Andhra Pradesh will accept applications for new social security pensions from September 7 to 16 at Swarna Gramam and Swarna Ward centres across the State.
AMARAVATI: The Andhra Pradesh government will accept applications for new social security pensions from September 7 to 16, providing another opportunity to eligible persons who are not currently receiving pension benefits.
Applications can be submitted at Swarna Gramam and Swarna Ward centres across the State. The government has prescribed a schedule for registration, verification and sanction of pensions.
Applications will be received, registered online and subjected to e-KYC verification from September 7 to 16. Preliminary scrutiny of eligibility will be undertaken from September 17 to 21, followed by physical and departmental verification between September 22 and 24.
Budget proposals will be prepared through the Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP) and submitted for government approval on September 25 and 26. Pensions will subsequently be sanctioned in phases to eligible beneficiaries, the government said.
Applicants will generally have to submit their Aadhaar card and Rice Card or income certificate, apart from documents specific to the category under which they are seeking the pension.
For old-age pensions, Aadhaar will be required for age verification. Widows will have to submit the husband's death certificate and Aadhaar number. Single women will have to provide a court decree or order of divorce, where applicable, or an unmarried certificate issued by the Tahsildar.
Persons with disabilities will have to submit a SADAREM certificate indicating 40% or more benchmark disability. Separate certificates issued by the respective departments will be required for handloom weavers, fishermen, Dappu artists, traditional footwear makers and toddy tappers.
Transgender applicants will have to submit a certificate issued by the District Medical Board.
Once an application is entered online, the applicant will receive a system-generated acknowledgement, according to the government.
The government said 61,92,396 pensioners in the State are currently receiving social security pensions, involving a monthly expenditure of about ₹2,694 crore.
It said nearly 12.88% of the State's population benefits from social security pensions. According to the government, Andhra Pradesh ranks highest in the country in terms of pension amount, number of beneficiaries, monthly expenditure and annual allocation for pensions.
The government has also said that the NTR Bharosa Pension Scheme covers nearly 28 categories of beneficiaries, including senior citizens, widows, persons with disabilities, handloom workers, fishermen, toddy tappers, single women, Dappu artists, traditional footwear makers, transgender persons and those suffering from chronic diseases.
Under the enhanced pension scheme, senior citizens and widows receive ₹4,000 a month, while persons with disabilities receive ₹6,000. Certain categories of beneficiaries suffering from severe health conditions receive ₹10,000, while persons with complete disabilities are eligible for pensions of up to ₹15,000, the government said.
It added that ₹73,508 crore had been spent on pensions between the time the coalition government assumed office and September 1, 2026.
The government has described the monthly pension distribution on the first day of every month as the ‘Festival of Pensions’, saying the programme is intended to strengthen social security for vulnerable sections rather than merely increase the number of beneficiaries.
