HOW WE NEED TO HELP FAMILY PENSIONERS
Recently when two of our Association pensioner- members died,our Office Bearers got in touch with the Pension Cell of our Hyderabad Division OS dept.We then realized that there are some issues on which family pensioners need our help and assistance.
Normally,when a retiree unfortunately dies,the family members remain-besides in a state of agony caused by the bereavement-busy and engaged in religious ceremonies on the death of the retiree for about a fortnight.Then only they are able to get in touch with LIC Pension disbursing office for fulfillment of various formalities by the family pensioner for regularizing family pension and reschedule of Mediclaim premium.This process takes further time.
So,what the various Pensioners' Associations can do to help the family pensioners of their members is as follows:
1.The first thing that the Association office bearers need to do if and when a retiree unfortunately dies is to arrange for an intimation to the OS/Pension cell giving relevant details so that the office may be in a state of readiness to finalise all required benefits for the family pensioner with least delay when the latter contacts the office.
One important thing that transpired in our experience was that original death certificate was required separately for both family pension and Mediclaim purpose.Most of us are not aware of this.So it is better to advise the dependants to apply for at least 10 originals of the Death Certificate including for various other purposes that they may be required by paying required additional charges to the Municipal/Corporation authorities2.As regards the Mediclaim Premium payable by the family pensioner,it undergoes a change as there will be a change of Premium as per Table A from the existing premium under Table B.
Besides,there is a provision for exercise of an option to reduce the insurance cover to the next lower amount of sum insured.
This option should be made known to the family pensioners as the burden of Mediclaim Premium increases while the quantum of family pension is drastically less than the regular pension drawn by the deceased retiree.
3.Considering the lower amount drawn by the family pensioners,it is desirable,when a retiree who is a life member of the Association unfortunately expires,the family pensioner should also be automatically enrolled as a member of the Association without charging any life membership fee..This is justified because the members of the Association respond to calls for donations whenever they are given by the Associations,may be barring in exceptional cases.Once such enrollments are made,the Association has to take extra interest in helping them whenever they encounter any problem,especially in matters relating to Mediclaim.
4.Fellow pensioners who had close relations with deceased retirees can also play a very useful role to help family pensioners,besides the Associations ,which I am sure is presently happening for the most part.
5.Family pensioners should also be helped to fulfill some requirements called for by LIC whenever there are any options that are to be exercised under Mediclaim and also for submission of existence certificate once a year etc as the family pensioners are not very much in the knowledge of developments in regard to pension matters as are regular pensioners.
Greetings.
C H Mahadevan
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