Atal Pension Yojana | APY Scheme Apply Online, Eligibility, Chart 2019

Atal Pension Yojana | APY Scheme 2019: It is a pension scheme which is focused to provide benefits to the unorganized sector of India. Atal Pension Yojana is the pension scheme of Government of Indian launched in the year 2015 by the Prime Minister of India.

Under Atal Pension scheme, a guaranteed minimum monthly pension of Rs.1000/-, Rs.2000/-, Rs.3000/-, Rs.4000/- and Rs.5000/- will be provided to the subscribers on the basis of the contribution made by them. Atal Pension is launched with an aim to provide retirement benefits to the workers in the unorganized sectors. On contributing into this scheme, they can save their retirement. 

Atal Pension Yojana – APY

Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) is the government body that administers the APY under the National Pension Scheme Architecture. The investment guidelines for this scheme are prescribed by the Ministry of Finance, Government of India.

AYP is basically a Social Security Scheme that was launched as a replacement to a pre-existing Swavalamban Yojana. APY scheme is open to all the bank accounts.

Atal Pension Yojana Eligibility

In order to become the subscriber of Atal Pension Yojana, one must fulfill the eligibility criteria-

• Subscriber should be an Indian citizen.
• Prospective applicants must have age between 18 years to 40 years.
• He/she should have a saving bank account or have to open bank account.
• Applicants should have a valid mobile no. and all its details should be furnished to the bank at the time of registration.  

Benefits of APY

• The pension is guaranteed by the Government of India.
• Subscriber of APY gets a guaranteed pension of Rs.1000/- to Rs.5000/- per month.
•  Under this scheme, subscribers can also increase or decrease pension amount once a year, during accumulation phase.
• Scheme is not only beneficial for the subscriber, but also for his/her spouse. In case of death of the subscriber, the spouse will be entitled for the pension. In case of demise of both subscriber and spouse, the nominee will be entitled to get the same pension.  
• The tax benefits under this scheme are same as applicable under NPS (National Payment Scheme).
• APY is also beneficial as government also co-contribute Rs.1000/- per year or 50% of the total contribution whichever is low.    

Who is not eligible for receiving Government’s co-coordination under APY?

Beneficiary of any statutory social security schemes are not eligible to receive the benefit of Government co-contribution under APY. Below, we have shared some of the enactments for which government’s co-coordination is not provided-

• Employees’ Provident Fund & Miscellaneous Provision Act, 1952.
• The Coal Mines Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provision Act, 1948.
• Seamens’ Provident Fund Act, 1966.
• Assam Tea Plantation Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provision, 1955.
• Jammu Kashmir Employees’ Provident Fund & Miscellaneous Provision Act, 1961.
• Any other statutory social security scheme.

APY Contribution Chart

Contribution, pension, entry age etc. in detail at different stages.

How to apply for APY scheme

To enrol for Atal Pension Yojna (APY) account, applicant have to follows an easy procedure. The step-by-step guide is given below-

1. Approach the bank branch where applicant’s savings account is held. In case applicant have not an account he/she can open one.
2. Fill the APY application form.
3. Provide Aadhar card/ mobile number.
4. Complete all the other formalities.
5. Once account is opened, subscriber must ensure that there is minimum required balance in the account for the transfer monthly contribution for this scheme.      

Apart from this, applicants can also fill APY registration form and enroll them by using net banking. Subscriber can open only account under his/her name. At the time of application, it is mandatory for subscribers to furnish the details of the nominee wherever applicable in APY account. They also have to provide their Aadhaar details.  

After successful enrolment, periodic statements will be provided to the subscribers as part of intimation. Subscriber will receive statements of account in the form of SMS alert as well as in physical form.

Withdrawal of APY

APY account can be withdrawn in the following conditions-

• Subscriber attains the age of 60 years

Subscriber can exit from APY on the completion of 60 years. After that pension will be made available to the subscriber with 100% annuitization.  

• Death of subscriber

In case of death of the subscriber, the return of corpus () will be made available to the spouse. And if both subscriber die, the pension amount will be given to the nominee.

• Exit before the age of 60 years

The early exit before the age of 60 years is not permitted. However, it is permitted only in exceptional circumstances such as death of terminal disease or death of the subscriber/ beneficiary.

Atal Pension Yojana Penalty for Default

The saving account under APY will be considered default if sufficient balance will not be maintained for contribution on due date. In such situation, bank will charge extra amount for delayed payments.

The additional amount that will collected from the account holder is shared below-

• One rupee per month for the contribution up to Rs.100/- per month.
• Two rupee per month for contribution between Rs.101 to 500/- per month.
• Five rupee per month for contribution of Rs.501/- to Rs.1000/- per month.
• Rs.10/- per month for contribution more than Rs.1001/- per month.

Atal Pension Scheme Discontinuation of payment  

Subscribers must ensure that their APY account is funded enough for auto debit of contribution amount. Otherwise, subscribers will face following issues if there is a discontinuation of payments of contribution amount-  

• After 6 months, APY account will freeze
• After 12 months, APY account will be deactivated
• After 12 months, APY account will be closed

Swavalamban Yojana and Atal Pension Yojana

Atal Pension Yojana is a replacement of Swavalamban Yojna with additional features. The registered users/ subscriber of Swavalamban Yojna aged between 18 -40 years were migrated to APY scheme. However, it was all upon the subscribers (of age beyond 40 years) whether they want to opt out the Swavalamban Scheme with the withdrawal of lump-sum amount or to continue till the age of 60 years. 

Atal Pension Yojana FAQs

Ques.- How many APY accounts one can open?

Ans.- An APY account is unique, therefore, a subscriber can open only one account.

Ques.- What is the minimum period of contribution to APY?

Ans.- The minimum period of contribution to APY would be 20 years or more.

Ques.- What is the minimum and maximum age of joining Atal Pension Scheme?

Ans.- The minimum age of joining APY is 18 years whereas the maximum age is 20 years.

Ques.- How subscriber will know the status of the contribution?

Ans.- The status will be intimated to the subscriber through SMS alerts on their registered mobile no. Apart from this, subscribers will also receive physical statement of Account.

Ques.- In case of change of residence/shifting from city, how can subscriber make contribution to APY?

Ans.- In case of dislocation, contribution can be remitted through auto debit facility.  

Ques.- Is it compulsory to have a saving bank account for joining AYP? 

Ans.- Yes, it is mandatory for subscribers to have a saving bank account to join APY scheme. 

Ques.- What is the due date for monthly contribution?

Ans.- The due date is decided according to the initial date of deposit of contribution to APY account.

Ques.- How co-coordination does Government provide into this scheme?

Ans.- Government of India provide co-contribution of 50% to the contribution of the subscriber or Rs.1000/- per annum, whichever is lower. This co-contribution is only provided to those who are not tax-payer or beneficiary of any Statutory Social Security Scheme.

Co-contribution is eligible to each APY subscriber for 5 years who enroll into the scheme between 1^st June 2015 to 31^st December 2015. The benefit of co-contribution is only for five years for all the subscribers include subscribers of Swavalamban scheme.

Ques.- Is there any specific bank for APY enrolment?

Ans.- No, APY is open to all the banks. Eligible applicant having account in any bank can join APY.

Atal Pension Yojana Toll-Free- 1800-110-069