Tamil Nadu Pension Schemes

What is the Tamil Nadu Pension Scheme?

The Tamil Nadu Pension Scheme includes different pension plans that provide financial support to people who have little or no source of income. These pension plans help senior citizens, widows, differently abled persons, and other eligible individuals by offering a monthly pension to support their day-to-day expenses and improve their financial security.

Types of Tamil Nadu Pension Scheme

Some of the populartypes of Tamil Nadu Pension scheme are as follows:

• Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension
• Indira Gandhi National Disabled Pension
• Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension
• Destitute Widow Pension Scheme
• Destitute / Deserted Wives Pension Scheme
• Destitute Differently Abled Pension Scheme 
• Unmarried Poor Women Pension
• Sri Lankan Refugees Pension Scheme (OAP, DWP, DDWP) 
• Sri Lankan Refugees Differently Abled Pension Scheme 

The eligibility criteria for all the plans with features and benefits are discussed in brief below.

1. Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension

   The Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme provides financial assistance to eligible senior citizens aged 60 years and above who belong to Below Poverty Line (BPL) households and meet the prescribed scheme conditions. 

   Eligibility

   • The applicant should be a citizen of India.
   • The applicant should belong to a Below Poverty Line (BPL) household.
   • The applicant should be at least 60 years of age.

   Features and Benefits

   • Eligible beneficiaries receive a monthly pension of ₹1,200.
   • Male pensioners receive one free dhoti, and female pensioners receive one free saree during Pongal and Deepavali.

   Eligible beneficiaries receive free rice through Anganwadi Centres:

   • 2 kg per month for those availing nutritious meals.
   • 4 kg per month for those not availing nutritious meals.

2. Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension

   
   The Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme provides financial assistance to destitute widows who are 40 years of age or above and belong to a Below Poverty Line (BPL) household.

   Eligibility

   • The applicant should be a widow and must be destitute.
   • The applicant should belong to the Below Poverty Line (BPL) category.
   • The applicant should be 40 years of age or above.

   Features and Benefits

   • Eligible beneficiaries receive a monthly pension of ₹1,200.
   • Beneficiaries receive one free saree during Pongal and Deepavali.

   Eligible beneficiaries receive free rice through Anganwadi Centres:

   • 2 kg per month for those availing nutritious meals.
   • 4 kg per month for those not availing nutritious meals.

3. Indira Gandhi National Disabled Pension

   The Indira Gandhi National Disabled Pension Scheme provides financial assistance to eligible persons with severe disabilities who belong to Below Poverty Line (BPL) households and meet the prescribed scheme conditions. 

   Eligibility

   • The applicant should belong to the Below Poverty Line (BPL) category.
   • The applicant should be 18 years of age or above.
   • The applicant should satisfy the disability criteria prescribed under the scheme. 

   Features and Benefits

   • Eligible beneficiaries receive a monthly pension of ₹1,500.
   • Male pensioners receive one free dhoti, and female pensioners receive one free saree during Pongal and Deepavali.

   Eligible beneficiaries receive free rice through Anganwadi Centres:

   • 2 kg per month for those availing nutritious meals.
   • 4 kg per month for those not availing nutritious meals.

4. Destitute Widow Pension Scheme

   The Destitute Widow Pension Scheme is provided for a woman who attained widowhood above 18 years of age.

   Eligibility

   • The applicant should be a widow.
   • The applicant should be destitute.
   • The applicant should be 18 years of age or above.
   • The applicant's fixed assets should not exceed ₹1,00,000.

   Features and Benefits

   • Eligible beneficiaries receive a monthly pension of ₹1,200.
   • Beneficiaries receive one free saree during Pongal and Deepavali.

   Eligible beneficiaries receive free rice through Anganwadi Centres:

   • 2 kg per month for those availing nutritious meals.
   • 4 kg per month for those not availing nutritious meals.

5. Destitute Differently Abled Pension Scheme 

   The Destitute Differently Abled Pension Scheme provides financial assistance to eligible differently abled persons with at least 60% disability who meet the prescribed eligibility criteria. 

