In 2010, the Women and Child Development and Social Welfare Department of the West Bengal State Government introduced the "Old Age Pension" scheme.
Old Age Pension - Introduction
In 2010, the West Bengal state government, through the Women and Child Development and Social Welfare Department, launched a compassionate initiative called the "Old Age Pension" scheme. The West Bengal Disability Pension Scheme provides financial assistance to persons who are above 60 years and unable to work and earn a living.
Benefits
- ₹1,000 per month.
Eligibility
- Applicant must be a resident of West Bengal State.
- Applicant must be 60 years old or above, but for physically and mentally handicapped individuals the age limit is 55 years.
- Applicant should not have any relation capable of providing financial support (here “relation” means: Son/Grandson/Husband/Wife/Unmarried daughter/Parents).
- The income of the applicant should not exceed ₹1,000 per month.
- Applicant should not be a recipient of any other Government pension.
- Applicant should be residing in the State for not less than ten years on the date of making the application.
Note:
- The State Government may relax the residency condition in cases where undue hardship is caused.
- When only the year of birth is known, 1st July of that year or when the month is only known, 16th day of the month is to be taken as the date of birth.
Exclusions
Professional Beggars and Mendicants:
- Professional beggars and mendicants of urban areas (cities and towns) are not eligible for pension under this scheme.
Recipients of Other Pensions:
- Persons receiving “Disability Pension”, “Widow Pension”, “Farmers’ Pension”, “Political Sufferers”, or any other pension of any State Government or the Central Government shall not be eligible for pension under this scheme.
Application Process
Application Form (Form-P) for Pension may be obtained free of cost from the following offices:
- Office of the Block Development Officer or the Executive Officer of the concerned Panchayat Samity, if the applicant resides in rural areas under the said Panchayat Samity.
- Office of the Sub-Divisional Officer, if the applicant resides in municipal/notified areas outside the Kolkata Municipal Corporation.
- Office of the Controller of Vagrancy, West Bengal, situated at Purta Bhawan, Bidhan Nagar, Kolkata-700091, if the applicant resides within the Kolkata Municipal Corporation.
Application Form for Pension shall be addressed to:
- The District Magistrate of the concerned district, and should be submitted to the Block Development Officer or the Executive Officer of the Panchayat Samity, if the applicant resides in rural areas under a Panchayat Samity.
- The District Magistrate of the concerned district, and should be submitted to the Sub-Divisional Officer, if the applicant resides in municipal/notified areas outside the Kolkata Municipal Corporation.
- The Controller of Vagrancy, West Bengal, should be submitted to the Controller of Vagrancy, West Bengal, if the applicant resides within the Kolkata Municipal Corporation.
For any query related to the scheme, District Nodal Officers can be contacted.