Government orders early disbursal of pension benefits to kin of missing employees

The state government has issued an order to help eligible family members of missing government employees and pensioners in getting early benefits including pension, gratuity and leave encashment.

The family members of such employees will have to lodge a report at the police station concerned and get a police report stating that the employee or pensioner could not be traced despite all efforts.

Earlier, an employee’s family had to wait for a year after lodging the report with the police to get the benefits. After the order, this duration will be reduced to six months.

The Centre had issued guidelines in this regard in 2013 and reduced the waiting period vide its order dated June 24, 2013, but the UP government did not implement it in the state.

The copies of the order issued by special secretary (finance), UP, Neel Ratan Kumar dated April 13, 2017, have been sent to all the additional chief secretaries, principal secretaries, secretaries and the director of pension directorate.

The order states that the government has decided to amend its previous order dated March 20, 1987, by reducing the waiting period from one year to six months.

Complaints lodged before the date of the order will also be covered under it.

“The state government’s move will help eligible people get early benefits. They will now be able to apply for family pension, salary dues, leave encashment and GPF and gratuity at the head office of the organisation where the employee or pensioner had last served,” said director, directorate of pension, Om Prakash Dwivedi while talking to HT from Lucknow.