Is it mandatory for pensioners to submit Life Certificate every year in November?

Pensioners are required to provide Life Certificate to banks that pay pensions to them in the month of November every year. Along with the Life Certificate pensioners are also required to provide Non-Employment Certificate or Employment Certificate whichever applicable.

In case, the pensioner is unable to visit the bank to obtain the Life Certificate from the bank due to serious illness or incapacitation, then the bank officials of the concerned branch will make a visit to the house or hospital where the pensioner currently is with the intent to record the Life Certificate.

If the pensioner is very old, sick or has lost both arms and therefore, cannot sign, they are allowed to make any impression with hand or toe for the withdrawal of pension from his account. In such case, there should be two witnesses present. One of the witness should be a bank official and another one from the pensioner side known to the bank. In addition, the person who is actually drawing the money need to provide his signature to the bank.

In certain conditions where the pensioner is sick and unable to operate his pension account then the power of attorney can handle the cheque book facility and acceptance of standing instruction for transfer of funds from the account. However, the power of attorney will not be allowed to operate the pension account of the pension holder.

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Providing Life certificate is mandatory because if the pensioner dies then his family will start getting the family pension. The family pension will be provided to the family member of the pensioner whose name is there in the Pension Payment Orders (PPO) issued to the pensioner.

Banks provide pension to the pension holders on the last day four working days of the month. An exception to this occurs in the month of March when the pension is credited to the bank accounts of the pension holders on or after the first working day of April.

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