Don't reject pension for want of Aadhar verification, says EPFO
New Delhi : In a recent circular, launched by Employee Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), the banks has been asked not to reject monthly pension to people for want of Aadhaar card and said that alternate means for identification proof should be used, if required.
On Monday, the EPFO, in a circular has mentioned to all heads of pension disbursing banks and postal services, to list out alternate mechanism of handling pensioners who do not have Aadhaar or those whose identity cannot be authenticated due to exhaust of finger print.
It asked banks to guarantee that pensioners are facilitated for Aadhaar enrolment and a paper life certificate is accepted, in place of a digitally generated one, for pensioners who have enrolled for Aadhaar.
For those whose finger print wear out has made authentication difficult, banks will make provisions for IRIS scanner along with the fingerprint scanner in bank branches, it said.
EPFO said the agreement it signed with banks for disbursement of pension lays down the duties and responsibilities of banks including collection of Life Certificate/Non-re-marriage certificate in November every month from pensioners and forwarding the same to EPFO field offices for necessary action.
"Some complaints have been received from pensioners who are being turned away and denied pensions for want of Aadhaar or Aadhaar fingerprint authentication not being successful due to poor fingerprint of the beneficiary or due to network/ connectivity or other technical reasons. Because of this, pensioners are not able to get and submit Jeevan Pramaan," the circular said.
For giving pension to the pensioners who cannot get and submit Jeevan Pramaan on account of not possessing Aadhaar, EPFO asked banks to ensure that such pensioners are facilitated for Aadhaar enrolment. "Banks should also make special arrangement for the bed-ridden, differently abled, or senior citizens who are unable to visit the Aadhaar involvement Centre," it said.
Till the time, Aadhaar number is assigned to pensioners, a paper life certificate may be accepted after collecting Aadhaar enrolment application receipts from such pensioners. "After due verification through alternate identification documents as deemed necessary by the bank, pensions may be disbursed," it said.
An entry with necessary details such as paper life certificate, Aadhaar enrolment application receipts and the like may be recorded "in an exception register which should preferably be maintained in an electronic form". it said.
"It has been observed that in many cases IRIS authentication is successful even though finger print authentication may have failed. This is particularly true for many senior citizens. In such cases, digital life certificate may be generated on the basis of IRIS authentication and pension may be given," it said.
In case where finger print or IRIS authentication is not practicable for any reason, an entry should be made in the register with proper reasons and pension may be provided on the basis of paper life certificate and physical Aadhaar card or E-Aadhaar card of the pensioner after due verification as accepted by the bank.
"The exception register which would contain the details of exception granted alongwith paper life certificate, Aadhaar number or Aadhaar enrolment ID etc, maybe reviewed and audited periodically by senior management of the bank," the circular said.
