Joint Bank Account not mandatory for Spouse Pension : Union Minister of State

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science and Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh, who is also Incharge Department of Pensions, clarified and reiterated today that a joint bank account is not required for Spouse Pension.

According to the Minister, the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always sought “ease of living” for all sections of society, including retirees and pensioners, who are the nation’s assets due to their experience and long years of service.

Speaking to the media after a meeting with senior officials from the Pension Department, Dr. Jitendra Singh stated that if the Head of Office is satisfied that the retiring Government Servant is unable to open a joint account with his or her spouse due to circumstances beyond his or her control, this requirement may be relaxed. All agency banks disbursing Central Government pensions have been informed that if the spouse (Family pensioner) chooses to credit the family pension using the existing joint bank account, banks should not insist on opening a new account.

The Minister stated that a joint bank account with spouse is ideal and should be opened with their spouse in whose favour a family pension permission exists in the PPO. He stated that the operation of these accounts would be on a “former or survivor” or “either or survivor” basis, as preferred by the pensioner.

The purpose of opening a joint bank account is to ensure that the family pension may be started as soon as possible and that the family pensioner is not subjected to any problems as a result of opening a new pension bank account. This also guarantees that the family pensioner submits the bare minimum of papers when requesting the start of the family pension.