West Bengal Old Age, Widow & Disability Pension 2026: ₹1,500 Monthly, New List & How to Apply
Updated October 2026: Old-age, widow and disability allowances in West Bengal have been raised to ₹1,500 a month, the old waiting list is being replaced by a new list, and a woman can no longer take a widow/old-age pension and Annapurna Yojana together. This guide has been fully rewritten.
West Bengal's three social security allowances — old-age pension, widow pension and disability (Manabik) pension — now pay ₹1,500 per month, up from ₹1,000. The ₹500 increase was announced in the Budget 2026-27 (22 June 2026) and the higher allowance was rolled out from August 2026. About 82 lakh people get these allowances. The Chief Minister has said the previous government's waiting list will be cancelled and a new list made from applications at the November–December 2026 Janakalyan Shibir camps, with priority payment. From October, women aged 25–60 who get both a widow/old-age pension and Annapurna Yojana (₹3,000) will be paid under only one scheme.
West Bengal pension amounts 2026
| Allowance | Before 2026 | From August 2026 | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old-age pension (বার্ধক্য ভাতা) | ₹1,000/month | ₹1,500/month | Senior citizens aged 60+ from poor families without other pension |
| Widow pension (বিধবা ভাতা) | ₹1,000/month | ₹1,500/month | Widows from poor families |
| Disability / Manabik pension (মানবিক ভাতা) | ₹1,000/month | ₹1,500/month | Persons with 40% or more disability (certificate required) |
Amounts are as announced in the Budget 2026-27 and by the Chief Minister on 7 September 2026. Payment is by direct bank transfer to the beneficiary's own account.
What changed in 2026 — timeline
| Date | Change |
|---|---|
| 22 June 2026 | Budget 2026-27 raises old-age, widow and disability allowances by ₹500, to ₹1,500 a month. |
| August 2026 | Higher allowance rolled out from 1 August, according to state announcements. |
| 7 September 2026 | CM Suvendu Adhikari: the previous government's waiting list will be cancelled and a new list prepared; camp applicants to be verified and paid first; 82 lakh people get the three allowances. |
| October 2026 | Reports: women getting both a widow/old-age pension and Annapurna Yojana will get only one scheme's money from October. |
| November–December 2026 | Janakalyan Shibir camps in every gram panchayat and municipality area — new applications accepted. |
Widow pension and Annapurna Yojana — can you get both?
This is the biggest question for women right now. According to statements reported in October 2026, a woman can no longer receive both the widow (or old-age) allowance and the Annapurna Yojana payment. From October, only one scheme's money is credited to each eligible beneficiary, and reports warn that some dual beneficiaries may lose one benefit from November.
Annapurna Yojana
- ₹3,000 a month
- Women aged 25–60
- Ends at 60 (age limit)
Widow / old-age pension
- ₹1,500 a month
- Widows of any eligible age; seniors 60+
- Continues after 60
What this means for you: a widow aged 25–60 gets more under Annapurna (₹3,000). A woman above 60 is outside the Annapurna age limit, so the old-age/widow pension is the one that applies. The Chief Minister has said beneficiaries may surrender a benefit they do not want. Ask at your BDO or municipality office which benefit will continue in your case, so that you do not lose both during re-verification.
Eligibility
The state is preparing a fresh beneficiary list. Until new guidelines are published, the basic conditions used for these allowances are:
Old-age pension
- Age 60 years or above
- Permanent resident of West Bengal
- From a poor / economically weaker family
- Not receiving any other government pension
Widow pension
- Widow and permanent resident of West Bengal
- From a poor / economically weaker family
- Not remarried; not receiving another government pension
- Husband's death certificate required
Disability (Manabik) pension
- Disability of 40% or more, with a valid disability certificate (UDID card helps)
- Permanent resident of West Bengal, not receiving another government pension
- Government employees and government pensioners
- Income-tax payers
- People who gave false information (names are removed after verification)
How to apply (new list)
- Go to the Janakalyan Shibir camp in your gram panchayat or ward in November–December 2026 (dates will be announced locally). How to find your camp.
