Hyderabad: The state govt has extended ‘instant pension’ facility to additional categories of social security pension beneficiaries, enabling the wives of deceased pensioners to receive pensions without delay. Women development and panchayat raj minister Seethakka said the govt has issued orders extending the facility, which was earlier limited to the wives of deceased old-age pension beneficiaries, to include persons with disabilities, toddy tappers, handloom weavers and families of individuals suffering from dialysis-dependent conditions, HIV and filariasis.The department has issued guidelines for implementing the expanded facility. Under the new provision, if the wife of a deceased male pensioner is below 57 years of age, she will be sanctioned a widow pension. If she is 57 years or above, she will be eligible for an old-age pension.To avail themselves of the facility, applicants must submit their Aadhaar card, the first page of bank passbook, the deceased pensioner’s Aadhaar card and the death certificate. Applications should be submitted to the panchayat secretary in rural areas and the bill collector in urban areas.After verifying the documents, the officials concerned will enter the details into the Cheyutha portal. The pension will be sanctioned once the applicant’s eligibility is confirmed. The govt has taken the decision to ensure that women who lose their husbands do not face financial difficulties and that social security assistance continues for families dependent on pension benefits.
