Last Updated: May 2026
Quick Answer:
Assam widow pension comes through two schemes. The IGNWPS — Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme — gives Rs 300 per month to BPL widows aged 40 to 59, credited directly to your bank account through DBT. The Indira Miri Universal Widow Pension scheme gives a one-time Rs 25,000 lump sum to newly widowed families as immediate assistance. Both require applying at the Circle Office — there is no online application. Payment is between the 1st and 10th of each month. If payment stopped, check your bank passbook first, then take your Aadhaar and ration card and visit your Circle Office.
When a husband dies in a rural BPL household in Assam, the family loses its primary earner overnight. The widow is left managing the home, the children, and the fields — often with no income of her own and no savings. The government runs two separate schemes that can help. Most widows in Assam know neither scheme exists, apply for neither, and receive nothing.
Even among those who do know, there is constant confusion — is it the IGNWPS, the Indira Miri scheme, the vidhwa pension, the state scheme? What is the amount? Where do you apply? Why did the payment stop after three months?
Most people only realise this after months of missed payments.
Let’s break this down clearly, gives the verified amounts, explains exactly how to apply, and tells you what to do when the money stops coming.
The Two Widow Pension Schemes in Assam — What Each One Is
There are two separate widow pension programmes operating in Assam. They are often confused because they have similar names and serve similar people. They are completely separate, run by different frameworks, and give different types of support.
After age 60, widows under IGNWPS are generally shifted to the Old Age Pension scheme — IGNOAPS — under the same NSAP framework. In most cases, a fresh application is not required, but the transition is handled at the Circle Office level and may take some time. If payments stop after turning 60, it is advisable to visit the Circle Office to ensure the transition is completed.
IGNWPS — Monthly Widow Pension Amount in Assam 2026
The IGNWPS has two parts — a central government component under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) and a state government component. Both come together in a single monthly credit to your bank account.
| Component | Monthly Amount | Source |
| Central government (NSAP) | Rs 200 to Rs 300 per month | Government of India — National Social Assistance Programme |
| Assam state top-up | Additional amount — varies, typically Rs 50 to Rs 200 | Government of Assam — Social Welfare Department |
| Total combined | Approximately Rs 300 to Rs 500 per month | Both credited together in one DBT transfer |
The exact combined amount varies by district and can change when state budgets are revised — you can compare it with the latest Assam Old Age Pension amount breakdown here. The figures above reflect the amounts currently operative under the 2025-26 budget. To confirm the exact amount you should be receiving, visit your Circle Office or Social Welfare Office with your pension sanction letter.
Who Is Eligible for Widow Pension in Assam
For IGNWPS monthly pension
- Must be a widow — husband must have passed away
- Must be aged between 40 and 59 years at the time of application
- Must be from a BPL — Below Poverty Line — household with a valid ration card
- Must be a permanent resident of Assam
- Must have an Aadhaar-linked bank account for DBT
- Must not be in employment receiving a regular income from government sources
- Must not already be receiving another pension from the same NSAP framework
For Indira Miri one-time Rs 25,000
- Must be a BPL widow whose husband died recently
- Application should be made soon after the husband’s death — there is a window for applying
- Must be a permanent resident of Assam
- Supporting documents must include the husband’s death certificate
Age limit clarification: The IGNWPS monthly pension is for widows aged 40 to 59. At age 60, it transitions automatically to the Old Age Pension — you can check the complete Assam Old Age Pension process and eligibility here. Many people search for widow pension for women above 60 — those women are covered under the Old Age Pension scheme, not the widow pension scheme specifically, though the monthly amount and process is the same.
How to Apply for Widow Pension in Assam
There is no online application for widow pension in Assam. The application must be submitted in person at your Circle Office — the Social Welfare or Food and Civil Supplies Circle Office in your block or district.
Documents Required
- Husband’s death certificate — mandatory
- Aadhaar card of the applicant widow
- BPL ration card of the household
- Bank passbook — first page showing account number and name
- Proof of age — Aadhaar card usually has date of birth, or voter ID
- Proof of Assam residence — PRC or valid address documents
- Recent passport size photograph
- Income certificate if requested — confirming BPL status
Application Process
- Visit your nearest Circle Office or Social Welfare Office during working hours — Monday to Friday, 10 AM to 4 PM
- Ask for the IGNWPS widow pension application form — it is free
- Fill in your personal details, your late husband’s details, your bank account information, and your Aadhaar number
- Attach all required documents — originals and photocopies both
- Submit the completed form to the designated staff member
- Receive an acknowledgement slip — keep this safe, it has your application reference number
- A field verification visit will be arranged — a government official visits your home to confirm your widowhood, BPL status, and residence
- After field verification, the application goes to the DFSO for approval
- Once approved, your pension starts from the next payment cycle — usually within 30 to 90 days of submission
Take a witness with you when you apply — a Gaon Burah, a Panchayat member, or a neighbour who has known the family for years. Their presence speeds up the field verification process considerably in most districts. They do not need to sign anything; their attendance signals the application is genuine.
