Widow Pension: The Bihar government has significantly increased the amount under the Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme to support destitute and economically vulnerable widows in the state. Run by the Social Welfare Department, the scheme’s primary objective is to provide financial independence to widows aged 40 to 79, enabling them to live a respectable life in society.
Following a major change in 2025, beneficiaries now receive a monthly pension of ₹1,100 directly into their bank accounts, up from the previous amount. If you are a resident of Bihar and wish to benefit from this scheme, this article will prove to be the key to your success.
Bihar Widow Pension Scheme
The Nitish Kumar government in Bihar has taken a major step towards women’s empowerment by increasing the pension amount by almost three times. Previously, widows were only given ₹400 per month under this scheme, making it impossible to meet daily expenses in today’s inflationary conditions. But now, the increased amount of ₹1,100 per month is being transferred directly to the accounts of beneficiary women through DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer).
The state-level PFMS (Public Financial Management System) ensures that the money reaches the eligible women directly on a fixed date every month, without any middlemen. The government claims that this increased amount will ensure that women will no longer have to depend on others for their basic needs, such as medicines and rations.
Eligibility for Bihar Widow Pension
To avail the benefits of this government scheme, the Bihar government has set some strict criteria to ensure that the help reaches the right people:
- The applicant must be a permanent resident of Bihar.
- The woman must be a widow (husband’s death certificate is required).
- The woman must be between 40 and 79 years of age.
- The applicant’s family must fall under the BPL (Below Poverty Line) category.
- The woman must not be receiving benefits from any other social security pension scheme from the central or state government.
Application Process
Applying for the Bihar Widow Pension Scheme has now become quite transparent. First, visit your nearest Block Office and obtain the Widow Pension Scheme application form from the RTPS counter. Fill in all the required information, including name, address, Aadhaar number, and bank details, correctly.
You must sign or thumbprint the application form and attach your Aadhaar card, husband’s death certificate, a photocopy of your BPL ration card, and your bank passbook. After submitting the form, be sure to obtain an acknowledgement receipt. You will be notified via SMS upon verification and approval of your application, after which your pension will begin.
How to Check Pension Status
If you’ve applied and want to know when your pension will arrive or where your application is currently located, you can use the SSPMIS portal from the comfort of your home:
- First, visit the official website, the SSPMIS portal.
- Find the ‘e-Beneficiary’ option under the ‘Important Links’ section.
- Click on the “Check Your Payment Status” option.
- Here, you’ll need to enter your financial year (e.g., 2025-26) and your beneficiary ID or bank account number.
- Finally, by clicking the “Search” button, your complete pension statement will appear on the screen.