Life certificate 2026: last date 30 November for pensioners
Central government pensioners must submit their annual life certificate between 1 and 30 November 2026. Pensioners aged 80 or over can submit it from 1 October. The certificate is needed every year for the pension to continue. You can give it in person at your bank, or online from home through Jeevan Pramaan.
Dates at a glance
| Pensioner | Window |
|---|---|
| Aged 80 or over | From 1 October 2026 to 30 November 2026 |
| Under 80 | From 1 November 2026 to 30 November 2026 |
The Department of Pension and Pensioners' Welfare (DoPPW) says every central government pensioner has to submit an annual life certificate in November for the pension to continue. Its office memorandum of 18 July 2019 lets pensioners aged 80 and above submit from 1 October instead (DoPPW OM of 20 September 2021, reproduced by GConnect). A later DoPPW order notes that around 8 to 10% of pensioners miss the 30 November deadline each year. It tells pension-paying banks to send reminders by SMS or email on 24 October, 1 November, 15 November and 25 November (GConnect).
Four ways to submit
- At your bank: visit the branch that pays your pension and the bank records your life certificate.
- Online with Jeevan Pramaan: the government's digital life certificate uses Aadhaar to confirm who you are. You can use the app on a phone, tablet or computer, or go to a Jeevan Pramaan centre run by Common Service Centres, banks or government offices (Jeevan Pramaan). You need your Aadhaar number and Pension Payment Order (PPO) details.
- Through your postman: India Post Payments Bank offers a doorstep service for the digital life certificate, started in November 2020.
- Doorstep banking: an alliance of public sector banks collects life certificates at home in major cities, through the Doorstep Banking app.
Tips before you go
- Don't leave it to the last days of November. Your bank's reminder messages start on 24 October.
- Keep your PPO number, Aadhaar and the bank account details your pension is paid into ready.
- Beware of fraud. Never share an OTP or PIN with a caller who offers to update your life certificate. Use only your bank or the official Jeevan Pramaan app and website.
Who this applies to
These dates are for central government pensioners, whose pensions are paid through banks under the Central Pension Accounting Office's scheme. State government, EPFO (EPS-95) and other pensioners should check the rules of their own pension authority, which may differ.
