Pension stopped or life certificate not accepted? India guide for pensioners — November life certificate (80+ from 1 October), Jeevan Pramaan face authentication, doorstep options, arrears after submission, EPS-95 pensioners, CPENGRAMS complaint 1800-11-1960, bank delay compensation (2026)
Plain step-by-step guide for Central and State government pensioners, family pensioners and EPS-95 (EPFO) pensioners whose pension has stopped or who need to submit the annual life certificate: when and how to submit it, the doorstep and face-authentication options, why pension stops and how arrears are paid, other common reasons for stoppage, and where to complain. Educational only — not legal advice. Adhiwakta does not submit certificates or complaints or contact banks or offices for you.
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When is the life certificate due?
Central Government pensioners submit the annual life certificate in November. Pensioners aged 80 and above can submit from 1 October (Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare OM of 31 October 2025). If it is not submitted by 30 November, pension from December onwards is withheld until it is submitted — then pension restarts and arrears are paid. Many State Governments follow a similar November schedule, but check your State treasury or pension office. EPS-95 pensioners of EPFO can submit a digital life certificate at any time of the year; it is valid for one year from the date of submission, so renew it before that date.
Ways to submit — you may not need to visit the bank
You can: (1) appear in person at the pension-paying bank branch or post office; (2) send the life certificate form signed by a designated official — such as a gazetted officer, magistrate, sub-registrar, tehsildar or naib tehsildar, BDO, police officer of sub-inspector rank in charge of a station, postmaster, treasury officer, MP / MLA or gram panchayat head — which exempts you from personal appearance; (3) give a digital life certificate through Jeevan Pramaan with a fingerprint or iris device at a bank, post office or Common Service Centre; (4) use face authentication on an Android smartphone with the Jeevan Pramaan and Aadhaar Face RD apps; or (5) book a doorstep service through India Post Payments Bank (postman) or the public sector banks’ doorstep banking. Aadhaar must be linked with your pension record at the bank, and the PPO number and account details must be entered correctly.
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Write in Hindi or English · general guidance, not legal advice
Family pensioners and extra certificates
Family pensioners also submit a life certificate, and some must give a yearly certificate of not remarrying, or of employment or income, depending on the category (for example a widow, or an unmarried or divorced daughter). A pensioner who is re-employed may need a re-employment certificate. If one of these is missing, the bank can stop the pension even if the life certificate was given — ask the bank in writing exactly which paper is missing.
Pension stopped even after giving the certificate?
Check the Jeevan Pramaan acknowledgement (DLC ID) and whether it shows as ‘accepted’ by your bank. Other common reasons are: Aadhaar / PAN / KYC mismatch, a name or date-of-birth difference between Aadhaar and the PPO, a dormant account, a wrong PPO number, a transfer of the pension account, or a recovery order for ‘excess payment’. Ask the branch for a written reason and contact the bank’s Centralised Pension Processing Centre (CPPC). Recovery of excess payments from retired employees is generally not allowed where the employee was not at fault (State of Punjab v. Rafiq Masih, 2015) — get the order in writing before anything is deducted. Pension is a right, not a favour (Deokinandan Prasad, 1971; D.S. Nakara, 1983).
Where to complain
Central Government pensioners can register a grievance on CPENGRAMS (pgportal.gov.in/pension) or through its toll-free number 1800-11-1960, and appeal there if not satisfied. EPS-95 pensioners can use the EPFO grievance portal (EPFiGMS) or visit the regional EPF office with the PPO number. State pensioners can approach the State treasury, accountant general or pension directorate and the State grievance portal. For a bank’s failure, complain to the bank and then the RBI Ombudsman. Under RBI directions for agency banks, if the bank delays crediting pension or arrears because of its own mistake, it must pay compensation at 8 percent per year, credited automatically. Old-age, widow and disability pensions under State social-security schemes have their own annual verification — ask at the block, tehsil or municipal office.
Avoid these mistakes
Do not wait until the last week of November — servers and branches get crowded. Never share your Aadhaar OTP, bank OTP or PIN with anyone who calls about ‘updating your life certificate’ — this is a common fraud; government offices do not ask for OTPs on calls. Keep a photo of the PPO, the DLC acknowledgement and every complaint number. If a parent is bedridden, use the doorstep service or a designated official’s signature instead of carrying them to the bank.
How Adhiwakta can help
We do not submit life certificates or complaints, contact banks or pension offices, or promise any result. Adhiwakta is a facilitation platform, not a law firm. We do not file cases, appear before any authority, or promise any result. Use Ask Adhiwakta to describe your situation for general guidance from an independent advocate, or start with the AI helper to organise your facts and papers. Educational only — not formal legal advice.
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the last date for the pensioner life certificate?
- For Central Government pensioners, 30 November each year; those aged 80 and above can submit from 1 October. EPS-95 pensioners can submit any time, valid for one year from submission. State rules may differ.
- My pension stopped because I missed the life certificate. Will I get the arrears?
- Yes. Once you submit the life certificate, pension restarts and the withheld amount is paid as arrears.
- Can I submit the life certificate from home?
- Yes — by face authentication on the Jeevan Pramaan app, through the India Post Payments Bank or banks’ doorstep service, or by sending a form signed by a designated official such as a gazetted officer.
- Where do I complain if my pension is not credited?
- Central Government pensioners can use CPENGRAMS (pgportal.gov.in/pension, toll-free 1800-11-1960). EPS-95 pensioners can use EPFiGMS. For bank failures, complain to the bank and then the RBI Ombudsman.
- Someone called asking for an OTP to update my life certificate. Is it genuine?
- No. Never share an Aadhaar or bank OTP on a call. Submit the life certificate only yourself, at the bank or post office, or through the official Jeevan Pramaan app. If money is lost, call 1930.
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