Pension not credited? Check these, in this order
The most common cause is a lapsed annual life certificate — and the official FAQ promises that arrears are paid in full once you complete the delayed identification. Check that first, then the bank side, then raise the exact grievance in SPARSH. Every path below is quoted from the official SPARSH FAQ.
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First: is your identification (life certificate) overdue?
Pension keeps coming only while your annual identification is current. Log in to SPARSH and open Services > Identification — it shows the last identification date and the next due date. If the date has passed, that is almost certainly your answer.
The good news, in the FAQ's own words: "Upon delayed identification, all applicable pensionary arrears shall be paid." Nothing is lost — complete the certificate and the held-up months come with it. The full walkthrough is in our life-certificate guide.
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Second: rule out the bank side
Ask your branch whether any credit arrived and returned, and whether the account is active and KYC-complete. A frozen or dormant account stops the credit at the last step — and no SPARSH grievance can fix what is a bank problem. If your bank details changed, update them after login via My Profile > Manage Profile (bank-detail changes for Indian nationals are straight-through — they do not wait for an approval, per the FAQ).
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Third: raise the right grievance in SPARSH
After login, under Grievances > Payment Related, pick the path that matches your case — these are the FAQ's own routes:
- Paid less than the PPO sanctions → Elements of Pension
- Dearness Relief not being paid → Elements of Pension
- An entitled element missing from the PPO itself → Elements Not Sanctioned in Pension
- Wrong tax deducted → Deduction
Before you complain about a short amount, know what the right amount is: Service Pension Calculator · Family Pension Calculator.
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Fourth: escalate through the three official channels
For "not getting correct pension", the FAQ lists exactly three modes: (1) log into your SPARSH account and raise the grievance, (2) call the SPARSH Helpline (the current number is published on the portal's Contact & Support pages — take it from there, not from forwarded messages), (3) visit the nearest Service Centre — find it via Contact & Support > SPARSH Near You > Service Center Locator, carry your registered mobile for OTP, hours 9:30 AM–6:00 PM Monday–Friday, no charges.
Questions and answers
My pension stopped after I missed my annual identification. Will I lose the arrears?
No. The official SPARSH FAQ says it plainly: upon delayed identification, all applicable pensionary arrears shall be paid. Complete the life certificate — the payments for the missed period come with it.
How do I check when my next life certificate is due?
Log in to SPARSH and go to Services > Identification — it shows your completed identification details, the last identification date and the next due date, as per the official SPARSH FAQ.
I am being paid less than my PPO sanctions. Where do I complain?
Log in to SPARSH and go to Grievances > Payment Related > Elements of Pension. The same path applies when Dearness Relief is not being paid. If an element is missing from the PPO itself, the path is Grievances > Payment Related > Elements Not Sanctioned in Pension.
What are the official ways to complain if I am not getting the correct pension?
The official SPARSH FAQ lists three: log into your SPARSH account and raise a grievance, call the SPARSH Helpline, or visit the nearest Service Centre (find it via Contact & Support > SPARSH Near You > Service Center Locator; services are free of charge).
Is there any charge for raising a grievance or using a Service Centre?
No. The official FAQ states that all SPARSH services are available through the Pensioner Portal and Service Centres without any charges. Anyone demanding money to restart your pension is not part of the official process.
Where this information comes from
- SPARSH: FAQs (official PDF) — identification due date (Q.10), arrears on delayed identification (Q.12), grievance paths (Q.31, 32, 33, 38), the three complaint modes (Q.40), profile/bank updates (Q.19, 29), Service Centre locator, hours and no-charge assurance (Q.2). A copy is archived with us.
- sparsh.defencepension.gov.in — the one official defence pension portal.
- Bank-side checks are practical guidance, not a quoted rule — your branch is the authority on its own holds.
Important note
This page explains a government process; it is not a government website, and it cannot see your account. Do the actual work only on the official portal, and never share your password or OTP.
Spotted a mistake? Tell us — corrections are recorded in public.