Kerala Pension Scheme - Social Security System, Govt. of Kerala

Kerala Pension

The Government of Kerala has introduced various social welfare pension schemes to support those with marginalized economic backgrounds across the state. These pensions provide a regular source of income to residents who have little or no other financial support. This helps economically vulnerable sections meet basic needs, medical expenses, and emergencies. However, not every unemployed or low-income person in Kerala is eligible for these pensions. Applicants willing to benefit from the scheme must meet specific eligibility criteria and belong to particular beneficiary categories defined as per the schemes.

What is the Kerala Pension Scheme?

The Kerala Pension Scheme is a comprehensive social security program. This scheme aims at supporting some of the most vulnerable sections of society. It provides regular monthly pension payments to elderly citizens who have no other source of income, economically backward individuals, and persons living with disabilities.

The scheme also extends support to women in specific vulnerable categories, such as widows and unmarried women above a certain age, ensuring they have financial stability. By providing regular financial assistance, this pension plan helps beneficiaries maintain a basic standard of living. This initiative not only safeguards their economic well-being but also brings dignity and security to those who might otherwise face monetary hardship.

Schemes Under Kerala Pension

Kerala Pension has various schemes under them for providing benefits to people who fall under a particular category. By allotting people under specific pension groups, the Government can easily find out if every one of the pensioners has received their pension or not.

Here is a detailed discussion of these schemes:

Agricultural Labour Pension

This pension supports agriculture labourers in Kerala, providing financial assistance to those who have served the sector for many years.

Eligibility criteria for this pension and other features and benefits are listed below:

Eligibility
- Age: 60 years or above
- Permanent resident of Kerala
- Minimum 10 years of work as an agriculture labourer
- Family income below ₹1,00,000 per annum
- Should be destitute and not a plantation worker
Features and Benefits
- Pension amount: ₹1,600 per month
- Provides financial aid and social security
Documents Required
- Aadhaar Card
- Land ownership proof
- Senior Citizen ID
- Bank statements (1 year)
Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension

The Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme provides financial aid to widows in Kerala. These widows must belong to an economically backward class in society to get benefits from this plan.

Eligibility
- Widow above 18 years of age
- Income below ₹35,000 per annum
- Permanent resident of Kerala
- Must not be a government employee
Documents
- Aadhaar Card
- Bank account
- Parivar Register copy
- Panchayat recommendation
Features and Benefits
- This pension can provide social security and financial support to the elderly in Kerala.
- The pension amount provided under this scheme is Rs. 1600/-

*All savings are provided by the insurer as per the IRDAI approved insurance plan. Standard T&C Apply

Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme

Indira Gandhi National Disability (Handicapped) Pension is provided for permanent residents of Kerala who are physically challenged or mentally disabled. Eligibilities and other features and benefits of this plan are discussed in brief below.

Eligibility

Applicants must be 80% or more handicapped
The applicant should fall under the poverty line of the state
Should not be a government employee
There is no age bar for this scheme

Documents

BPL Certificate
Recommendation from the Village Panchayat
Aadhar Card
Copy of Parivar Register
Bank Account

Features and Benefits

The amount allotted under this pension scheme is Rs.1,600/- per month.
This pension can provide social security and financial support to the disabled in Kerala.
People with no other source of income can count on this pension for their medical expenses.

Pension for the Unmarried Women above 50 years

Pension for the Unmarried Women above 50 years is introduced for women who are unmarried and are above the age of 50 years. Few other eligibility, features, and benefits are discussed in brief below.

Eligibility

Since this plan is strictly created for unmarried women, the applicant must not be married, divorced, widowed, or deserted.
The annual income of the single woman should be below Rs.35,000/-.
Permanent residents of Kerala are eligible.
The single woman must not be an employee of the Government.

Features and Benefits

The amount provided under this pension scheme is Rs. 1,600/- per month.
As the pensioner gets monthly payment, this amount can act as an income replacement to the pensioner.

Documents Required

AADHAR Card
Bank Passbook
Bank Statements
Copy of Parivar Register
Recommendation letter from the municipal office

Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme

The Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme was created to provide a helping hand to widows in Kerala. These widows must belong to an economically backward class in society to get benefits from this plan. Eligibilities, features, and benefits for this plan are discussed in brief below.

Eligibility

Must be a widow who is above 18 years of age.
Income must not exceed Rs. 35,000/-.
Must be a permanent resident in Kerala.
Should not be a government employee.

Documents

Aadhar Card
Bank Account
Copy of Parivar Register
Recommendation from the Village Panchayat

Features and Benefits

The pension can act as a great source of income for widows who have no other source of income in their life.
The amount provided under this pension scheme is Rs.1,600/-

Policy Beneficiaries

Kerala Pension scheme benefits for people who fall under the below-mentioned categories:

Women who are widowed at the age of 18 and above with no other assets or source of income

People who are physically challenged with 80% of disability

People who are mentally challenged with 40% of disability

Women who are unmarried and stay single even after they are 50 years old

Labours of Agriculture who earn below minimum wages

FAQ's

Q. What is the difference between deserted women and widowed women? Are they the same?

Ans: No, deserted women and widowed women are not the same. A deserted woman states to a woman whose spouse left the family and the wife without any notice. The man of the family is not providing any financial support to the family and even refused to take any care at all and disappeared for 5 years.
A widowed woman is a woman whose spouse died and the woman hasn’t remarried.
Q. Who is eligible for getting the Indira Gandhi Old Age Pension Scheme?

Ans: As the name states, the Old Age Pension Scheme can be taken by people above the age of 60 and 65. People who are known as senior citizens in a community with low annual income are eligible.
Old Age People whose own sons or daughters refused to take care of them are also eligible for getting benefits under this scheme only if they hadn't received any other pension from the Government or their workplace.
Q. Are mentally challenged people eligible to get Disability Pension?

Ans: Yes. Mentally challenged people are eligible to receive a disability pension. For getting this pension, the person must have an attested medical certificate from their doctors stating that the medical disability of the person is above 40%.
40% in mental disability is considered to be the correct percentage for the Government to provide pension to the person.
Q. What is the eligibility for getting an unmarried women's Pension?

Ans: For receiving benefits under the Unmarried women scheme, the woman must be unmarried in their life until they are 50 years of age. If they have married and then got separated or the husband dies, they fall into different categories.
Deserted women, Divorced Women, and Widowed Women are not eligible for getting pensions under this scheme.