Neethi V. Kannanth
Every year government pensioners are required to submit their annual life certificate between November 1 and November 30. Until now, to submit the annual life certificate the pensioners had to visit the bank or post office. But not anymore! Pensioners can now submit a life certificate by sitting at home by availing the door step services provided by various public sector banks and the country's postal service.
What is an Annual Life Certificate?
A life certificate is a proof of existence produced to an authorized pension distributor or agency such as bank or post office by an individual stating that he/she is alive. The government and insurance companies insist on this certificate before making pension or annuity payments. This is to ensure that the organization doesn't continue payments after the death of a pensioner. The certificate is usually required annually.
How to Avail Door Step Services?
The Doorstep Banking Alliance has introduced the service for collection of life certificates under the umbrella of doorstep banking services. 12 public sector banks have come together to form an alliance to provide doorstep services to their customers. The banks in the alliance include State Bank of India (SBI), Punjab National Bank (PNB), Bank of Baroda, Bank of India, Canara Bank, Bank of Maharashtra, Central Bank of India, Indian Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, Punjab & Sind Bank, UCO Bank and Union Bank of India.
Pensioners looking to avail of this service will have to first book the service either via mobile app, website or by calling on toll-free number. The doorstep agent will visit the pensioner's home on the date and time as per the appointment.
The alliance Website says, "In the current pandemic situation, it is difficult for customers, especially pensioners, to visit branches for the Submission of Life Certificate. PSB Alliance has brought the Submission of Digital Life Certificate facility through Door Step Banking, Pensioners may book the service through any of channel i.e. DSB App/Web Portal/Toll Free Numbers. DSB Agent will visit the doorstep of the customer and collect an online Life Certificate using Jeevan Pramaan App."
To book the service, download 'Doorstep Banking' app from Google Playstore or access the website doorstepbanks.com or www.dsb.imfast.co.in/doorstep/login or call on toll-free number 18001213721 or 18001037188.
Doorstep service through postman
The Department of Posts along with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology launched the Doorstep Service for submission of Digital Life Certificate through the postman in November last year.
"In order to make this facility available across the country, DoPPW roped in the India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) to utilize its huge network of Postmen and Gramin Dak Sevaks in providing doorstep facility to pensioners for submission of life certificate digitally." To avail this service, pensioners will have to download 'Postinfo' App," the pension department mentioned in its circular.
This service is available for both IPPB and non-IPPB customers. To avail the Digital Life Certificate (DLC) service of the post office, a customer can either contact the nearest post office or place a request for a doorstep visit by the postman/Grameen Dak Sevak. An appointment can also be scheduled through the Post Info app or through the website.
Charges for availing Digital Life Certificate (DLC) service
A nominal fee of Rs 70 (inclusive of GST/ CESS) will be charged for every successful generation of DLC. There will be no doorstep charges levied for IPPB or non-IPPB customers for issuance of DLC.
It may be noted that the issuance of DLC is a completely paperless, seamless and hassle-free process, and the certificate is generated instantly. On successful completion, a Pramaan ID is generated that is shared with the pensioner by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) directly. Once the Pramaan ID is generated, pensioners can download the DLC through the link https://jeevanpramaan.gov.in/ppouser/login.
However, before the Postmen or the Gramin Dak Sevak visits your place, pensioners need to keep the following documents handy:
- Aadhaar number
- Existing mobile number
- Type of pension
- Sanctioning Authority
- PPO number
- Bank account number where pension is credited
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