- Collect the allowance form (old-age / widow / disability) — it is free.
- Fill it carefully as per Aadhaar and attach documents (below).
- Submit and keep the acknowledgement slip.
- Verification by block / municipality staff, then approval and monthly DBT.
Outside the camps, you can ask at the BDO office (rural) or municipality / SDO office (urban) about submitting the form.
Documents
- Aadhaar card and voter ID card
- Age proof (Aadhaar with full date of birth, birth certificate or school certificate)
- Bank passbook — account in the applicant's own name, Aadhaar-seeded (how to seed)
- Widow: husband's death certificate
- Disability: disability certificate / UDID card
- Ration card (if available) and 2 passport-size photographs
Waiting list cancelled — what happens to old applicants?
Many families had applied years ago and were kept on a waiting list. The Chief Minister said on 7 September 2026 that this old waiting list will be cancelled and a new list made. People who apply at the camps will have their documents checked and will be paid on priority. So, if you were on the old waiting list and still do not get the allowance, apply again at the November–December camp with fresh documents.
How to check pension payment
- Bank SMS / passbook: the monthly ₹1,500 appears as a DBT credit.
- BDO / municipality office: staff can check your beneficiary ID and payment status.
- PFMS: government DBT credits can be traced on pfms.nic.in ("Know Your Payments") with your bank account number.
If the payment has stopped, check whether your bank KYC has expired, whether Aadhaar seeding moved to another bank, and whether you were affected by the dual-benefit rule.
Not to be confused with: Bina Mulye Samajik Suraksha Yojana
West Bengal also has the Bina Mulye Samajik Suraksha Yojana (BMSSY) — a free social security / provident fund scheme for unorganised workers (construction, transport and other informal workers), run through the Labour Department. It is different from the monthly old-age, widow and disability allowances described above. BMSSY registration was also available at the 2026 Janakalyan camps.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the old-age pension in West Bengal in 2026?
₹1,500 per month, raised from ₹1,000 in the Budget 2026-27. The same ₹1,500 applies to widow and disability allowances.
From when is the ₹1,500 pension paid?
The higher allowance was rolled out from August 2026, after the Budget announcement on 22 June 2026.
Can a widow get both widow pension and Annapurna Yojana?
According to October 2026 reports, no — only one scheme's money will be credited from October. Women aged 25–60 get more under Annapurna (₹3,000). Confirm with your BDO/municipality office which benefit you will keep.
I was on the old waiting list. What should I do?
The government is cancelling the old waiting list and preparing a new one. Apply again at the November–December 2026 Janakalyan Shibir camp; camp applicants are to be verified and paid on priority.
Where can I apply for widow pension in West Bengal?
At the Janakalyan Shibir camps in November–December 2026, or ask at your BDO office (rural) or municipality/SDO office (urban).
Is Samajik Suraksha Yojana the same as old-age pension?
No. Bina Mulye Samajik Suraksha Yojana is a social security/provident fund scheme for unorganised workers. Old-age, widow and disability allowances are separate monthly pensions.
Sources
- Asianet News (Newsable) — West Bengal Budget 2026: ₹500 hike in old-age and widow pension (22 June 2026)
- The Statesman — Bengal raises pension for widows, elderly and specially-abled from ₹1,000 to ₹1,500; scraps previous government's waiting list
- Ei Muhurte — CM's announcements of 7 September 2026 (camps, waiting list, 82 lakh beneficiaries)
- Asianet News Bangla — widow pension and Annapurna dual-benefit rule (21 and 28 October 2026)
Disclaimer: Annapurna Bhandar Info is an independent information website and is not connected to the Government of West Bengal. Always confirm details on the official portal or at your BDO/SDO office. We never ask for OTP, Aadhaar, bank or card details.