What this scheme offers
The Dayanand Social Security Scheme (DSSS), in force since 2002, is Goa's main social pension. Senior citizens aged 60 or above, single women, adult persons with 40% or more disability and HIV/AIDS patients receive ₹2,000 a month. Widows get ₹2,500, an amount raised from ₹2,000 by the cabinet on 29 October 2021, as do disabled children below 90% disability, and persons with 90% or more disability get ₹3,500. Seniors with a long-term illness can claim ₹500 a month for medicines, and disabled persons up to ₹1 lakh once in five years for aids and appliances. The pension reaches accounts by the 10th of each month. Beware of websites quoting a ₹3 lakh income limit: the official rule is that annual per-capita family income must be below the annual amount of the pension.
Who is eligible
- A resident of Goa for the last 15 years, shown by a residence certificate from the Mamlatdar.
- Senior citizen aged 60 or above; single woman above 18 (widows, divorcees, deserted or separated women, and unmarried women above 50); adult with 40% or more disability; or HIV/AIDS patient.
- Annual per-capita family income must be less than the annual financial support under the scheme.
- One bank account in a nationalised or co-operative bank; a Life Certificate must be filed every April or May or the pension stops.
- A widow who turns 60 can choose the widow or the senior-citizen category, but not both.
Documents required
- Proof of age — birth certificate, school record or other notified document
- Family income certificate, or a self-declaration on ₹20 stamp paper attested by a Gazetted Officer
- 15-year residence certificate from the Mamlatdar
- Medical Board certificate for disabled persons
- Death and marriage certificates (widow), divorce decree (divorcee) or self-declaration (unmarried woman above 50)
- Attested copies of ration card, Aadhaar and Election Photo ID card
How to apply
- Collect the prescribed form from the Directorate of Social Welfare, the District Social Welfare Office or a designated centre.
- Fill it in and attach the documents for your category, including the 15-year residence certificate.
- Submit it for verification; applications are sanctioned by the Sanctioning Committee chaired by the Chief Minister.
- Once sanctioned, the pension is credited to your bank account every month, by the 10th.
- File the Life Certificate each April or May — from the bank manager or a Gazetted Officer — to keep receiving it.