Timeline for annual identification, life certification by defence pensioners extended

In a major announcement, the Ministry of Defence has extended the timeline for completing the annual identification/life certification by the defence pensioners.

As per the latest order, the defence pensioners, who are yet to complete the same, can now complete the process by June 25, 2022.

It is pertinent to mention here that 34,636 pensioners, who have migrated to SPARSH, have not completed their annual identification – neither online nor through their respective banks by November 2021.

However, the monthly pension (April) was credited through a special one-time waiver for 58,275 Pensioners (out of 4.47 lakh Migrated Pensioners on SPARSH), as their annual identification details could not be verified by their respective banks by month-closing.

“The process of annual identification/life certification is a statutory requirement for continued and timely credit of monthly pension. In the absence of Annual Identification/Life Certification, the initial waiver was given till May 25, 2022 and the same has now been extended by MoD till June 25, 2022,” PIB release read.