Family Pension applicable to deceased Railway Employees / Pensioners

Family Pension applicable to deceased Railway Employees / Pensioners – Eligibility and Definition of Family

1. What is Family Pension and when it was introduced?

(i) It is a social security benefit paid monthly to the surviving widow/widower or eligible child of a Railway Servant irrespective of whether death occurs during service or after retirement. The benefit has also now been extended to post-retiral spouse.

(ii) Family Pension Scheme on Railways was introduced from 01.01.1964 in terms of Railway Board’s letter No. F(P)63/PNL/40 dated 02.01.1964 and is applicable to both permanent and temporary employees. The employees who entered service on or after 01.01.1964 are compulsorily governed by these rules. However, the employees who were appointed prior to 01.01.1964 were given an option to elect this scheme.

2. What is the basis of determination?

The amount of Family Pension is determined on the basis of last emolument drawn at the time of death or retirement, without any reference to the number of years of service rendered by the deceased employee. Family Pension is calculated at 30% of the emoluments, subject to a minimum ofRs.3500/- per month, and a maximum of Rs.27000/- per month.

3. What is the minimum qualifying service for Family Pension?

Family Pension is admissible after completion of one year of continuous service. However, before completion of one year service, Family Pension will be admissible if the deceased Railway Servant, immediately prior to the appointment to the service or post, was examined by the appropriate medical authority and declared fit for the Government service.

4. When the Family Pension at enhanced rates is applicable?

(i) For a period of 10 years following the date of death, the family pension will be payable at enhanced rates.

(ii) The enhanced family pension shall be equal to 50% of the emoluments last drawn by the Railway Servant or twice the family pension admissible at the normal rates, or the original pension sanctioned, whichever is less.

5. What is the additional quantum of Family Pension available to benefit old Family Pensioners?

The quantum of Family Pension available to old Family Pensioners shall be increased as under:

Age of Family Pensioner	Additional Quantum of Family Pension
From 80 years to less than 85 years	20% of revised Basic Family Pension
From 85 years to less than 90 years	30% of revised Basic Family Pension
From 90 years to less than 95 years	40% of revised Basic Family Pension
From 95 years to less than 100 years	50% of revised Basic Family Pension
100 years or more	100% of revised Basic Family Pension

6. Who are included as ‘Family’ for the purpose of Family Pension?

The term ‘Family’ for the purpose of Family Pension includes:

(i) Wife in case of male Railway Servant

(ii) Husband in case of female Railway Servant

(iii) Sons up to age of 25 year (in case of physically crippled or mentally disabled son there is no age bar).

(iv) Unmarried daughters.

(v) Divorced/Widow daughters.

(vi) Parents (mother and then father) wholly dependent.

(vii) The criteria of dependency is earning less than Rs.3500/- and applicable in item (iii) to (vi) above.

Illustration for calculating Family Pension

In case of an employee serving in Pay Band-2 ScaleRs.9300-34800 in Grade Pay Rs.4200 who was drawing Last Pay Rs.20000/- retires on superannuation after completing 33 years of qualifying service. 40% commutation of Pension opted.

Family pension (FP) (Minimum Rs.3500/-)

= 30% of Last Pay (LP)

= 30% of LP + DR

= 30% of 20000

= Rs.6000/- + DR

Family pension at the enhanced rate in case of death of serving employee (for a period of 1st ten years or remarriage, whichever earlier )

= 50% of the last pay drawn or twice the normal family pension or the retirement pension whichever is less

= 50% of LP or NFP x 2

= 50% of 20000 = 10000 or

= 6000 x 2 = 12000

i.e. Rs.10000/- + DR

7. How pensionary benefits are granted to the family of persons missing or whose whereabouts are not known?

A person who has disappeared or whose whereabouts are not known, is deemed to be dead after 7 years of the date of his disappearance and as such the family of the employee concerned has to wait for 7 years for the grant of settlement dues. To mitigate the hardship, the following benefits are granted to the family:

(i) In the first instance, the family after disappearance of the employee, will be paid the amount of salary due, leave encashment due and Provident Fund.

(ii) Subsequently after the elapse of a period of one year after lodging FIR in Police Station, other benefits like DCRG and Family Pension may also be grated to the family.

(iii) However, the Deposit Linked Insurance will not be payable in such cases.

(iv) Before granting the above benefits, final report after one year of lodging FIR should be submitted and it should be ensured that the missing person is not a member of any terrorist organization.

(v) The payment of GIS will be made after seven years after date of missing.

These orders are also applied to missing pensioners.