The Andhra Pradesh government has opened a fresh window for people who are eligible for social security pensions but have not been receiving the benefits for various reasons.
According to an official release, eligible people can submit their applications between September 7 and September 16. Applications will be accepted at Swarna Gramam and Swarna Ward centres across the state.
The government said the process has been designed to ensure transparency and faster disposal of applications. Officials will scrutinise the applications at different levels, after which pensions will be sanctioned in phases to those found eligible.
The initiative comes under the NTR Bharosa Pension Scheme, which provides financial assistance to several vulnerable sections of society. The scheme covers senior citizens, widows, persons with disabilities and poor families, among others.
At present, nearly 62 lakh people in Andhra Pradesh are receiving social security pensions. The government spends around ₹2,694 crore every month on these payments. According to the release, around 13 per cent of the state's population benefits from the pension programme.
The state government claimed that Andhra Pradesh has the highest level in the country in terms of pension amount, number of beneficiaries, monthly expenditure and annual allocation for pensions.
Under the current structure, senior citizens and widows receive ₹4,000 per month. Persons with disabilities receive ₹6,000, while people suffering from certain severe health conditions receive up to ₹10,000. Those with complete disabilities can receive pensions of up to ₹15,000 per month.
The government said it had spent ₹73,508 crore on pensions from the time it assumed office until September 1, 2026.
The NTR Bharosa scheme extends beyond traditional old-age and widow pensions. Benefits are provided under nearly 28 categories, covering groups such as handloom workers, fishermen, toddy tappers, single women, dappu artists, traditional footwear makers and transgender persons. People suffering from certain chronic illnesses are also included.
The government said its objective is to ensure that every eligible poor person receives social security support rather than simply increasing the total number of beneficiaries.
Pension distribution on the first day of every month has also been presented by the government as a major welfare initiative, with the monthly distribution being described as a “Festival of the Poor.”
Officials have urged eligible residents who have so far been left out of the pension system to use the September 7-16 application window.
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