Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme- Bihar

• Under this scheme, eligible widows will receive a monthly pension of ₹400/-.

Note: The pension amount is being paid to the beneficiaries under the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) process. In this process, the pension amount is paid directly into the accounts of the beneficiaries through PFMS from the state level on the basis of the account number provided by the beneficiaries.

1. The applicant should be a resident of Bihar.
2. The applicant should be a widow.
3. The widow's age should be between 40 and 79 years.
4. The widow should belong to a Below Poverty Line (BPL) family.
5. The widow should not be receiving pension benefits under any social security scheme.

Step 1: To avail of the benefits of this scheme, eligible applicants should submit their duly filled and signed application in the prescribed format, along with the required attachments, at the Right to Public Service (RTPS) counter located at the block office level.

Step 2: Upon submission, applicants will receive an acknowledgment receipt from the RTPS counter, which should be kept for future reference.

Step 3: Applicants will be notified of the application's approval or rejection via SMS or email.

Step 4: If approved, the Sanction Order can be collected from the same RTPS counter where the application was submitted, upon presenting the acknowledgment receipt and a valid identity card.

> *Complaints & Grievance Redressal:*

• A special portal has been developed for grievance redressal in relation to the Social Security Pension Scheme (https://www.sspmis.bihar.gov.in/) where the beneficiary can go and register his complaint himself or can call on toll-free number 18003456262 and register his complaint free of cost through the helpdesk. - The complaint can be lodged in the office of the Block Development Officer, Sub-divisional Office, Assistant Director, District Social Security Cell/District Child Protection Unit, Director, Social Security Office, and Additional Chief Secretary/Principal Secretary/Secretary, Social Welfare Department. Apart from this, under the Bihar Public Grievance Redressal Rights Act, 2016, the office of the Public Grievance Redressal Officer at the sub-divisional level and the District Public Grievance Redressal Officer at the district level are functioning.