Order of Priority for Family Pension under Rule 50 of CCS (Pension) Rules 2021
No. 1/1(39)/2026-P&PW (E) / E-12002-(1)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, PG and Pensions
Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare
3rd Floor, Loknayak Bhawan,
Khan Market, New Delhi-110003
Dated: 29.10.2026
OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject:- Order of priority among eligible family members for payment of family pension- reg.
The undersigned is directed to say that the admissibility of family pension to the family members of a deceased Government servant or pensioner is regulated by the statutory order of eligibility under Rule 50 of the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 2021. The following position is reiterated for uniform examination of claims.
2. The family pension is ordinarily payable first to the surviving legally wedded spouse, including an eligible post-retiral spouse in accordance with the conditions laid down in the Rule.
3. After the death of the spouse or cessation of the entitlement of spouse, the children, including adopted children, step children, children born after the retirement and after death of the Government servant or pensioner, become eligible for family pension.
3.1 There are three broad categories of children who may be considered for family pension. Children in the first category become eligible in the order of their birth, and their entitlement ceases on attaining the age of 25 years, marriage or earning a livelihood, whichever is earlier. In the absence of or on the ineligibility of all children in the first category, children suffering from a mental or physical disability become eligible in the order of their birth. They continue to receive family pension until they start earning a livelihood; marriage does not affect their eligibility.
3.2 In the absence of or on the ineligibility of all children in the first and second categories, unmarried, widowed or divorced daughters become eligible in the order of their birth, provided they were dependent on their parent or parents when he or she or they were alive and are not earning a livelihood when family pension is payable to them. Their entitlement continues until marriage/remarriage or earning a livelihood, whichever is earlier.
4. However, in cases of marital discord, a female Government servant or pensioner may nominate her children to receive family pension in preference to her husband, subject to fulfilment of the prescribed conditions. Also, in cases of judicial separation, eligible children are paid family pension before the judicially separated spouse, who may be paid family pension on cessation of the eligibility of such children.
5. Further, in the circumstances mentioned in Rule 50(8)(e) to (g), family pension may be payable to the surviving widow along with eligible children of another deceased wife, a divorced wife or from a void or voidable marriage, as the case may be.
6. On the death or cessation of eligibility of the spouse and children, eligible dependent parents, including adoptive parents, may be considered. Ordinarily, the mother precedes the father. Lastly, family pension may be payable to dependent siblings suffering from a mental or physical disability on the death or cessation of eligibility of the spouse, children and dependent parents.
7. It is stated that the family pension is payable to the family members as mentioned above in accordance with the provisions of the CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021.
8. All Ministries/Departments are requested to bring these instructions to the notice of the officials dealing with family pension.
9. This issues with the approval of the competent authority.
(Deepak Gupta)
Under Secretary to the Government of India
To,
All Ministries/Departments/Organisations of the Government of India
(As per standard distribution list)
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