The Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW) has rolled out a detailed schedule designed to streamline and speed up the pension and gratuity
authorisation process for central government employees. In line with the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 2021, the department aims to ensure that every retiring employee receives benefits without delay or administrative bottlenecks. In its latest communication, the department notes, “The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department's OM No. 11/15/2022-P&PW(H)- 8363 (IV) dated 25-10-2024 on the above subject and to say that the process of authorisation of pension and gratuity involves various activities to be performed by different offices/authorities. Timelines have been prescribed in the Central Civil Service (Pension) Rules, 2021, for the completion of each of these activities.” Understanding Superannuation Pension Superannuation marks the official retirement age of 58 years for superior service and 60 years for basic service. Employees who retire on reaching this threshold qualify for a superannuation pension and allied retirement benefits. Key Milestones Before Retirement According to the newly detailed timeline, the retirement processing journey begins long before an employee’s final working day. Fifteen months prior, under Rule 54, Heads of Department must compile a monthly list of employees scheduled to retire in the next 15 months. At the one-year mark, Rule 55 requires verification of government accommodation details to generate the essential No Demand Certificate. During the six to twelve months before retirement, Rules 56 and 57 mandate comprehensive service verification. Any missing entries, errors, or irregularities in the service record must be corrected early to avoid delays later. Final Stages Leading To Pension Disbursement Six months before retirement, employees must submit Form 6-A as outlined under Rule 57(2)(a). Four months before retirement, the head of office must finalise Part I of Form 7, including the relevant checklists and calculation sheets, in accordance with Rules 59 and 60. Two months prior, the accounts officer will issue the Pension Payment Order (PPO). The DoPPW reiterates, “As per Rule 63 (4) (a) The Accounts Officer shall forward a copy of the Pension Payment Order or the Revised Pension Payment Authority… not later than two months from the date of receipt of pension papers…” Following this, the Central Pension Accounting Office must generate the Special Seal of Authority within 21 days, as required under Rule 63(4)(b). Finally, on the due date, the pension disbursing authority ensures that the pension is released to the retiring employee without delay.
