Life certificate deadline: Every year, millions of pensioners need to hand in life certificates to their banks or relevant departments. This process helps the government confirm that pensions are going to the right people. The deadline is set for November 30th. However, many individuals may struggle to submit these certificates on time due to health issues, age, technical problems, or distance.
In such cases, the main question is: what issues could arise if the life certificate isn’t submitted on time? Will the pension be halted? Let’s explore the answers to these questions.
Pension at risk of being stopped
If pensioners don’t submit their life certificate by the deadline, the bank or the authority responsible for pension disbursement will temporarily suspend their pension. This means that the pension for the following month won’t be deposited into their account. However, this suspension isn’t permanent. Once the pensioner submits their certificate, the pension payments will resume.
This measure is in place to avoid any incorrect payments. Occasionally, due to incomplete records, pensions might be mistakenly credited to the wrong account. Hence, the government regularly requests this certificate from all living pensioners.
Is the pension reduced?
The good news is that submitting a life certificate late doesn’t lead to a reduction in pension. The pensioner will receive any pending payments later as arrears. This means they don’t lose any money; it just gets delayed. This rule was specifically created to protect and assist elderly pensioners.
How to submit a life certificate
The government and banks are continuously working to ensure that no elderly pensioner faces challenges simply because they can’t visit a bank branch. There are now multiple ways to submit a life certificate:
1. Head over to a bank branch and hand in your stuff: This is the classic way. A lot of pensioners go to the bank to fill out the form and get it stamped by an official.
2. Digital Life Certificate: This is a digital service based on Aadhaar. Pensioners can quickly create their digital certificate using their fingerprint or iris scan on a mobile phone, laptop, tablet, or CSC. It can be submitted anywhere, so no need to go to the bank.
3. Doorstep service via a postman: The postal department’s “doorstep banking” service is becoming quite popular. A postman comes to your house, collects your biometrics, and quickly generates a digital life certificate.
4. Common Service Center (CSC): You can also submit digital certificates by visiting the nearest CSC. This is a super convenient option for older folks living in rural areas.
The best part is that you can submit a life certificate even after the deadline has passed.
The most reassuring thing is that a life certificate can be submitted even after the deadline. There’s no penalty or complicated process involved. Once you submit the certificate, your pension gets reactivated. Your pending pension will then be credited to your account along with next month’s pension.