What is Invalid Pension in Army / Navy/ Air Force & Eligibility ?
What is Invalid Pension Pension?
Defense personnel normally confuse between Disability Pension and Invalid Pension.
An employee is entitled for this Pension when he is discharge from service medical grounds.
Means he has been declared medically unfit for further employment by competent medical board.
Whether disability is attributable or not, it is completely irrelevant for the grant of this Pension.
Invalid Pension in Army / Navy / Air Force
Earlier every soldier has to render 10 years minimum qualifying service for grant of this Pension.
And is disability is not required to be attributable to military service.
The rate of this Pension is equal of service element of disability pension i.e. Fifty Percent of Last Basic Pay.
As per Regulation 198 of the Pension Regulations, 1961 which says length of Service for grant of the Pension.
Dispensing minimum qualifying Service of 10 years for Invalid Pension
Govt. of India in their letter dated 12.02.2019 has dispensed with minimum qualifying service of 10 years.
Consequently, every Central Govt. Employee boarded out from service by medical board is entitled for this Pension despite of he has completed minimum qualifying service for acquiring service pension.
Applicability GoI letter on Army/ Navy / Air Force
Whether the aforesaid letter is applicable to Army/ Navy/ Air Force ?
The answer is Yes, on pursuant to GoI letter dated 12.02.2019, Ministry of Defence has issued a letter dated 16.07.2020.
However, MoD in letter dated 16.07.2020 has inserted additional words about the "unfit for civil reemployment"
Medical Board gives a certification about the fitness for civil employment, if medical board declares a solider fit for civil reemployment.
In such situation, the soldier may be denied for this Pension, however, Armed Forces Tribunal has declared these words unconstitutional and beyond their scope.
Accordingly, a soldier including recruits of Army / Navy / Air Force are entitled for Invalid Pension, if he has been discharged from service on medical grounds.
And the same provision is applicable for paramilitary forces i.e. BSF/ CRPF/ CISF/ SSB.
Invalid Pension to Para-Military Forces Personnel
The policy of this pension is also applicable to Para-military forces personnel like BSF, CRPF, CISF, SSB, ITBP, RPF, Assam Rifles etc.
The CCS (Pension) Rules are applicable to these para-military forces and other protection forces. Armed Forces Tribunal Advocates can easily deal such pension matters.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are few important questions which may help to under this topic :-
I was Invalided out from service 20 Years ago, Can I ask Invalid Pension now ?
Pension is continuous wrong and cause of action arise every month, thus you can file the case for grant of Invalid Pension.
In the year of 1969 minimum qualifying service for the Pension was 10 years. Am I eligible for Invalid Pension ?
Now, policy has changed, you can ask from the date from which it has been sanctioned to others.
What is the rate of Invalid Pension ?
Rate of this pension is equal to service element / service pension i.e. 50 % of last basic pay.
Are recruits also entitled for Invalid Pension ?
Yes, recruits are also eligible for this Pension subject to qualifying the eligibility criteria.
Related Article : Disability Pension in Armed Forces
Refererece : How to Calculate disability Pension in Armed Forces