Delhi govt to disburse social security pensions every month

The government’s move is intended to ease the financial problems faced by the beneficiaries.

At present, over six lakh people receive such pension from the Delhi government. These include 3.88 lakh old people, 1.6 lakh widows and 63,000 with physical disabilities.

“We have decided to disburse beneficiaries of old age, physical disability and widow pensions on a monthly basis from next month instead of making quarterly payment. The decision will benefit lakhs of beneficiaries,” said Ashwani Kumar, Principal Secretary of Social Welfare Department and Women & Child Development Department.

The official added that the new system would ensure time-bound pensions to beneficiaries every month. Due to the existing quarterly payment method, beneficiaries had to wait for three months for the pension to be released and, in several cases, their wait extended up to five-six months if there were errors in their documents.

The Delhi government disburses Rs 1,500 to each beneficiary under all three categories. However, it makes a distinction between old people with those between 60 and 70 years of age entitled to a monthly pension of Rs 1,000 and those above 70 getting Rs 1,500.