Where can I find my PPO number?

It is printed on the PPO and usually on your bank's pension slip. EPS pensioners can use "Know your PPO No." on the EPFO pensioners' portal with their bank account or PF number.

Does my spouse need a new PPO for family pension?

For central government pensioners, not if the spouse's name is already in the PPO. The bank can start family pension on the same PPO after receiving the claim and the death certificate.

Do I get a new PPO every time Dearness Relief rises?

No. Banks apply Dearness Relief changes automatically. A revised PPO is issued when the basic pension itself changes, for example after a pay commission revision.

Can I download my PPO from DigiLocker?

Yes, if you are a central government civil pensioner with an e-PPO; DoPPW linked e-PPO with DigiLocker in 2021. EPS pensioners can also fetch their EPFO PPO in DigiLocker.

Pension Payment Order (PPO) explained

Updated 11 October 2026

A Pension Payment Order (PPO) is the official order, issued when your pension is sanctioned, that tells the bank how much pension to pay you, from which date, and to whom after you. Its unique PPO number is your pension's identity: you need it for life certificates, Dearness Relief arrears, family pension claims and complaints. Central government civil pensioners now get an electronic PPO (e-PPO) that can be saved in DigiLocker.

Who issues the PPO

Pensioner	Issued by	Where to get a copy
Central government civil	Pay and Accounts Office (PAO) of your ministry, routed through the Central Pension Accounting Office (CPAO) to your bank	e-PPO in DigiLocker; Bhavishya portal
Defence	PCDA (Pensions), Prayagraj	SPARSH portal
EPS (private sector)	EPFO regional office	EPFO portal, UMANG, DigiLocker
State government	Accountant General or the state pension office	As per the state's system

For central civil pensioners, your Head of Office processes the papers on the Bhavishya system. The PAO issues the PPO with a digital signature, and CPAO sends the authority to your bank's Centralised Pension Processing Centre (CPPC), which starts the monthly credit.

The PPO number

The PPO number is unique to you and stays with you for life. For central government pensioners, family pension is normally paid against the same PPO if your spouse's name is in it. The number is printed on the PPO and usually on your bank's pension slip. Many PPO numbers have 12 digits, often explained as an issuing-authority code, the year of issue, a serial number and a check digit, though formats differ between systems.

EPS pensioners who cannot find theirs can use "Know your PPO No." on the EPFO website by entering their bank account or PF number.

What a PPO contains

Your name, date of birth, date of retirement, photograph (often a joint photo with your spouse) and identification marks
Qualifying service, and the last pay or average emoluments used for pension
Basic pension, the commuted portion, and the reduced pension after commutation
Family pension at the enhanced and normal rates, and the period for each
Name and date of birth of your spouse, and details of any disabled child or dependent family member
Gratuity paid, and the bank branch that will pay your pension

Older paper PPOs came in two halves, one kept by the pensioner and one by the bank.

Reading the figures

Worked example. Anil retires at 60 with last basic pay of ₹80,000. His PPO shows a basic pension of 50%, or ₹40,000. He commutes 40%, so the commuted portion is ₹16,000. With the commutation factor of 8.194 for age 61 next birthday, his lump sum is ₹16,000 × 12 × 8.194 = ₹15,73,248. His reduced pension is ₹40,000 minus ₹16,000 = ₹24,000. Dearness Relief is paid on the full ₹40,000, so at 60% he gets another ₹24,000, and his monthly credit is ₹48,000. The PPO also records normal family pension at 30% of last pay: ₹24,000, plus Dearness Relief.

The commuted ₹16,000 is restored after 15 years. Try your own numbers in the pension calculator and read how commutation works.

What to check as soon as you get it

Spelling of names and dates of birth, matching your Aadhaar and bank records
Your spouse's name and date of birth, since family pension depends on them
Details of a disabled child or dependent parent, if any
Qualifying service, last pay, pension and commutation figures
Bank branch and account number

Report errors to your former office or PAO quickly. A correction needs a revised PPO, and mistakes are far harder to fix after a pensioner's death. DoPPW has said that PPO details come from your service records, so name corrections go through the department that holds them.

When a revised PPO is issued

You get a revised PPO, or a revision authority sent to your bank, when the basic pension itself changes: after a pay commission revision, a court order, a notional increment or the correction of an error. Dearness Relief increases do not need a new PPO, because banks apply them automatically when the government announces them. When the 8th Pay Commission is implemented, expect revision authorities for existing pensions.

If you lose your PPO

If you have an e-PPO, download it again from DigiLocker, which DoPPW linked to e-PPO in 2021, or from Bhavishya. For an older paper PPO, ask your former office or PAO for a copy; your bank also holds its half. EPS pensioners can download their PPO through the EPFO portal, UMANG or DigiLocker. Keep a scanned copy with your family and tell them where the original is, because they will need it for a family pension claim. More on pensioners' services is on the DoPPW website.