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Thiruvananthapuram: Around 12.5 lakh people have been excluded from the state government’s social security pension scheme as they failed to produce income certificates.
According to preliminary assumptions, these people refrained from producing the certificate as their annual income might be higher than the prescribed limits of the scheme. Those having an annual income of more than Rs 1 lakh are not eligible for welfare pension.
As per reports, they are not likely to receive pension from March 2023 onwards. With this, the government will be able to cut off a monthly expenditure of Rs 192 crore.
February 28 was the last date for submission of the income certificate. However, out of 52.5 lakh beneficiaries who receive a monthly pension of Rs 1600, only 40 lakh have produced the certificates.
In addition, the pension benefits of about 2.5 lakh people are often withheld due to various reasons. Income certificate was made mandatory after it came to the notice that several people with high annual income have been availing pension benefits.
As per the new directive, the annual income of beneficiaries was to be calculated after excluding the income of their married children.
The final list of beneficiaries will be announced after the details are uploaded on the Information Kerala Mission (IKM) website. Pension till the month of December has been distributed so far.
Meanwhile, beneficiaries can produce income certificates even now. Their pension will be reinstated from the date of submission of the certificate, but the interim arrears will not be paid.
The decision is applicable for social security pension only. As those availing pension through welfare boards do not have any income limits, they will continue to receive the benefits.
Reportedly, there are a total of 7 lakh beneficiaries under the welfare pension scheme.
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