   Eligibility

   • The applicant should be a hearing and speech-impaired person.
   • The applicant should be 45 years of age or above.
   • The applicant should have a disability of 60% or above.
   • The applicant should not have any source of income or means of subsistence.
   • The applicant should not be a habitual beggar.
   • The applicant should not be supported by a son or grandson aged 20 years or above.
   • The applicant should not possess property valued at more than ₹5,000.

   Features and Benefits

   • Eligible beneficiaries receive a monthly pension of ₹1,500.
   • Male pensioners receive one free dhoti, and female pensioners receive one free saree during Pongal and Deepavali.

   Eligible beneficiaries receive free rice through Anganwadi Centres:

   • 2 kg per month for those availing nutritious meals.
   • 4 kg per month for those not availing nutritious meals.

6. Destitute / Deserted Wives Pension Scheme

   Destitute / Deserted Wives Pension Scheme is provided for women whose spouses deserted without any care or protection for 5 years and above.

   Eligibility

   • The applicant should be legally divorced or deserted for a minimum of 5 years.
   • The applicant should be a destitute woman.
   • The applicant should be 30 years of age or above.
   • The applicant's fixed assets should not exceed ₹1,00,000.

   Features and Benefits

   • Eligible beneficiaries receive a monthly pension of ₹1,200.
   • Beneficiaries receive one free saree during Pongal and Deepavali.

   Eligible beneficiaries receive free rice through Anganwadi Centres:

   • 2 kg per month for those availing nutritious meals.
   • 4 kg per month for those not availing nutritious meals.

7. Unmarried Poor Women Pension

   Unmarried Poor Women Pension is provided for women who are above the age of 50 years and have not yet married, with no other source of income.

   Eligibility

   • Unmarried women of 50 years of age and above
   • Should be destitute
   • Must not have any source of income
   • Must not own any assets above ₹1,00,000

   Features and Benefits

   • Eligible beneficiaries receive a monthly pension of ₹1,200.
   • Beneficiaries receive one free saree during Pongal and Deepavali.

   Eligible beneficiaries receive free rice through Anganwadi Centres:

   • 2 kg per month for those availing nutritious meals.
   • 4 kg per month for those not availing nutritious meals.

8. Sri Lankan Refugees Pension Scheme (OAP, DWP, DDWP)

   The Sri Lankan Refugees Pension Scheme covers eligible Sri Lankan refugees under the Old Age Pension (OAP), Destitute Widow Pension (DWP), and Destitute Deserted Wives Pension (DDWP) schemes.

   Eligibility

   • Must be a Sri Lankan refugee residing in Tamil Nadu.
   • Must satisfy the eligibility criteria of the respective pension scheme (Old Age Pension, Destitute Widow Pension or Destitute Deserted Wives Pension).
   • Age and other conditions vary depending on the applicable scheme.
   • Must meet the income, asset and other eligibility conditions prescribed by the Tamil Nadu Government.

   Features and Benefits

   • The pension amount provided under this plan is ₹1,200 per month.

9. Sri Lankan Refugees Differently Abled Pension Scheme 

   The Sri Lankan Refugees Differently Abled Pension Scheme provides financial assistance to eligible differently abled Sri Lankan refugees who meet the prescribed eligibility criteria. 

   Eligibility

   • Must be a Sri Lankan refugee residing in Tamil Nadu.
   • Must be destitute.
   • Must be 18 years of age or above.
   • Must satisfy the disability and other eligibility conditions prescribed by the Tamil Nadu Government for the scheme. 

   Features and Benefits

   • The pension amount provided under this plan is ₹1,500 per month.

Key Takeaways

The Tamil Nadu Pension includes multiple welfare pension schemes for senior citizens, widows, differently abled persons, unmarried women, deserted women, and eligible Sri Lankan refugees. Depending on the scheme, eligible beneficiaries receive a monthly pension ranging from ₹1,200 to ₹1,500, along with welfare benefits such as free clothes during Pongal and Deepavali and free rice through Anganwadi Centres.