Credit of pension to be allowed to joint accounts of pensioners: FD

JAMMU, APRIL 11, 2017: The State Government has accorded sanction to allow credit of pension to joint accounts operated by pensioner with his/her spouse in whose favor an authorization for family pension already exists in the Pension Payment Order (PPO).
The joint account of the pensioner with the spouse shall have the mode of operation as ‘former or survivor’ or ‘Either or Survivor’ and shall be subject to various terms and conditions.
As per an order issued by the Commissioner Secretary Finance, Mr Navin Kumar Choudhary, once the pension has been credited to a pensioner’s bank account, the liability of the government/bank shall cease. No further liability shall arise, even if the spouse wrongly draws the amount. As the pension is payable only during the life of a pensioner, his/her death shall be intimated to the bank at the earliest and in any case within one month of the demise, so that the bank does not continue crediting monthly pension to the joint account with the spouse, after the death of the pensioner. If, however, any amount has been wrongly credited to the joint account, it shall be recoverable from the joint account and/or any other account held by the pensioner/spouse either individually or jointly. The legal heirs, successors, executors etc. shall also be liable to refund any amount, which has been wrongly credited to the joint account.
Payment of arrears of Pension would continue to be applicable to a Joint Account with the pensioner’s spouse. If there is an ‘accepted nomination’ in accordance with Rules, arrears mentioned in the Rules shall be payable to such nominee.
Existing pensioners desiring to get their pension credited to a joint account have been advised to submit an application to the branch/bank, from where they are presently drawing pension in the enclosed form. The application would also be signed by the pensioner’s spouse in token of having accepted the terms and conditions laid down in the order.
These instructions shall also be applicable to the Govt., servants to retire henceforth.