Ghaziabad Old Age Pension Crisis: Over 22,000 Elderly Residents Left Without Payouts for Five Months

A grave administrative crisis has unfolded in Ghaziabad, leaving over 22,000 senior citizens in deep financial distress as their mandated old-age pensions have remained withheld for five consecutive months. A total of 22,618 registered elderly beneficiaries across the district have reported receiving no financial support credited to their bank accounts during the ongoing financial year. The disruption has severely impacted vulnerable populations, including senior citizens residing at the state-run old age home in Duhai managed by the Social Welfare Department, who rely entirely on these periodic allowances to cover their essential daily needs, medicines, and personal expenses.Breakdown in Quarterly Disbursal and Departmental SilenceUnder standard administrative protocols, quarterly old-age pension installments covering April, May, and June are typically disbursed between the end of June and early July. However, with September already underway, beneficiaries have experienced a prolonged blackout period, noting that their last successful credit occurred in February to clear dues up to March 2025. When anxious seniors and local representatives approach the district Social Welfare Department offices for answers, officials have failed to provide concrete explanations or definitive timelines for fund releases, offering only vague assurances that payments will be processed soon. District Social Welfare Officer Sandeep Chaudhary acknowledged that installments have been stalled for five months due to unclear administrative factors, leaving thousands of elderly residents waiting for immediate financial relief.