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New Delhi: The central government has issued an important clarification for parents who receive a family pension after the death of their son or daughter (who was in government service). From now on in all such cases it will be mandatory for both parents to submit a life certificate every year to continue receiving the enhanced rate of family pension. This new directive was issued by the Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare (DoPPW) which falls under the Union Ministry of Personnel Public Grievances and Pensions. What does the order say? According to the DoPPW When a government employee dies as a bachelor or widow/widower without children his or her parents will be granted a family pension without examining their financial status. Both surviving parents will receive this pension at the rate of 75 percent of the deceased employees last salary. If only one parent is alive they will receive a pension at 60% and if one parent passes away the surviving parent will receive a dependent pension at 60%. What was the previous rule? Until now there was no provision in the CCS (Pension) Rules requiring both parents to submit a life certificate every year. Consequently in many cases even when one parent passed away the enhanced family pension at 75% continued. The government stated that due to this lack of a provision in the rules in some cases the higher rate of family pension continued to be paid even after the death of one parent. Why is Enhanced Family Pension given? Under the CCS (EOP) Rules 2023 if a government employee dies and his/her spouse or children are not alive the family pension is paid to his/her parents. If both parents are alive they receive 75% of the deceaseds salary as the pension. If only one parent is alive the pension rate is reduced to 60%. This pension does not depend on the parents financial status. That is they receive this benefit even if they have other sources of income. What will change now? The Central Government has clarified that to ensure the correct payment of family pension it will be mandatory for both parents to submit a Life Certificate every year. This will help determine whether both parents are alive and prevent pension payments at the wrong rate. The new provision will ensure that the pension amount is only paid to the eligible person and that government funds are used properly. Who will be affected? From now on all parents who are receiving the family pension based on their deceased sons or daughters employment will be required to submit their Life Certificate every year. If both are alive and receiving the pension at the higher rate of 75% certificates from both will be required. If one of the family members has passed away the pension rate will automatically be reduced to 60%. The government has issued guidelines to all departments to ensure that information about this new rule is timely communicated to all pensioner families so that no family is deprived of pension or inadvertently violates the rules. Life Certificate deadline The central government has clarified that all pensioners must submit their Life Certificate by November 30 of every year. If a pensioner fails to submit their Life Certificate by this deadline their pension will be temporarily suspended starting in December.