Understanding Disability Pension
Disability pension is a type of Pension that is granted to the personnel of the Indian Armed Forces who are disabled due to an injury or disease that is attributable to or aggravated by their military service. It has two parts one for your service (Service Element) and one for your disability (Disability Element). The service element is based on the length of service and the rank of the personnel, while the disability element is based on the degree of disability and the rank of the personnel.
Understanding ER and GMO
The Entitlement Rules (ER) and the Guide to Medical Officers (GMO) are the documents that decide who can get disability pension and how much they can get if they work in the armed forces. Before 2023, the ER and GMO from 2008 were in use. According to the government website Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, the new Entitlement Rules and Guide to Medical Officers Introduced on 21 Sep 2023 are only for the cases of death and disability that happened or were recorded after 21.09.2023. They do not change anything for the old pensioners or their families who are already getting Disability Pensions or Family Pensions. Click here for more Info on GMO 2023
Some of the salient features of the Disability Pension and revised ER and GMO on Disability Element are:
- There is no change in the entitlement or the rates of disability pension for any category of personnel as per the Official website DESW.
- Only those personnel who are boarded out of service on medical grounds before completing their terms of engagement are eligible for disability Pen. Those who are retained in service despite a disability are eligible for impairment relief, which is a lump sum compensation or a monthly allowance.
- Service Element is the same as the pension you get when you retire i.e. 50% of the reckonable emoluments last drawn. Disability Element would be 30% of reckonable emoluments last drawn for 100% disability. For a lesser percentage of disability, the amount of disability element is reduced proportionally. One will not get any money for disability if it is less than 20%. In other than invalided out cases, disability element is granted for disability Attributable to or Aggravated by Military Service, in addition to Service Pension, if otherwise admissible. Click here to Download New Disability Broad-banding Rules 2024
- The disability pension is revised periodically according to the dearness relief announced by the government.
- You don’t have to pay income tax on the money you get for your disability, as Disability Pension
- Disability Pen is not based on the length of service but on the percentage of disability and the rank of the person.
- Disability Pen is not reduced by any other income or pension that the person may receive.
- Disability Pen is not subject to income tax, as it is considered as compensation for the injury suffered during service. (Click here to download the circular)
- Disability pension is also paid to the family members of the person who died due to disability or in the line of duty.
- Disability pension is revised periodically according to the recommendations of the pay commissions and the government orders.
- Disability pension is also accompanied by other benefits such as ex-gratia payment, medical facilities etc
- Disability pension is calculated separately for the service element and the disability element, each as a percentage of the last reckonable emoluments.
- Disability pension is granted for both physical and mental disabilities, as long as they are attributable to or aggravated by service.
- Disability pension is subject to medical examination and certification by the competent authorities.
- Disability pension is governed by the Pension Regulations for the Army, Navy, and Air Force, and the relevant government orders and circulars. Click here to Download ER & GMO 2023
Also read : Defence pension Schemes: A Detailed Overview