When Does the Widow Pension Come Each Month?
Widow pension payments under IGNWPS follow the same NSAP payment schedule as Old Age Pension. The DBT is released between the 1st and 10th of each month. After the government releases the payment, it takes 1 to 3 working days to reflect in your bank account.
There is no single fixed date — it varies month to month within the 1st to 10th window. Check your bank passbook between the 10th and 15th of each month. If the payment has not come by the 15th, it is worth investigating.
April 2026 note: The Assam elections concluded on April 9. Government batch payment processing can be slightly delayed during election periods due to administrative transitions. If your April pension has not arrived by April 15, check your bank passbook first before visiting any office.
Why Widow Pension Stopped — Common Reasons and Fixes
Bank account went dormant
A bank account with no transactions in 12 months is marked dormant. DBT transfers to dormant accounts are rejected. The pension is released by the government but the bank sends it back.
Fix: Visit the bank branch with Aadhaar card and passbook. Request account reactivation — a small deposit usually does it. After reactivation, held payments are typically re-credited in the next cycle.
Aadhaar not seeded to bank account
The NSAP pension goes specifically to the bank account linked to the widow’s Aadhaar. If Aadhaar was never seeded or seeding broke after a bank change, payment fails silently.
Fix: Visit the bank branch or CSC centre with Aadhaar card. Request Aadhaar seeding to the account. Free process, takes 48 hours to complete.
Age limit reached — pension type changed
IGNWPS pays until age 60. At 60, it should automatically transition to Old Age Pension. Sometimes this transition does not happen automatically at the Circle Office level and payments pause temporarily.
Fix: If you have turned 60 and pension stopped, visit the Circle Office with your Aadhaar. Request the transfer of your record to IGNOAPS — Old Age Pension. This is a standard process and should restart payments within 30 to 60 days.
Re-survey removed the beneficiary
Periodic government re-surveys sometimes remove widows whose circumstances appear to have changed — a son got a government job, the household income appears above BPL threshold in records, or a data entry error marked the widow as deceased or ineligible.
Fix: Visit Circle Office with Aadhaar card, ration card, and husband’s death certificate. Ask specifically why the record was changed and what documents are needed to restore it.
Bank account was changed without updating records
If the widow opened a new account or switched banks without informing the NSAP department, payments continue going to the old account. If that account is closed, money returns to the government.
Fix: Visit the Circle Office with the new bank passbook. Request a bank account update in the NSAP record. Also check the old account — multiple months of pension may be waiting there.
What to Do When Pension Has Not Come — Step by Step
- Update your bank passbook at the branch. Confirm whether the pension actually came or not — never rely on SMS alone.
- If passbook shows no credit after the 15th of the month, visit your bank branch. Ask whether any NSAP DBT transfer was received and returned. Check Aadhaar seeding status.
- If bank confirms no payment was received, visit your Circle Office with Aadhaar card, ration card, and passbook. Tell them your pension sanction number if you have it, and which month is missing.
- The Circle Office can check the NSAP backend and tell you whether payment was released and what happened to it.
- If Circle Office gives no clear answer after one visit, escalate to your district Social Welfare Officer — a more senior authority who can investigate NSAP payment failures.
- You can also call 1967 — the national PDS and welfare helpline — to log a complaint about missed pension. Give your name, district, pension scheme name, and the specific month.
Do not pay any agent, middleman, or local party worker to restore your widow pension. The process is free at every step. Anyone asking money to fix your pension payment is committing fraud. The Circle Office and district Social Welfare Office handle these corrections directly and at no charge.
The Indira Miri Rs 25,000 One-Time Grant — What It Is and How to Get It
Many people search for “Indira Miri widow pension” and find information only about the monthly IGNWPS. The Indira Miri Universal Widow Pension scheme is actually a separate programme — a one-time financial assistance scheme that gives Rs 25,000 as immediate help to a BPL family when the male head of household dies.
The Assam government launched IMUWP in the 2019-20 state budget. The Rs 25,000 is not a monthly pension — it is a single payment meant to cover the immediate financial shock of losing the family earner. Funeral expenses, loan repayments, immediate household needs.
