Eligible Widows Can Apply for AP Spouse Pension Scheme from Today

The coalition government in Andhra Pradesh has announced that it will begin accepting applications for spouse pensions starting today. Under this new category, pensions will be extended to 89,788 additional beneficiaries. This initiative, introduced under the NTR Bharosa scheme, ensures that if a husband receiving a pension passes away, his wife will begin receiving the pension from the following month.

This policy has been in effect since November of last year, and eligible recipients receive ₹4,000 each. In a recent directive, the Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP) instructed that pensions must also be provided to eligible individuals who fall within the same category and timeframe—from December 1, 2023, to October 31, 2024.

To apply, eligible women must submit the husband’s death certificate, their Aadhaar card, and other necessary details at their local village or ward secretariat. These documents will be accepted starting Friday.

Applicants who submit their information by April 30 will begin receiving pension payments from May 1. Those who miss this deadline will receive their payments starting June 1. Due to this latest decision, the government is expected to incur an additional monthly financial burden of ₹35.91 crore.