The West Bengal Government has introduced a pension scheme in 2010 for the old aged people known as the West Bengal Old age Pension scheme. The scheme benefits the people above the age of 60 who are dependent on others for their survival and not able to survive alone. They have no source of income for their living and have no support from family or relatives. The pension scheme was introduced by the West Bengal state benefitting the old aged people with financial stability.

The pension for beneficiaries received an amount of Rs 750 monthly. The Government helped the old aged people from the lower class of the society to enjoy this scheme with all the benefits provided. The amount to the pensioners will be determined by the State government in association with the Department of Finance accordingly and transferred directly to the bank account of the pensioner.

How To Apply For Old Age Pension West Bengal

Following are the ways by which the pension is applied in turn benefitting the old aged people and their beneficiaries:

  • Visit the website http://www.wbswpension.gov.in/pages/wcd_about_scheme.php
  • Click on Old age pension
  • Click on Download
  • The application form is downloaded
  • The necessary details for filling the application form are Pension case, Type of pension, Aadhar No, Voter ID no, Beneficiary Name, Gender, Date of birth, Age, Father’s Name, Mother’s name, religion, caste, spouse name and condition whether dead or alive and family income on monthly basis
  • The other details are the contact details of the applicant like House no, Village/Town/City, GP/Ward no, Block/Municipality, Police station, Sub-division, District, PIN, State, Landline no, Mobile and Email id
  • The necessary documents required for applying are applicant’s Aadhar self-attested, Ration card, Income certificate, Bank passbook, Voter ID, Nomination form
  • Enter the bank details of the applicant like the bank name, branch name, Account no and IFSC code
  • Once the application is filled and submitted to the authorized officer, an acknowledgment number is given along with a slip
  • The acknowledgment slip consists of the applicants’ name, date of application, type of pension and signature
  • One copy of the acknowledgment slip with details like acknowledgment number, Applicant Id, Reviewer/Approver name and Reviewer/Approver designation is kept for office use
  • The application form can also be obtained free from BDO / Executive officer of the respective Panchayat if the applicant resides at the same Panchayat and the filled application form should be addressed to the District Magistrate of the particular district
  • If the applicant resides in Municipal/areas outside Kolkata, the application form can be obtained from the Sub-Divisional Officer and the filled application form should be addressed to the District Magistrate of the particular district
  • If the applicant resides within the Municipality Corporation of Kolkata, the application form can be obtained from Vagrancy Office and the filled application form should be addressed to the Vagrancy controller

The eligibility criteria for allotment of National old age scheme for pensioners are:

  • The applicant should be of 60 years and above
  • If the applicant is a handicapped or physically challenged person, then the age limit of the person can be 55
  • The applicant should not have any support from anyone or close relatives or should not be able to fund himself
  • An applicant who is not looked upon by anyone
  • The applicant should be of 60 years and above
  • The applicant must not be a professional beggar receiving any benefits from any government scheme
  • The applicant should be a resident of West Bengal not less than 10 years; the condition on resident can be relaxed by the West Bengal government based on their hardship
  • The income of the applicant should not exceed Rs. 1000 monthly
  • The applicant should not enjoy any other government pension

To search for the pension status, the following are the steps to be done:

The scheme has benefitted many old aged people and their beneficiaries in the state of West Bengal and is of great help to them.