To apply for the Indira Miri Rs 25,000 grant, visit the Circle Office as soon as possible after your husband’s death. Bring the death certificate, BPL ration card, Aadhaar card, and bank passbook. There is no fixed deadline published, but applying sooner is always better — the scheme is allocated under an annual budget and has a capped beneficiary count each year.
A family can receive both — the Indira Miri one-time Rs 25,000 as immediate assistance after the husband’s death, and then separately apply for the IGNWPS monthly pension for the widow. These are not the same scheme and one does not affect eligibility for the other. Apply for both at the same Circle Office visit if possible.
Widow Pension and Orunodoi — Can a Widow Get Both?
Yes. A widow who is the female head of a BPL AAY household can receive both — if you are not enrolled, check the complete Orunodoi scheme eligibility and application process here — along with the IGNWPS widow pension— Rs 300 to Rs 500 per month — at the same time. These are completely separate schemes with separate eligibility and separate DBT transfers.
In fact, for many widowed women in Assam, the combination of Orunodoi and widow pension is their primary source of income. Together they total Rs 1,550 to Rs 1,750 per month — not a large amount, but meaningful for a woman managing alone in a rural household.
If you are a widow receiving Orunodoi but have not applied for widow pension, visit the Circle Office. If you are receiving widow pension but your household has an AAY ration card and you are not receiving Orunodoi, check whether your Orunodoi eligibility is intact through the RCMS portal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the widow pension amount in Assam in 2026?
The widow pension under IGNWPS has a central component of Rs 200 to Rs 300 per month and an Assam state top-up. Together, the monthly amount is typically Rs 300 to Rs 500. The exact amount depends on the specific scheme variant and district. It is credited directly to the widow’s Aadhaar-linked bank account through DBT between the 1st and 10th of each month.
What is the Indira Miri Universal Widow Pension Scheme?
The Indira Miri Universal Widow Pension Scheme is an Assam government programme that gives a one-time Rs 25,000 lump sum to BPL families when the husband dies. It is immediate financial assistance — not a monthly pension. The application is submitted at the Circle Office with the death certificate, ration card, and Aadhaar. It is separate from the IGNWPS monthly widow pension.
Who is eligible for widow pension in Assam?
BPL widows aged 40 to 59 are eligible for the IGNWPS monthly pension of Rs 300 to Rs 500 per month. At age 60, the pension transitions to Old Age Pension automatically. The applicant must be a permanent resident of Assam with an AAY or BPL ration card and an Aadhaar-linked bank account.
How to apply for widow pension in Assam?
Visit your nearest Circle Office or Social Welfare Office with your husband’s death certificate, Aadhaar card, BPL ration card, bank passbook, and age proof. Ask for the IGNWPS application form, fill it with your personal and bank details, and submit with all documents. Keep the acknowledgement slip. A field verification follows, after which the pension is sanctioned — usually within 30 to 90 days.
My widow pension has not come this month — what to do?
Update your bank passbook first. If payment genuinely has not come, visit your bank branch to check Aadhaar seeding and whether any NSAP payment was received and returned. If the bank shows no issue, visit your Circle Office with Aadhaar card and ration card. Give them your pension sanction number and the month in question. Do not pay any agent — the correction is free at the Circle Office.
Can a widow get both Orunodoi and widow pension?
Yes. Orunodoi and IGNWPS widow pension are separate schemes with separate payments. A widow from a BPL AAY household can receive both simultaneously — Orunodoi Rs 1,250 per month and widow pension Rs 300 to Rs 500 per month. Apply for both at the Circle Office if you are not already receiving either.
What happens to widow pension when the widow turns 60?
IGNWPS is for widows aged 40 to 59. At age 60, the pension is supposed to transition automatically to IGNOAPS — Old Age Pension — which continues the monthly payment. If payments stopped when you turned 60, visit the Circle Office to request the transfer of your record to the Old Age Pension scheme. It is a standard process.
Final Note
The death of a husband is already one of the hardest things a family goes through. Having to navigate multiple government offices for money that should come automatically makes it harder. But the schemes exist, they pay real money every month, and most of the problems that delay or stop them are fixable with one well-prepared Circle Office visit.
If a widow in your household or neighbourhood has not applied for pension — and many have not simply because nobody told them it exists — this guide is the starting point. The documents needed are simple, the process is offline, and the support is available to anyone who qualifies.
If you want a quick overview of the scheme basics, you can also check our Assam Widow Pension Scheme page.
Hi, I’m Palash, the person behind AssamInfoHub — an independent platform helping Assam citizens understand government schemes, pensions, and welfare programs in simple language. Information published here is compiled from official government notifications, district-level practices, and Panchayat-level verification methods. My goal is to reduce misinformation and help families follow the correct procedures without depending on agents.