7th Pay Commission: Children Education Allowance (CEA) Claim Rule Relaxed for Central Government Employees

The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has eased the Children Education Allowance (CEA) claim standard for Central Government Employees ahead of the anticipated Dearness Allowance hike in September 2021. According to the 7th Pay Commission's guideline, central government employees receive Rs 2250 per month in place of CEA. Central Government Employees were having trouble getting CEA because of the current Covid-19 epidemic and consequent lockdowns, as their children's results/report cards were not delivered by schools via SMS/email, and even the payment of fees was being placed online.

In addition to the authorised channels of claims, the DoPT has now stated that CEA claims can be filed by self-certification from relevant employees or photocopy of e-mail/SMS of result/report card/fee settlement. Only the academic years ending in March 2020 and March 2021 will benefit from this announcement. The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) further stated that CEA claim cases that have previously been handled in favour of Central Government employees do not need to be reopened. The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has stated in its official memorandum that "This Department has been receiving several references/ queries from Central Government employees stating that in the prevailing pandemic situation, result/report cards were not sent to the parents by the School through SMS / email, and fee is also being deposited online, and the parents are having difficulty in claiming CEA.

The memorandum further added that "The matter has been considered and it has been decided that in relaxation of para 2(b) of this Department's OM No.A-27012/02/2017- Estt.(AL) dated 17th July, 2018, the CEA claims may also be considered through a self-certification made from the concerned employees or through printout of e-mail/SMS of result/report card/fee payment, in addition to the prescribed modes of claims only for the academic years ending March, 2020 and March, 2021."