Now Employee Pension Scheme (EPS) pensioners can submit life certificate without Aadhaar or even if Aadhaar finger print authentication fails in case of those who have Aadhaar.
These pensioners had been facing problems in submitting life certificate digitally leading to stoppage of their pension. EPFO has issued instructions to all pension disbursing banks and post offices directing them to provide alternative mechanisms, including acceptance of paper life certificate, for submission of proof of life certificate.
As per the directive, for giving pension to pensioners who can not submit digital life certificate on account of not possessing Aadhaar, the following mechanism may be adopted:-
1- The bank manager may co-ordinate with the bank branch where the Aadhaar enrollment facility is available and get the beneficiary enrolled for aadhaar.Banks should make special arrangements for bedridden, differently abled and senior citizens who are unable to visit aadhaar enrollment centre.
2- Till such time Aadhaar is assigned to to such persons, a paper life certificate may be accepted after collecting Aadhaar enrolment application receipts from such persons.
3- Banks may make provision for IRIS scanner along with finger print scanner.It has been observed that in many cases IRIS authentication is successful even though finger print authentication has failed.
4- In case where finger print or IRIS authentication is not feasible for any reason , an entry should be made in the exception register with 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 deemed fit by the bank.
SOURCE: ET online/April 10, 2018
