How much is family pension for central government employees?

30% of the employee's last basic pay, with a minimum of ₹9,000 a month, plus Dearness Relief. An enhanced rate of 50% applies for a period after the death.

How long is enhanced family pension paid after a death in service?

For 10 years from the day after the death, with no minimum service condition since 1 October 2019. After that the normal 30% rate applies.

Can a daughter get family pension after 25?

Yes. An unmarried, widowed or divorced daughter can get family pension for life after younger eligible children, provided her own income is below the minimum family pension plus DR.

Is family pension taxable?

Yes, as income from other sources. You can deduct one-third of it or ₹25,000 in the new regime (₹15,000 in the old regime), whichever is lower.

Family pension for central government employees

Updated 11 October 2026

Family pension is the monthly pension paid to the family of a central government employee or pensioner after their death. The normal rate is 30% of the employee's last basic pay, with a minimum of ₹9,000, plus Dearness Relief. For a period after the death it is paid at a higher, enhanced rate of 50%.

Normal family pension: 30% of last pay

Under the CCS (Pension) Rules, 2021, ordinary family pension is 30% of the last basic pay the employee drew, subject to a minimum of ₹9,000 a month. Dearness Relief (DR) is added on top at the same rate as for pensioners, 60% from 1 January 2026. Family pension is calculated from last pay, not from the pension the retiree was drawing, so it is not reduced by commutation.

Enhanced family pension: 50%

Death while in service: the family gets 50% of last pay for 10 years from the day after death, then the normal 30%. Since 1 October 2019 there is no minimum service condition for this; earlier it needed seven years of service.
Death after retirement: the enhanced rate is generally paid for seven years or until the date the pensioner would have turned 67, whichever is earlier, and it cannot be more than the pension the retiree was drawing. Check the dates printed on the Pension Payment Order (PPO).

Who gets family pension, and in what order

Spouse: the widow or widower, for life, subject to the rules on remarriage. A judicially separated spouse or one with a pending divorce has separate rules.
Children: after the spouse, children get it one at a time in order of birth. Sons and daughters are eligible until 25, or until they marry or start earning more than the income limit.
Children over 25: unmarried, widowed or divorced daughters, and a son or daughter with a disability that prevents them from earning a living, can get family pension for life once younger eligible children have finished their turn.
Dependent parents: if there is no spouse or eligible child.

A child or parent counts as dependent only if their own income is below the minimum family pension (₹9,000) plus DR on it. The names of eligible family members are usually listed in the PPO, so keep the details with the pension office up to date.

DR and extra family pension after 80

Family pensioners get every DR increase announced for pensioners. When a family pensioner turns 80, they get an additional 20% of basic family pension, rising in steps to 100% at age 100, just like retired employees. See additional pension after 80.

NPS and UPS members

If an NPS member dies in service, the family can generally choose family pension under the CCS (Pension) Rules instead of NPS benefits, under the rules for implementing NPS. For employees who opted for the Unified Pension Scheme, the family gets 60% of the assured payout the retiree was drawing, plus DR.

Worked example

Worked example. An employee with a last basic pay of ₹80,000 dies in service. Enhanced family pension = 50% × ₹80,000 = ₹40,000, plus DR at 60% (₹24,000), so the spouse gets ₹64,000 a month for the first 10 years. After that it becomes the normal rate: 30% × ₹80,000 = ₹24,000, plus DR at 60% (₹14,400), which is ₹38,400 a month at today's DR rate. On the normal rate, yearly family pension = ₹38,400 × 12 = ₹4,60,800. One-third of that is ₹1,53,600, so under the new tax regime the deduction is capped at ₹25,000 and taxable family pension is ₹4,35,800. With no other income, that is below ₹12 lakh, so tax is nil after the rebate.

How family pension is taxed

Family pension is taxed as income from other sources, not as salary, so the standard deduction for salary does not apply.
Instead there is a special deduction of one-third of the family pension or ₹25,000 in the new regime (₹15,000 in the old regime), whichever is lower.
The rebate that makes income up to ₹12 lakh tax-free in the new regime applies to family pensioners too.

See tax on pension for the full picture, including pensioners who also draw their own pension.

How to claim

If the spouse is already named in the retiree's PPO, family pension is usually started by the pension disbursing bank on a claim with the death certificate and identity documents.
If the death was in service, the head of office processes the claim along with the gratuity and other dues.
Children and dependents claiming later must show their age, marital status, disability (where relevant) and income.

Official guidance is on the Department of Pension and Pensioners' Welfare website. Use the pension calculator to see family pension figures for a given last pay.