Purpose of a life certificate
A life certificate or another approved identification process confirms continuing pension eligibility. The applicable submission period, exemptions and accepted methods can depend on the pensioner category and current government instructions. Pensioners should therefore check the current official requirement rather than relying on an old deadline saved from a previous year.
Common identification routes
| Route | How it works | When useful |
|---|---|---|
| Digital Life Certificate | Aadhaar-based Jeevan Pramaan generation | For pensioners able to complete digital authentication |
| Face authentication | Supported phone camera and official application components | When a compatible smartphone is available |
| Fingerprint/iris | Approved biometric equipment and required software | At equipped devices or assisted locations |
| Assisted/authorised route | Identification with help at an approved facility | When self-service is difficult |
| Other officially permitted route | As provided for the relevant pension category | Where a digital route is unavailable or not applicable |
Prepare before digital identification
- Keep pension/PPO details available.
- Use the Aadhaar and authentication details required for the official DLC process.
- Keep a working mobile number available.
- Check pension-disbursing details before generation.
- Use stable internet and a charged device.
- For face authentication, use good front lighting and a clean camera lens.
Digital Life Certificate workflow
- Use the official Jeevan Pramaan application/process or an authorised assisted facility.
- Enter the pension and identity information requested.
- Complete the required authentication yourself.
- Review pension-disbursing information before generating the certificate.
- Generate the Digital Life Certificate.
- Save the Pramaan ID and acknowledgement.
- Check the relevant pension/SPARSH status after transmission.
Do not repeatedly generate certificates merely because the receiving status has not updated immediately. First check the details used and allow for normal processing.
Face-authentication tips
- Use the current official applications/components required for face authentication.
- Clean the front camera lens.
- Use even light on the face and avoid a bright window behind you.
- Keep the device near eye level.
- Remove obstructions if the live instructions require it.
- Follow the on-screen liveness/capture instruction rather than taking an ordinary photograph.
Generated versus accepted
A generated Digital Life Certificate has an acknowledgement/Pramaan ID, but pensioners should still verify the receiving or acceptance status applicable to their pension. If a generated DLC is not reflected, check the pension details entered during generation before creating another certificate.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Check | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Face capture fails | Lighting, camera, application/device requirements | Correct the conditions or use another approved route. |
| Fingerprint fails | Device connection/software and biometric quality | Retry correctly or use face/assisted identification. |
| DLC generated but not reflected | Pension details and processing time | Track using the acknowledgement/Pramaan ID. |
| Certificate rejected/not accepted | Reason and pension-data mismatch | Correct the cause before regeneration. |
| Acknowledgement lost | SMS and saved records | Use the official retrieval/help route. |
If pension is affected
- Complete an accepted identification route promptly.
- Save the acknowledgement.
- Verify that identification has been received/accepted.
- If pension does not resume, use the appropriate official service or grievance route.
- Quote the affected pension months and existing acknowledgement in follow-up.
Safety
Complete OTP and biometric authentication yourself. Do not give an unknown caller remote control of your phone, and do not pay anyone who claims they can privately “approve” a life certificate.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Digital Life Certificate just a scanned paper certificate?
No. A DLC is generated through the approved digital authentication process and has a Pramaan ID.
Can face authentication be used for a DLC?
The official Jeevan Pramaan ecosystem provides a face-authentication route on compatible devices, subject to current requirements.
Does generation always mean the pension authority has accepted it?
Verify the receiving/acceptance status relevant to your pension after generation.
What if face authentication repeatedly fails?
Check the device/application requirements and lighting, or use another approved biometric or assisted route.
Should I generate several DLCs while one is pending?
First verify the entered pension details and status instead of generating duplicates.
Why should I save the Pramaan ID?
It identifies the generated DLC and helps with retrieval and follow-up.
What if pension is affected because identification was not recorded?
Complete identification, verify acceptance and use the appropriate official follow-up route if payment does not resume.
Can an agent ask me for my OTP?
No. Do not disclose OTPs or allow unknown remote access to your device.