National Family Benefit Scheme

Scheme Introduction: A Brief Overview

Losing the main earning member of a family can create immediate financial difficulties, especially for households already living below the poverty line. The National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS) provides a one-time financial support of ₹20,000 to an eligible BPL household after the death of its primary breadwinner. The deceased breadwinner must have been 18 to 59 years old at the time of death. NFBS is a component of the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) and is designed to provide immediate assistance to the bereaved family rather than a regular monthly pension. The scheme is implemented through States and Union Territories, which process applications, verify beneficiaries and arrange disbursement according to the applicable procedures.

The scheme is administered at the central level by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, while its day-to-day implementation is handled by the respective State and Union Territory administrations. Depending on the State or UT, the concerned Social Welfare, Rural Development or another designated department may process applications and provide the benefit. The Ministry of Rural Development provides the central framework for NSAP, while States and UTs are responsible for beneficiary identification, verification, sanction and disbursement. NFBS is also classified as a demand-based NSAP component, with funds released to States and UTs against their proposals and within the applicable beneficiary ceilings.

The household must meet the applicable BPL condition, and the deceased must have been the primary breadwinner aged 18 to 59 years. The breadwinner can be a man or woman, including a homemaker woman in eligible cases. After local enquiry, the assistance is given to the surviving member identified as the head of the household. NFBS provides a one-time lump-sum benefit, not a monthly pension.

The application process and documents vary by State or UT. Applicants may apply through a Gram Panchayat, Block or Tehsil office, Social Welfare department, Municipality or designated government portal. Common documents include the death certificate, age proof of the deceased, BPL or family-status proof, identity and address proof, and bank account details. Applicants should check their State or UT requirements before applying.

For families dealing with the loss of a breadwinner, other social-security support under NSAP may also be relevant depending on their circumstances. For example, eligible widows may separately benefit from the Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS), which provides monthly central assistance to eligible BPL widows.

Scheme Benefits

The National Family Benefit Scheme provides immediate financial support to an eligible BPL household after the death of its primary breadwinner. The main benefits are as follows:

• Eligible families receive ₹20,000 as one-time financial assistance.
• The assistance helps the bereaved BPL household manage immediate financial difficulties caused by the loss of household income.
• The benefit is a one-time lump-sum payment; it is not a monthly pension.
• NFBS is implemented across rural and urban areas through the respective State and Union Territory administrations.
• States and UTs may prescribe additional procedures or provide additional assistance under their own provisions, so the final amount and application process can vary in some locations.

Applicants should check the rules of their State or UT before applying, as the documents, application channel and payment procedure may differ under local implementation.

Eligibility Requirements

Families can receive assistance under the National Family Benefit Scheme only when they meet the prescribed conditions. The main eligibility requirements are:

• The household must meet the applicable Below Poverty Line (BPL) criteria under the NFBS/NSAP framework.
• The primary breadwinner of the household must have died while aged 18 to 59 years.
• The deceased person must have been the household member whose earnings contributed substantially to the family's total income.
• The primary breadwinner may be a man or woman. A homemaker woman may also be considered a breadwinner under the scheme guidelines.
• The scheme can cover death due to natural or other causes, subject to the other eligibility conditions.
• The benefit is provided to a surviving household member who is identified as the head of the household after the prescribed local enquiry.
• For NFBS purposes, the household generally includes the spouse, minor children, unmarried daughters and dependent parents. If the deceased was an unmarried adult, minor siblings and dependent parents may also be considered.
• Applicants must follow any additional eligibility or verification requirements prescribed by their respective State or Union Territory.

Since NFBS is implemented by States and Union Territories, the application process and supporting documents may vary by location. Applicants should check the requirements of the concerned State or UT before submitting their application.

Required Documents

Applicants need to submit documents to verify the death of the primary breadwinner, the family's eligibility and the applicant's details. The exact document list may vary from one State or Union Territory to another. Commonly required documents include:

• Death certificate of the primary breadwinner.
• Proof of the deceased person's age or date of birth.
• Proof that the family meets the applicable BPL or other prescribed eligibility criteria.
• Identity proof of the applicant.
• Address or residence proof, where required by the State or UT.
• Bank account details of the eligible beneficiary for receiving the assistance.
• Proof of the applicant's relationship with the deceased person, where required.
• Any additional documents requested by the concerned State or Union Territory authority during verification.

Applicants should check the document requirements with the concerned block, district or social welfare office before applying, as additional documents may be required under the local procedure.

Steps to Apply

The National Family Benefit Scheme can be applied for online through the UMANG portal, or offline through the concerned local authority. The steps for both methods are given below.

Online Application

• First, open the UMANG portal or use the UMANG app. UMANG provides access to various Central and State Government schemes and services.
• If you are using UMANG for the first time, complete the registration using your mobile number and the details requested on the portal. If you already have an account, log in with your registered details.
• After logging in, use the search option available on the UMANG home page and search for National Family Benefit Scheme. The National Family Benefit Scheme is available under the NSAP programme.
• Select the National Family Benefit Scheme service from the search results and open the scheme details.
• Read the instructions shown on the screen carefully and then click on the Apply option to start the application.
• Select the National Family Benefit Scheme when the scheme option is displayed National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) proceed with the application.

• Fill in the application form carefully with the applicant's details, family information, deceased breadwinner's details and other information requested in the form.
• Enter the required location details, such as State, District, Sub-District/Municipal Area, Gram Panchayat/Ward, Village and other details shown in the application.
• Complete the remaining sections of the application, including account details and Aadhaar verification, as required by the portal.
• Check all the information carefully before submitting the application. Make sure that names, dates, address and bank details match the supporting documents.
• Submit the application and keep the acknowledgement or application details safely for future reference.

The exact fields and verification steps may vary according to the State or Union Territory and the services available through UMANG. Applicants should follow the instructions displayed after selecting the relevant NSAP service.

Offline Application

• Obtain the prescribed NFBS application form from the concerned District Social Welfare Officer (DSWO) or Tehsil Social Welfare Officer (TSWO).
• Fill in the applicant's details, family information and details of the deceased primary breadwinner as required in the form.
• Attach the required supporting documents, including the death certificate and other documents prescribed for the application.
• Submit the completed form and documents to the concerned Social Welfare Office or other designated authority.
• The application will be checked and verified according to the prescribed procedure before a decision is taken on the claim.
• After approval, the eligible beneficiary receives the NFBS assistance through the prescribed payment process.

The exact application procedure and document requirements may vary between States and Union Territories. Applicants should follow the instructions shown on the NSAP portal or provided by the concerned State/UT authority.

Relevant Links

• Ministry of Rural Development
• National Social Assistance Programme portal (NSAP Portal)
• National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS) Guidelines
• National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS) Application Form

Contact Information

For central-level information about the National Family Benefit Scheme, applicants can contact the Ministry of Rural Development. For application-related issues, the concerned State or Union Territory authority handling NSAP services should be contacted.

National Social Assistance Programme portal

• Email: [email protected]
• Address: National Social Assistance Programme Division Kartavya Bhavan 3, New Delhi - 110114
• Conatct Details