₹20,000 financial aid: Know who qualifies under NFBS and what relief Kerala govt has announced

Women from Kerala who married men from other states can now also be eligible for financial assistance under the National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS) if they return to Kerala and settle here permanently after their husbands' death.

State Civil Supplies Minister Anoop Jacob announced the clarification, saying the NFBS rules have been amended to extend the benefit to such women, subject to the scheme's eligibility conditions.

But what exactly is NFBS, who can apply and what documents are required? Here is what you need to know.

What is the National Family Benefit Scheme?

The National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS) is a family welfare scheme under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) of the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India.

It provides financial assistance to a bereaved household when its primary breadwinner dies, irrespective of the cause of death.

The assistance is given to a surviving member of the deceased person's household who, following a local inquiry, is found to be the head of the household.

How much financial assistance is given?

Under NFBS, an eligible family receives ₹20,000 as a lump-sum financial assistance.

The benefit is provided for each eligible case involving the death of the family's primary breadwinner.

The assistance is intended to support a poor household following the loss of the person who was primarily responsible for its income.

Who is eligible for NFBS?

The scheme is meant for families living Below Poverty Line (BPL).

For a family to qualify, its primary breadwinner must have died. The deceased breadwinner must have been more than 18 years old and less than 60 years old at the time of death.

The applicant must be the surviving member of the household who is identified as the head of the household or the succeeding primary breadwinner.

The scheme does not restrict assistance based on the cause of death. The death of the eligible breadwinner can be due to any cause, provided the other conditions under the scheme are satisfied.

What has changed for women who married outside Kerala?

The latest clarification concerns women from Kerala who married men from other states.

According to Minister Anoop Jacob, the amended NFBS provisions extend eligibility to women who return to Kerala and settle permanently after the death of their husbands.

This means that marrying a person from another state does not by itself prevent an otherwise eligible woman from receiving NFBS assistance after returning to Kerala.

However, specific conditions have to be met.

What proof will these women need?

Women seeking assistance under this provision will have to produce certificates from the concerned district authorities in the respective states.

These certificates must confirm that the applicant has not received NFBS assistance earlier.

This is an important requirement for women whose husbands were from another state, as the authorities need to establish that the NFBS benefit has not already been provided there.

How long must they have lived in Kerala?

The amended rules also specify a residency requirement.

The minister said:

"All persons, who have been continuously residing in Keralam for a period of not less than three years immediately preceding the date of submission of the application for financial assistance, shall be considered Keralites for the scheme."

Therefore, continuous residence in Kerala for at least three years immediately before submitting the application is the stated requirement for being considered a Keralite under the scheme.

Why will the information be displayed at ration shops?

The government wants the revised eligibility information to reach people who may qualify for the assistance.

According to a statement issued by the minister's office on Thursday, information about the eligibility will be displayed on the notice boards of ration shops and other public distribution centres.

The move followed a letter submitted by Chandran Chami, who sought steps to ensure that the information was prominently displayed on ration-shop notice boards.

Minister Anoop Jacob said the amended provisions now cover eligible women who return and permanently settle in Kerala following the death of their husbands.

What are the main eligibility conditions?

In simple terms, the information provided for NFBS lists these basic conditions:

• The applicant must be a citizen of India.
• The applicant's family must be living Below Poverty Line (BPL).
• The family's primary breadwinner must have died.
• The deceased breadwinner must have been more than 18 and less than 60 years old.
• The applicant must be the succeeding primary breadwinner of the family.
• The surviving member must be identified as the head of the household after local inquiry.
• The assistance is ₹20,000 as a lump sum.
• The assistance is available irrespective of the cause of death, subject to the scheme's other conditions.

For women who married men from other states and returned to Kerala after their husbands' deaths, the amended provisions additionally require the relevant three-year continuous residence and proof that NFBS assistance was not previously received.

Where can you get more information?

More details about the National Family Benefit Scheme are available through the e-Gov Services website and UMANG.

The scheme comes under the broader National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) of the Union Ministry of Rural Development.

The Kerala government's decision to publicise the amended eligibility through ration shops and public distribution centres is intended to make the information accessible to people who may not otherwise be aware of the provision.