New Delhi, Sep 26 (IANS): Now even a daughter of a deceased employee or pensioner would be entitled to family pension even if she had not divorced but filed a petition for the same during the lifetime of her deceased parent, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said on Saturday.

The Minister said this at a press briefing on some important reforms effected by the Department of Pension and Pensioners' Welfare.

Mentioning that the rules have been relaxed for such women to receive family pension, Singh said the earlier rule provided for payment of family pension to a divorced daughter only if the divorce had taken place during the lifetime of the deceased pensioner or his spouse.

"The new circular will not only ease the lives of pension beneficiaries but also ensure respectable and equitable rights for divorced daughters in society."

Orders have also been issued for the grant of family pension to a 'divyang' child or sibling even if the Disability Certificate was produced after the death of the pensioner-parent but the disability had occurred before the death, Singh said.

Similarly, to provide relief to 'divyang' pensioners, the Minister said, the attendant allowance for helper has been increased from Rs 4,500 to Rs 6,700 per month.

He said that the most noteworthy initiative taken by the Pension Department was with regard to the digital life certificates.

Keeping in view the difficulties faced by senior citizens now settled abroad with their children after retirement, the Minister said a circular has been issue on Consolidated Instructions on Life Certificate and commencement of family pension for those living abroad vide which the bank branch concerned abroad and the Indian Embassy or Consulate or High Commission concerned have been instructed to provide Life Certificate and commencement of family pension there itself.

At the same time, Singh said, all pension disbursing banks have been instructed to ensure doorstep collection of Life Certificates from pensioners unable to visit the banks.