This November, pensioners will not have to queue up at the bank or the post office to submit their life certificates. India Post has launched a doorstep delivery service, through its India Post Payments Bank, keeping in mind how unsafe it is for the elderly to step out amid the Covid pandemic.

Retired employees of central government, state governments and public sector undertakings can apply for the service and a postman from the nearest post office offering the service will come to generate a Digital Life Certificate (Jeevan Pramaan) at his doorstep.

Metro explains how the service can be availed.

What is a Life Certificate?

Pensioners are required to furnish a “Life Certificate” to their pension disbursing authority i.e. bank or post office, every November either by presenting themselves personally or by delivering a life certificate. This year, in view of the situation, the last date has been extended till December 31.

In itself, having to prove being alive is a difficult experience for many aged people. While marking physical attendance, many elderly people complain of indifferent government officials who do not appreciate the trouble they have taken to make the appearance.

The whole process has become even more difficult because government offices and banks are allowing only a certain number of people inside and the rest have to wait outside in the sun.

How to apply for doorstep delivery of the digital life certificate?

• Call the India Post Payment Bank call centre at 155299 from any phone
• Download the Postinfo app from Google Playstore on an android device or App Store on an iPhone and choose the service
• Go to www.indiapost.gov.in and choose Urgent Request for Postal Services- Doorstep Service listed to the left of the screen and fill in the details

What are the conditions to avail of the service?

The pensioner should have his/her own Aadhaar number and mobile number. The Aadhaar card should be linked with the records of the bank or the post office paying the pension. Both pension paying authority and disbursing agency should be on record on the Jeevan Pramaan portal — jeevanpramaan.gov.in.

What documents or information to keep at hand when the postman comes?

Pension payment order number, type of pension scheme, name of the pension disbursing authority, pension account details, mobile number and Aadhaar number. The postman will come within two to three working days of the request being made.

How will the certificate be generated?

The postman will scan the fingerprint of the pensioner with his handheld Aadhaar-based fingerprint scanner for biometric authentication and to authorise the request. Digital life certificate will be instantly generated with Pramaan ID sent to the pensioner’s mobile phone as confirmation message. The certificate details will be automatically updated with the pension department on the Jeevan Pramaan portal. The certificate thus generated is stored online and can be accessed by the pensioner and the pension disbursing agency as and when required by them.

What is the charge for the service?

The charge is Rs 70. The service will be available till December.

For further information on IPPB, visit www.ippbonline.com