Technology serves many purposes and post pandemic it has become an essential part of many vehicles of life. Banking is one of the verticals which is constantly upgrading with technology. So, much of our banking work has been completed through technology. However, exceptions are always there. One such exception is that senior citizens who are pensioners need to visit to submit their life certificate and that is one of the crucial things for them especially when they are extremely old or handicapped, or they do not have support like children. Through this new initiative, retired government employees will be able to reduce the hassle of going to banks physically and submitting their documents.
Every year, November 30 is the deadline before which pensioners need to submit this certificate. Starting from October, retired government employees will have to start submitting their annual life certificates digitally to their respective banks from which they are drawing their monthly pension. Before this, these pensioners had to visit a bank or post office to submit their life certificate, but now they do not have to visit their bank or post office.
Pensioners can now avail Doorstep Banking Alliance of 12 public sector banks or the Doorstep Service of the postal department for submission of Digital Life Certificate says a circular issued by the Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare on September 20, 2021.
Know how to submit a life certificate using doorstep service?
12 public sector banks have come together to form an alliance to provide doorstep services to their customers. The banks in the alliance include State Bank of India (SBI), Punjab National Bank (PNB), Bank of Baroda, Bank of India, Canara Bank, Bank of Maharashtra, Central Bank of India, Indian Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, Punjab & Sind Bank, UCO Bank and Union Bank of India. Together they have all launched doorstep service for collection of life certificates.
Pensioners looking to avail of this service will have to first book the service either via mobile app, website or by calling on toll-free number. The doorstep agent will visit the pensioner’s home on the date and time as per the appointment. To book the service, download ‘Doorstep Banking’ app from Google Play Store or access the website doorstepbanks.com or www.dsb.imfast.co.in/doorstep/login or call on toll-free number 18001213721 or 18001037188.
“In the current pandemic situation, it is difficult for customers, especially pensioners, to visit branches for the Submission of Life Certificate. PSB Alliance has brought the Submission of Digital Life Certificate facility through Door Step Banking, Pensioners may book the service through any of channel i.e. DSB App/Web Portal/Toll Free Numbers. DSB Agent will visit the doorstep of the customer and collect an online Life Certificate using Jeevan Pramaan App,” says the alliance website.
To avail this service, one needs to pay a nominal charge. However, the alliance website has not mentioned anything about these charges. As SBI on its website has mentioned, financial and non-financial services are charged at Rs 75 plus GST.
Doorstep service through postman
The Department of Posts along with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology launched the Doorstep Service for submission of Digital Life Certificates through the postman in November last year. This service is available for both IPPB and non-IPPB customers. To avail the Digital Life Certificate (DLC) service of the post office, a customer can either contact the nearest post office or place a request for a doorstep visit by the postman/Grameen Dak Sevak. An appointment can also be scheduled through the Post Info app or through the website http://ccc.cept.gov.in/covid/request.aspx.
“In order to make this facility available across the country, DoPPW roped in the India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) to utilize its huge network of Postmen and Gramin Dak Sevaks in providing doorstep facility to pensioners for submission of life certificates digitally.” To avail this service, pensioners will have to download ‘Postinfo’ App,” the pension department mentioned in its circular.
Charges for Digital Life Certificate (DLC) Service
A nominal fee of Rs 70 (inclusive of GST/ CESS) will be charged for every successful generation of DLC. There will be no doorstep charges levied for IPPB or non-IPPB customers for issuance of DLC.
It may be noted that the issuance of DLC is a completely paperless, seamless and hassle-free process, and the certificate is generated instantly. On successful completion, a Pramaan ID is generated that is shared with the pensioner by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) directly. Once the Pramaan ID is generated, pensioners can download the DLC through the link https://jeevanpramaan.gov.in/ppouser/login.
However, before the Postmen or the Gramin Dak Sevak visits your place, pensioners need to keep the following documents handy:
1) Aadhaar Number
2) Existing Mobile Number
3) Type of Pension
4) Sanctioning Authority
5) PPO Number
6) Bank Account Number where pension is credited
Please note that the pensioner’s Aadhar Number must be registered with their respective bank or post office.
