For pensioners who have lost their Pension Payment Order (PPO), the process for obtaining a duplicate is clearly outlined. If both halves of a PPO are reported lost during transit — such as due to floods — before the pension payments commence, the paying branch must be informed immediately.
The branch will then address the concerned Pay & Accounts Office (PAO) through the appropriate channels, including the Link Branch and Central Pension Accounting Office (CPAO), requesting the issuance of a duplicate PPO.
Before initiating this request, the paying branch must verify that no payments have already been made to the pensioner by checking the pension payment register. This verification must be confirmed to the PAO along with the duplicate PPO request.
In cases where a duplicate PPO is issued, the paying branch will take additional steps:
Record Keeping: The payment register will prominently indicate that no payments are to be made against the original PPO, noting the details of the duplicate PPO.
Pensioner Declaration: The pensioner must provide a declaration stating they have not received any payments against the original PPO. They must also undertake to surrender the original PPO if it is found later and not claim any payments based on it.
Payment Assurance: The branch will ensure that no payments have been made based on the original PPO during the period after the loss was reported to the PAO.
For pensioners whose portion of the PPO is worn or torn and needs renewal, the paying branch will forward the request along with both halves of the PPO to the CPAO via the Link Branch. To prevent delays in pension payments, the branch is advised to send the necessary documents to the CPAO promptly after the monthly payment is processed.
If the disburser’s portion of the PPO is lost by the paying branch, the matter should also be reported to the concerned PAO through the usual channels. In this case, the paying branch will provide a photocopy of the pensioner’s portion of the PPO, duly attested by the Bank Manager, along with a certificate indicating the last month of payment. The CPAO will relay this information to the PAO to facilitate the issuance of a duplicate disburser’s portion of the PPO.
Pensioners are encouraged to familiarize themselves with these procedures to ensure a smooth process in the event of a lost or damaged PPO.