Government Eases Family Pension Rules for Dependent Divorced Daughters

The central government has issued a significant clarification regarding the eligibility of divorced daughters for family pension. Under the revised norms, a daughter who was dependent on her government employee or pensioner parent and whose divorce proceedings commenced during the lifetime of the parent will be eligible for family pension. This is applicable even if the final divorce decree is issued after the death of the parent.This clarification, provided by Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Jitendra Singh, comes under the Central Civil Service (Pension) Rules, 2021. The move aims to provide financial security to daughters who may be financially vulnerable following a divorce, even if the legal proceedings outlive their parents.The rules specify that for a divorced daughter to be eligible, the divorce petition must have been filed in a competent court during the lifetime of the government servant or pensioner or their spouse. The family pension will commence from the date of the divorce decree. This provision ensures that daughters who were financially dependent on their parents and undergoing the process of divorce are not left without support.Furthermore, the government has reiterated that unmarried, widowed, or divorced daughters beyond the age of 25 are entitled to family pension for life or until they remarry or start earning a livelihood, whichever is earlier. The entitlement of a divorced daughter to the family pension arises after all other eligible family members, such as a spouse or dependent children under the specified age, have ceased to be eligible. The daughter must have been dependent on her parents at the time of their demise.This initiative is part of a series of reforms aimed at making the pension process more streamlined and addressing the evolving social landscape. The government's clarification ensures that the intended financial support reaches the rightful dependents in a timely and efficient manner.