What Are the New UPS Benefits for NPS Retirees?

Synopsis
Exciting news for NPS retirees! The Central government has rolled out additional benefits under the Unified Pension Scheme, enhancing the financial support for those who retired before March 31, 2025. Discover how you or your spouse can make the most of these new opportunities!
Key Takeaways
- Eligibility: NPS retirees before March 31, 2025, with 10 years of service.
- Benefits: Includes lump sum payments and monthly top-ups.
- Claim Process: Available in physical and online modes.
- Deadline: Claims must be submitted by June 30.
- Regulations: Operates under NPS Regulations 2025.
New Delhi, May 30 (NationPress) The Central government has announced that NPS subscribers who retired on or before March 31, 2025, with a minimum of 10 years of qualifying service, or their legally wedded spouse, can now avail additional benefits under the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS). This is in addition to the NPS benefits they have already received, as stated in a release from the Ministry of Finance on Friday.
The enhancements include a one-time lump sum payment equal to one-tenth of the last drawn basic pay along with the applicable dearness allowance for every six months of qualifying service.
A monthly top-up will be computed by adding the admissible UPS payout and Dearness Relief (DR), then subtracting the representative annuity amount under the NPS.
Moreover, retirees will receive arrears with simple interest calculated at current PPF rates.
Claims for the UPS benefits can be made either physically or online.
The physical process requires visiting the DDO and submitting the necessary forms (B2 for the subscriber and B4/B6 for the spouse). These forms can be downloaded from www.npscra.nsdl.co.in/ups.php.
For online claims, eligible individuals can log on to www.npscra.nsdl.co.in/ups.php to complete the online form.
The deadline for claiming these benefits is June 30.
The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has officially announced the implementation of the Unified Pension Scheme under the NPS Regulations 2025, effective from April 1, 2025.
These regulations allow enrollment for three categories of Central government employees. The first category consists of current Central government employees who are part of the NPS as of April 1, 2025. The second includes new recruits who begin service on or after this date.
The third category pertains to Central government employees previously covered by the NPS who retired, voluntarily left service, or retired under Fundamental Rules 56(j) before March 31, 2025. This includes their legally wedded spouses if the subscriber passed away prior to opting for the UPS.