DELAY IN SWITCHING OVER TO FAMILY PENSION.

                        

  DELAY  IN SWITCHING OVER TO FAMILY PENSION.

There are so many Circulars and instructions regarding  switching over to Family pension  on death of a  pensioner.

For instance CDA circular:  165 dt. 22-2-2013.  

Nowadays , most of the pension accounts are of JOINT ACCOUNT  with their spouse to avoid delay.

In such cases , there is no reason for the delay in switching over to Family pension on receipt of the intimation of death  along with Death Certificate.

Of late we observe that , the PDAs  / CPPCs are not switching over  immediately .

They wait for  the required Documents like Declaration/ undertaking/ Non-Remarriage certificate etc.

The widows are not aware of this submission of documents , unless the PDAs  inform and provide them with forms.  Unfortunately, many Bank branches are not  knowing this procedure.  They simply intimate  to their CPPC and sit quietly.

The CPPC also not advising the Branches to obtain the documents, then only switching over can be done.  Thus the delay. Some times, the delay  is more than 6 months time.

The families running their living with pension only,  are put in to a  great  financial hardships.

The widows are in the hope that, as the death is informed, the family pension will be credited  automatically,  but it is not happening.

When the widow enquires, the Branch replies as “ there is no credit from CPPC.”

Note: Widows are to intimate the death in writing along with death certificate  in duplicate and get one copy having received  to complain later.

 It is repeatedly said and informed through many Circulars and instructions, that,

On receiving the intimation of death of pensioner, where there is Joint Account and Joint Notification already existing, they can continue paying the family pension and obtain the required documents in due course.  It is heartening to note that  these instructions are not followed.

We opine that, on receipt of death intimation. The Bank CPPC may switch over to family pension  if otherwise in order, and instruct the paying branch to obtain the required documents in a stipulated time,  otherwise,  they can Hold on the payment  till the submission.  Thus , the delay can be avoided and help the widows.

 THE ACTUAL HAPPENINGS:

The Widow is of the opinion, that the death is intimated and the family pension will be Automatically credited .

The Paying Branch thinks that, the death is intimated to CPPC and they will do the switch over to Family pension  and  pension will be credited to widow’s account

The CPPC , on receipt of the death intimation, note the occurrence  and wait for  the required documents from the paying branch for switching over to family pension.

Note: The branch is not instructing the widow to submit the required Documents , because they are not knowing the procedure / not interested.

2.   The CPPC also not instructing the  Branch to obtain the documents from the widow and forward.

The ultimate result is, no switching over and no pension being credited.

The poor Widow  is keep on visiting the branch  for her pension  and receiving the Answer , pension is not credited by CPPC, wait  for some more time. It is going on like this.

THIS IS DUE  TO IGNORANCE / IRRESPONSIBLE  OF PAYING BRANCH  AND ALSO THE CPPC NOT INSTRUCTING THE BRANCH TO OBTAIN THE DOCUMENTS FROM THE WIDOW.   NOT FOLLOWING THE PENSION PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS.

WHO CAN BE HELD RESPONSIBLE  FOR THIS HAPPENINGS  ?

We request our ESM Orgs and Associations to help the affected widows in their areas in guiding them the procedure  by helping them in filling up the documents, getting it signed, witnessed and attested for early switching over.