Family Pension After Death: How to Apply, Documents & Process

Family pension is a monthly payment made to the family of a deceased government employee or pensioner. If your spouse, parent, or family member was a central or state government employee (or was already receiving pension), you are entitled to family pension. This guide covers the complete process, documents, forms, and timeline.

What is Family Pension?

Family pension is paid to eligible family members after the death of:

• A government employee (who died while in service), or
• A government pensioner (who was already receiving pension after retirement)

The pension is paid from the government treasury and managed by the Central Pension Accounting Office (CPAO) at cpao.nic.in for central government employees, or by the respective state AG (Accountant General) office for state employees.

Family Pension Rates (Central Government)

Note: The minimum family pension is ₹9,000/month and maximum is ₹1,25,000/month (as per 7th Pay Commission). State government rates vary.

Who is Eligible for Family Pension?

Family pension is paid in the following priority order:

1. Spouse (widow/widower) — first priority
2. Children — unmarried son below 25 years, unmarried/divorced/widowed daughter
3. Disabled children — if suffering from disorder/disability, pension continues for life
4. Dependent parents — if no eligible spouse or children

Conditions

• Spouse must not have remarried (for continued eligibility — rule relaxed for central government w.e.f. 2024)
• The deceased must have completed at least 1 year of continuous service (for death in service)
• For pensioners — family pension is automatic if the pensioner was receiving pension

Documents Required

If the Employee/Pensioner Was Already Retired

• Death certificate of the pensioner
• Pension Payment Order (PPO) — original copy
• Application in Form 14 (for central govt) or prescribed state form
• Bank details of the claimant (passbook first page)
• Aadhaar card of the claimant
• Photographs (passport size, 2–4 copies)
• Marriage certificate (to establish relationship)
• Non-remarriage certificate / self-declaration
• Life certificate of the claimant

If the Employee Died While in Service

• Death certificate
• Nomination form (submitted by employee during service)
• Service records from the department
• Last pay certificate (LPC) from the office
• Bank details of the claimant
• Aadhaar card of the claimant
• Marriage certificate / proof of relationship
• No objection from other family members (if applicable)

How to Apply for Family Pension

Step 1: Collect the Death Certificate

Obtain the death certificate from the municipal corporation or Gram Panchayat. Apply within 21 days of death for free registration; late registration requires additional process.

Step 2: Inform the Department/Bank

• If pensioner (retired): Inform the pension-disbursing bank immediately. Submit the death certificate to the bank
• If employee (in service): Inform the Head of Office of the employee's department

Step 3: Submit Form 14 (Central Government)

For central government employees/pensioners, submit Form 14 to:

• The Head of Office (if death in service), or
• The Pension Disbursing Bank (if pensioner was already retired)

Form 14 can be downloaded from doppw.gov.in.

Step 4: Submit Supporting Documents

Along with Form 14, submit:

• Death certificate (original + photocopy)
• PPO (original, if available)
• Bank passbook of the claimant
• Aadhaar card copy
• Photographs
• Non-remarriage declaration

Step 5: Bank Processes the Claim

• The bank forwards the claim to CPAO (central govt) or AG office (state govt)
• CPAO/AG office verifies and issues a Family Pension PPO in the claimant's name
• Pension starts getting credited to the claimant's bank account

Step 6: Track Status

• Central government: Track at cpao.nic.in → "Pensioner's Corner" → "Status of Pension"
• EPFO pension: Track at epfindia.gov.in

For EPFO (Private Sector) Family Pension

If the deceased was a private sector employee contributing to EPF:

1. File Form 10-D with the regional EPFO office or online at unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in
2. Required: Death certificate, relationship proof, bank details, Aadhaar
3. EPS pension (Employees' Pension Scheme) provides family pension to the spouse
4. Minimum EPS family pension: ₹1,000/month

Processing Time

Tip: Arrears from the date of death are paid along with the first pension credit.

Important Tips

1. Inform the bank immediately — The pensioner's bank account will be frozen after death. Inform the branch and submit documents quickly to avoid delays
2. Keep the PPO safe — The Pension Payment Order is the most important document. If lost, apply for a duplicate at CPAO/AG office
3. Update nominee in bank — Ensure the bank account nominee is updated to avoid complications
4. Submit life certificate annually — Family pensioners must also submit Jeevan Pramaan every year
5. Check for arrears — Family pension is payable from the day after the pensioner's death. Ensure you receive arrears for any gap period

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is Form 14 for family pension?

Form 14 is the prescribed application form for claiming family pension after the death of a central government employee or pensioner. It must be submitted to the bank or Head of Office.

Q2. How much is the family pension amount?

For central government, it is 50% of last pay for the first 7 years, then 30% of last pay (minimum ₹9,000/month). State government and EPFO rates differ.

Q3. Can a son get family pension?

Yes, an unmarried son below 25 years can receive family pension if there is no eligible spouse. A disabled son can receive it for life regardless of age.

Q4. Does family pension stop on remarriage?

For central government, the rules have been relaxed — family pension continues even after remarriage (w.e.f. 2024). State rules may vary.

Q5. What is a PPO number?

PPO stands for Pension Payment Order. It is a unique identification number for your pension account. You need it to claim family pension and for all pension-related correspondence.

Q6. How to apply for family pension for a private sector employee?

File Form 10-D with the EPFO regional office or online. The spouse receives EPS (Employees' Pension Scheme) family pension.

Q7. What if the pensioner did not nominate anyone?

Family pension is paid in the order of priority: spouse first, then children, then dependent parents. Nomination is not mandatory for family pension — it is a statutory right.

Disclaimer: CitizenNest is an independent information platform and is not affiliated with any government body. Information is compiled from official sources and may change. Always verify with CPAO or the Department of Pension.