Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme 2024

Written by : Knowledge Centre Team

2021-02-28

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When you get married, you make promises to be with each other for as long as you can imagine. But life is uncertain and the loss of a loved one can leave a lot of dreams and aspirations hanging.

The death of your husband can shake your whole world. The pain of losing your partner is extremely hard to take. Your partner’s passing will not only take a toll on you mentally, as you will have to live the rest of your life without him, but financially as well.

Have you ever thought about how you and other members of the family will deal with the expenses if your husband dies? If your partner is the sole breadwinner of your family, then his death will lead to a financial struggle as his income will no longer be there to support you.

Widow Pension Scheme 2022

Regular income is necessary when you have a household to run and to look after the needs of growing children. The widow pension scheme has been introduced to support bereaved women. A regular pension will be provided by the government so that widows can earn a living and be self-sufficient.

If you are in such a situation, then there are certain criteria that you must fulfil to be enrolled in this pension yojana. Let us look at them one by one.

Eligibility Criteria

The following criteria must be met by the women to be eligible under the widow pension scheme.

a) The widow should be below the poverty line (BPL). The current parameter of BPL is Rs. 32 per day. That is, if you earn less than Rs 32 per day, you will be counted as below the poverty line in India.

b) The age of the widow must be 18–60 years old.

c) The widow should remain unmarried to enrol in the widow pension scheme. If the widow marries someone else after the death of her partner, she cannot enrol in this scheme.

d) If the widow does not have any children or other immediate relatives, then she is eligible.

e) However, if the widow’s children are employed and earning, then she will not receive a pension under this scheme.

f) This pension scheme is for the widow only. So, if the widow dies, the pension will not be passed on to her children.

How to Open an Account Under the Vidhwa Pension Yojana?

If you fall under the eligibility criteria listed above, then you are eligible to receive the pension under the Widow Pension Scheme.

This is a country-wide scheme introduced by the government. All the states have their own widow pension schemes.

Here is how you can open your account.

a) Online Process

The online process is simple and convenient to follow with these steps:

1. Visit the official site of the scheme

The process of enrolling under the Widow pension scheme is different for each state. To fill out the form online, you need to visit the official website of the state you live in.

2. Fill the Application Form

Register on the site if asked and go on to fulfil the online application form. Enter the required details and click on submit.

3. Upload the Documents

After entering your details, you need to submit the necessary documents for verification. Upload a copy of the asked documents and submit the form.

4. List of the Documents Required

You need to have the following documents to be able to open your account and receive the pension.

  - Passport size photograph
  - ID proof (Aadhar Card, Voter ID, etc)
  - Address Proof
  - Original death certificate of husband
  - Birth certificate
  - Bank Account Details
  - Income Proof

b) Offline Process

If you do not want to submit your application online, you can opt for the offline method as well. For this purpose, you need to visit either the municipal corporation office or the Panchayat office. You can get the application form here. Carry the list of necessary documents with you.

How much is the Pension?

The pension that you will receive monthly in the widow pension scheme depends on the state you live in and your age.

The minimum amount is Rs 300 per month. However, most of the states offer more than this amount.

Here is the pension offered by some of the states:

After you submit your documents, they will be verified. Your account will be opened after verification. The amount will be transferred every month to your linked bank account.

State	Monthly Pension Amount
Uttar Pradesh	Rs 300 Rs 500 (if the age is more than 80 years)
Maharashtra	Rs 600 Rs 900 (if there is more than one child)
Rajasthan	Rs 500 (if age is less than 55) Rs 1000 – 1500 (if age is more than 55)
Uttarakhand	Rs 1200
Gujarat	Rs 1250
Delhi	Rs 2500 (Quarterly)
Haryana	Rs 1800

* Rates as of 15 Feb 2022

We must be prepared for all the challenges life may throw at us. Financial preparedness should top that list. Thus, to make sure your family does not have to suffer financially, consider purchasing an annuity or a life insurance plan.

Pension Plans from Life Insurers

If the breadwinner is still present and supporting the family, investing in a pension plan is a must. Pension plans from life insurance companies offer the necessary financial support to the surviving members in the event of your untimely death.

Certain pension plans, such as the Guaranteed Income4Life Plan, offer a higher pension amount with the same reliability as the social security scheme. Additionally, these pension plans also have a life cover. The life cover will also provide your family with a lump sum amount upon your untimely demise.

Disclaimer: This article is issued in the general public interest and meant for general information purposes only. Readers are advised to exercise their caution and not to rely on the contents of the article as conclusive in nature. Readers should research further or consult an expert in this regard.

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