PPO.
Step-15: Death Intimation required to be sent to Record Office through ZSB. AF Widow/NoK may send through AF Association also. Guide Forms for each Service is given in another article.
Step-16: Apply for Funeral Grant or Demise Grant or Garima Grant or ADLR (Assured Decent Last Rites)” to respective offices.
(a) Army ADLR Msg for Rs 17,000/-.
(b) Navy ADLR Msg for Rs 20,000
(c) Air Force Garima Grant for Rs 15,000/-
Step-17: Send Insurance Claim to AGI/ NGI/ AFGIS, (if applicable) through ZSB (Army AGI Claim procedure is given in respective article :-
(a) Army: Extended Army Group Insurance Claim from AGI –
(b) Navy :
(c) Air Force: Insurance Claim from AFGIS –
Step-18: Air Force widows to apply for Family Assistance Scheme (FAS) from IAFBA through ZSB. You will get ₹1500-2800/- pm for 8yrs or lump sum amount Rs 10,000/ or Rs 20,000/- one time for old retirees, depending upon, which scheme is eligible
Step-19: All Army, Naval and IAF Widows may apply for Children Education Grants from DIAV, INBA and IAFBA respectively, if applicable.
(a) Army
(b) Navy
(c) Air Force
Step-20: Widows may apply for Children Education Grant / PMSS etc online at KSB website.
(a) Children Education.
(b) Prime Minister Scholarship Scheme (PMSS)
Step-21: Army Widows may apply for financial grants from Regimental Funds/Association etc. Widows from Artillery Corps will get ₹20,000/- from RAA (Regimental Artillery Associations). Apply to your Record Office through ZSB.
Step-22: STOP ECHS 64 KB Smart Card of deceased ESM. Block the ECHS Card online in ECHS website or Deposit to the affiliated ECHS Office of Army Stn HQ and take receipt. ECHS Cards for wife and other dependents will continue to be active.
Step-23: Apply for CSD (both Grocery and Liquor) Cards for Widow at nearest CSD Canteen Office. When cards are received, return both CSD Cards of ESM at CSD.
Step-24: Return ID Card, if issued by the Last Unit or Service HQ / Formation to the ESM at the Army Stn HQ Bkp/ Bengal Sub Area HQ or INS Netaji /AF Stn Bkp.
Step-25: Apply to Bank and Post Office to close all Single Accounts including all Fixed Deposits in the name of Deceased ESM and transfer amount into nominee’s A/c. All joint accounts should be converted into single accounts.
Step-26: Claim for other Insurance Amount from LIC / PM’s Insurance scheme /Others, if applicable.
Step-27: Intimate Assessment Officer of Income Tax Circle of ESM, about the death of ESM. Apply to IT department to surrender the PAN Number after four years.
Step-28: Visit Adhaar Card office or go to UIDAI website to Digitally Lock the Biometrics of deceased ESM Adhaar Number, to prevent misuse in future.
Step-29: Transfer all Equity shares / Mutual Funds / SIPs etc, in the name of ESM to the nominee’s name and close his DEMAT A/c, if any.
Step-30: Visit nearest Road Transport Office (RTO) to surrender Driving License of ESM, if valid and available. Also, apply to RTO to transfer ownership of two/four-wheeler vehicle on nominee’s name.
Step-31: Visit local Election Office and apply to cancel expired ESM’s name from Voter’s List by submitting Form No. 7 and Death Certificate.
Step-32: If there is any loan pending on ESM’s name, same should be liquidated and account closed.
Step-33: Transfer ownership of Gun / weapon after getting gun license by the nominee of anyone in the family. Deposit the gun in Police Stn custody till then.
Step-34: If there is any police case or court case pending against the deceased ESM, then submit Death Certificate to Police Stn / Court.
Step-35: Transfer ownership of properties in the name of nominees or in the name of Joint Holder. If property is not jointly held then, Legal Heir Certificate is to be produced for transfer of ownership of properties.
Step-36: Apply for transfer of Electric Meter of House/Flat, Property Tax papers, Society Office, Cable TV, Broad Band etc.
Step-37: Execute Will of the ESM if available.
Step-38: If ESM had worked in another organization, after military Service, then contact that office for Family Pension, if applicable.
Step-39: Widow may apply for job in Army (Stn HQ) or to the second job office.
Step-40: Widow may apply for Dependent ID Cards at ZSB for her children if eligible. Procedure is given in another article
Step-41: Claim insurance from Banks if there is FD linked insurance given by Bank.
ALL ESM ARE ADVISED TO PREPARE DETAILED WRITTEN STEP BY STEP CHECK LIST FOR HIS WIFE/NOK, TO FOLLOW AFTER HIS DEATH, SO THAT WIDOW DOES NOT FACE ANY PROBLEM AFTER DEMISE OF THE ESM.
I wish long and healthy life for all ESM and family members.
Information source : –
GP CAPT SANJOY BHATTACHARJEE, SECRETARY, ZSB, N24PGS, CONCERNED.
