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Government Services

NSAP Pensions: Old Age, Widow and Disability Pension Explained

NSAP pays BPL elderly, widows and disabled people ₹200–₹500 a month from the Centre; states add ₹50 to ₹5,700, so the total depends on your state.

AS

Written by Aarav Sharma

Published 1 November 2026·6 min read

On this page8 sections
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The National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) runs three Indira Gandhi national pension schemes, for elderly people, widows and people with severe disabilities from below-poverty-line (BPL) households. The Centre pays ₹200 to ₹500 a month depending on the scheme and your age. Your state adds its own top-up of ₹50 to ₹5,700, so the amount you actually receive depends on where you live.

Key facts

Scheme Who qualifies (BPL household) Central amount per month
Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) Age 60 or above ₹200 at 60–79; ₹500 at 80+
Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS) Widow aged 40–79, and continues at 80+ ₹300 at 40–79; ₹500 at 80+
Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS) Age 18–79 with severe or multiple disabilities, and continues at 80+ ₹300 at 18–79; ₹500 at 80+
National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS) Death of the main earner aged 18–59 ₹20,000 one-time

The central rates were last revised in 2012. On 21 July 2026 the Ministry of Rural Development told the Lok Sabha that no proposal to raise them is under consideration.

The three NSAP pension schemes

NSAP began on 15 August 1995. It has five parts today: the three pension schemes above, the NFBS lump sum, and the Annapurna scheme, which gives 10 kg of free foodgrain a month to elderly people who qualify for old age pension but do not receive it. Although the Centre funds it fully, each state runs it through its own department. That is usually Social Welfare, though NSAP’s FAQ names the Revenue Department in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

The NSAP portal showed about 2.36 crore old age, 70.8 lakh widow and 9.8 lakh disability pensioners on 17 September 2026.

Eligibility and age rules

ItemDetails
BPL status is the base testfor all three schemes. Your household must be on the BPL list under the Government of India’s criteria.
Old age pensionany man or woman aged 60 or above in a BPL household. More than one person in the same family can get it.
Widow pensionthe age band was widened from 40–59 to 40–79 on 1 October 2012.
Disability pension (viklang pension)the law requires “severe or multiple disabilities”; state forms and scheme summaries on UMANG treat this as 80% or more, shown on a disability certificate.
No cut-off dateyou can apply whenever you reach the qualifying age, since selection is continuous.

Many states also run their own pension schemes with wider rules, paid from state funds. Examples include UP’s old age pension and Telangana’s Aasara (Cheyutha) pension. If you miss the BPL test, check your state scheme.

Central amount vs state top-up

NSAP guidelines encourage states to add at least as much as the Centre. The government’s 21 July 2026 reply put top-ups at ₹50 to ₹5,700 a month, with NSAP pensioners getting about ₹1,100 on average in several states. State top-ups reported in that reply, in rupees a month on top of the central share:

State Old age (60–79) Widow (40–79) Disability (18–79)
Andhra Pradesh 3,800 3,700 5,700
Haryana 2,800 2,700 2,500
Telangana 1,816 1,716 3,716
Delhi 1,800–2,300 2,200 2,200
Kerala 1,400 1,300 1,300
Tamil Nadu 1,000 900 1,200
Karnataka 400–1,000 500 1,100
Bihar 900 800 800
Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal 800 700 700
Madhya Pradesh 400 400 300

Add the central share to get the total. In Uttar Pradesh, for example, an old age pensioner aged 65 gets ₹200 from the Centre plus ₹800 from the state, or ₹1,000 a month. The widow and disability columns are added to the central ₹300. Other states differ; the full list is in the Lok Sabha annexure linked below.

Documents and where to apply

You apply to your state, not to the Ministry. Gram panchayats and municipalities help identify eligible people. The form and document list are set by each state, but expect to show:

  • proof of age;
  • proof that your household is on the BPL list;
  • Aadhaar and a bank or post office savings account in your own name (joint accounts are not allowed);
  • the husband’s death certificate, for widow pension;
  • a disability certificate, for disability pension.
  1. Collect the pension form from your gram panchayat, block office, ward office or the state’s social welfare portal. UMANG also lists an NSAP apply service.
  2. Fill in your details and attach the documents.
  3. Submit it to the block or district welfare officer, or online where your state allows.
  4. Keep the application number; you need it to track the file.
  5. After sanction, the pension is paid to your account by direct benefit transfer.

About 94% of NSAP payments go by DBT, according to PIB. Cash at the doorstep is allowed only when a beneficiary cannot reach a bank or post office. Some states pay monthly; others pay quarterly or half-yearly.

Checking payment status

  1. Open nsap.dord.gov.in and go to Reports.
  2. Under “Beneficiary Search, Track and payment details”, choose Application Tracker to follow a pending form by application number and captcha.
  3. Choose Beneficiary Search or Pension Payment Details to find a sanctioned pension by state, district and name or sanction details.
  4. Alternatively, use the NSAP service on the UMANG app to view payment status.

The pension stops on the pensioner’s death, and no nominee receives it. It can also stop if the money is not withdrawn for a long time. Submit your annual life certificate on time; since 15 July 2025, NSAP has an Aadhaar-based mobile app for digital life certificates.

For complaints, contact the district or block welfare officer, or the state’s nodal secretary for NSAP. Senior citizens can also see our note on the senior citizen card for other state benefits.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension amount?

The Centre pays ₹200 a month from age 60 to 79 and ₹500 from 80. Your state adds a top-up, so the total ranges from about ₹250 to ₹4,000 or more.

Who is eligible for the Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme?

A widow aged 40 to 79 from a BPL household. The central amount is ₹300 a month, rising to ₹500 from age 80.

How much is the viklang (disability) pension under NSAP?

₹300 a month from the Centre for people aged 18 to 79 with severe or multiple disabilities in BPL households, and ₹500 from 80. State top-ups are added.

Has the NSAP pension been increased in 2026?

No. The central rates were last revised in 2012, and the government said on 21 July 2026 that no revision is under consideration.

Can two people in the same family get old age pension?

Yes. NSAP’s FAQ says every person aged 60 or above in a BPL family is eligible.

Does the widow pension pass to a nominee after death?

No. NSAP pensions stop on the pensioner’s death. A BPL family that loses its main earner aged 18–59 can claim the ₹20,000 NFBS benefit instead.

Where do I complain if my pension has stopped?

Go to the block or district social welfare officer, or the state nodal officer for NSAP. First check the payment record on nsap.dord.gov.in.

Sources

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