7th Pay Commission: Dearness Relief (DR) Increased By 3%; These Government Pensioners Will Get Benefit

According to the Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW), the Dearness Relief or DR to central government pensioners, family pensioners has been increased by 3% to 34%, with effect from 1^st January 2022.

The department through a tweet informed that it has issued orders increasing the DR available to Central Government pensioners, family pensioners of the basic pension, and family pension, effective 1 January 2022.

It must be noted that the DR is payable on the original basic pension prior to commutation.

Few days back, the Centre had approved the release of an additional installment of DA to central government employees and DR to pensioners, representing a hike of 3 percent over the existing price of 31 % of the basic salary, to compensate for the price rise.

This increase is in line with the accepted formula which is based on the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission and the additional installment would be effective from 1 January 2022.

As per the office memorandum dated 5^th April 2022, “The undersigned is directed to refer to this Department's OM No. 42/7/2021 - P&PW(D) dated 27. 10.2021 on the subject mentioned above & to state that the President is pleased to decide that the DR admissible to Central Government pensioners/family pensioners shall be increased from the existing rate of 31% to 34% w.e.f 01/01/2022.

The rates of Dearness Relief will be applicable to the following categories:-

Civilian Central Government Pensioners or Family Pensioners that include Central Govt. absorbee pensioners in the PSU or Autonomous Bodies regarding whom orders have been issued vide this Department's OM No. 4/34/2002-P&PW(D)Vol.II dated 23/06/2017 for restoration of full pension after the expiry of commutation period of fifteen years.

The Armed Forces Pensioners, and Civilian Pensioners paid out of the Defence Service Estimates.

• All India Service Pensioners

• Railway Pensioners or family pensioners

• Pensioners who are in receipt of provisional pension

• The Burma Civilian pensioners or family pensioners and pensioners or families of displaced Government Pensioners from Burma or Pakistan, regarding whom orders have been issued vide this Department's OM No. 23/3/2008-P&PW(B) dated 1 1.09.2017.

The Pensioner’s Portal website says, “Dearness Relief is normally announced twice a year during the months of March and September. Hence in January & February, the DR on Pension/Family Pension is calculated according to the DR Rates available for the month of December of the previous year. Likewise, for the month of July & August, DR is calculated according to the DR rates available for the month of June.”

Arrears of DR for January, February and July, August would be disbursed by the concerned authorities in April & October, respectively.

Last month, it was announced that the DA component of central government employees’ salaries has been increased. As per the notification, the Dearness Allowance has been increased by 3 percent to 34 percent.

Source - India TV