Pension Update: Govt gives big relief to pensioners. The government has given a big boost to central government employees and pensioners. They’ve made it clear that if there’s an overpayment of pension due to an error, it can’t be recovered without prior approval from a higher authority; no recovery will happen without that. This directive was recently released by the Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare. According to this, once a pension or family pension is set, it can’t be lowered. However, if there are no clerical or calculation mistakes, the extra payment can be reclaimed.
With the new system, if a mistake in a pension or family pension is found more than two years later, the relevant ministry needs to get the green light from the Department of Pensioners’ Welfare before making any reductions. The pensioner must be given a two-month notice before any refund can take place.
This is a crucial step because, in the past, the department would frequently cut pensions or issue recovery notices, claiming “erroneous calculations,” even years after someone retired. The new regulations also state that if a pensioner is overpaid by mistake, and it’s not their fault, the relevant ministry or department will have the authority to decide whether to recover or forgive the excess payment. If a recovery is decided upon, the pensioner will receive a two-month notice to pay back the amount. If the payment isn’t made after the notice period ends, the amount may be deducted from future pension payments gradually.
The Department of Pensioners’ Welfare has instructed all its ministries and departments to strictly follow this order. Additionally, this circular should be shared with all pension-related branches and offices to prevent any unnecessary hassle for pensioners. The government has also clarified the rules about the last working day. The day an employee retires, resigns, or passes away will be considered their last full working day of service.