The government has significantly enhanced pension grievance resolution through its Central Pension Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPENGRAMS). According to Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh, who replied to a question in the Rajya Sabha, complaints are now being resolved in an average of about 21 days. The online platform enables pensioners to register complaints, track their status and receive updates digitally, with real-time monitoring and time-bound redressal ensuring continuous oversight by ministries and departments.
The government has introduced Digital Life Certificates to streamline the verification process for pension payments. As reported by Singh, pensioners can now submit their life certificate using Aadhaar-based biometric authentication, including thumb impression, iris scan or face authentication. The Digital Life Certificate is then updated automatically in the database of the pension disbursing authority through a completely system-driven mechanism, helping ensure seamless continuation of pension payments without manual intervention. EPFO estimates 82,11,182 elderly pensioners benefit from the Employees' Pension Scheme (EPS-95).
The digital system includes SMS alerts that keep pensioners informed about the status of their submissions. According to the minister, pensioners receive automated notifications on their registered mobile numbers when a Digital Life Certificate is submitted through Jeevan Pramaan and again when the pension disbursing authority updates its records. These automated notifications improve transparency and help ensure timely delivery of pension benefits.
In case one fails to submit the Life Certificate which is valid for a period of 12 months, on time, the pension will be suspended until a fresh certificate is processed and submitted. To avoid such situations, pensioners can seek assistance from a trusted family member or caregiver to operate the Jeevan Pramaan App. The submission window opens on October 1 for retirees aged 80 or older, and pensioners can submit their digital certificates until November 30. Common mistakes to avoid include entering PPO numbers exactly as they appear on retirement papers and ensuring proper Aadhaar linking to both pension accounts and PPO records.
