Pension for widows and single women (NTR Bharosa)

Who can get Andhra Pradesh’s NTR Bharosa pension for widows and single women (₹4,000 a month), which documents you need and how to apply at the secretariat.

You do this yourselfAt the village or ward secretariat

For whom: Widows and single women (separated, divorced or never married) from poor families living in Andhra Pradesh, and family members helping them.

Tell us your situation first; then the documents and steps open.

1Your situation

A few questions. We show only the documents and steps your answers need.

Which of these is the woman applying?
Which of these describes you?
Does your family have a rice card?
Does your family have any of these? A government employee or a government pensioner. An income tax payer. A family income of ₹10,000 a month or more in a village, or ₹12,000 or more in a town. 3 acres or more of wet land, or 10 acres or more of dry land, or 10 acres or more of both together. A four-wheeler (a taxi, tractor or auto does not count). Electricity use of 300 units a month or more at home (owned or rented). In a town, an own home of 750 square feet built-up or more. Someone else in the family already getting a pension under this scheme (a second pension is allowed in some cases, such as a family with someone who has 80% or more disability or is on dialysis).
Do you already get any other pension?

Which of these is the woman applying?

Indian citizen living in IndiaIndian citizen living abroad (NRI)Foreign national with an OCI cardForeign national without an OCI card

Which of these describes you?

My husband has died (widow)I am married but separated from my husband, or he has deserted me: I am over 50 and we have lived apart for more than a yearI live apart from my husband, but for less than a year (or I am not over 50)I have never married and have no support from my family; I am 50 or olderI have never married, but I am younger than that

Does your family have a rice card?

YesNo

Does your family have any of these? A government employee or a government pensioner. An income tax payer. A family income of ₹10,000 a month or more in a village, or ₹12,000 or more in a town. 3 acres or more of wet land, or 10 acres or more of dry land, or 10 acres or more of both together. A four-wheeler (a taxi, tractor or auto does not count). Electricity use of 300 units a month or more at home (owned or rented). In a town, an own home of 750 square feet built-up or more. Someone else in the family already getting a pension under this scheme (a second pension is allowed in some cases, such as a family with someone who has 80% or more disability or is on dialysis).

None of theseAt least one

Do you already get any other pension?

NoYes

Your answers stay on this phone.

Your situation is complete.

Each step below says who it is for. Confirm yours at the office, then change your answer here.

We could not confirm whether this applies to you

The NTR Bharosa pension rules we read (the SERP pension website and the September 2026 memo) say nothing about Indian citizens living abroad. They say only that the pensioner must be a local resident of the district, that the applicant's details are checked against Aadhaar eKYC, and that staff visit the home to verify. Before applying, ask at your Swarna Gramam or Swarna Wardu office (village or ward secretariat), or at the MPDO or Municipal Commissioner’s office, whether you can get this pension.

We could not confirm whether this applies to you

The NTR Bharosa pension rules we read (the SERP pension website and the September 2026 memo) say nothing about OCI cardholders. They say only that the pensioner must be a local resident of the district, that the applicant's details are checked against Aadhaar eKYC, and that staff visit the home to verify. Under the Ministry of Home Affairs notification S.O. 1050(E) of 4 March 2021, an OCI cardholder is a foreign national, not an Indian citizen, and in economic, financial and educational fields the notification does not name has the same rights as a foreigner. Before applying, ask at your Swarna Gramam or Swarna Wardu office (village or ward secretariat), or at the MPDO or Municipal Commissioner’s office, whether you can get this pension.

We could not confirm whether this applies to you

The NTR Bharosa pension rules we read (the SERP pension website and the September 2026 memo) say nothing about foreign nationals. They say only that the pensioner must be a local resident of the district, that the applicant's details are checked against Aadhaar eKYC, and that staff visit the home to verify. Before applying, ask at your Swarna Gramam or Swarna Wardu office (village or ward secretariat), or at the MPDO or Municipal Commissioner’s office, whether you can get this pension.

This route does not apply to your situation

Under the 2022 order (G.O.Ms.No.22), a married woman who is separated or deserted can get the single women’s pension only if, on the date it is sanctioned, she is over 50 and has lived apart for more than a year.

→ You can apply once you are over 50 and have lived apart for more than a year. If you need help or free legal aid now, see this guide:

→ Women's helpline and protection from domestic violence

This route does not apply to your situation

Under the 2022 order (G.O.Ms.No.22), an unmarried woman can get the single women’s pension only if she is 50 or older, in a village or a town, and has no support from her family.

→ You can apply once you are 50 (if your family does not support you).

This route does not apply to your situation

Under the rules of the 2019 order (G.O.Ms.No.174), which are used to check new applications, a family with any of these cannot get this pension. Applications are also checked against the list of existing pensioners.

→ If you think this is wrong, get the endorsement with the reasons from the WEA or WWDS at the secretariat, then file a grievance on PGRS.

This route does not apply to your situation

A rule common to all these pensions: the applicant must not already be covered by another pension scheme. Applications are checked against the list of existing pensioners.

→ If you think this is wrong, get the endorsement with the reasons from the WEA or WWDS at the secretariat, then file a grievance on PGRS.

2Documents you need

Tick the ones you have. They are kept in this browser.

New pension application form ("New Pension Application Form")originalIf you don't have it: Given at the Swarna Gramam or Swarna Wardu office. The memo says it is also put up for download on the NTR Bharosa pension website and the Swarna Gramam/Swarna Wardu department’s website.Have itNeed it
Your Aadhaar cardcopyIf you don't have it: → Getting a new AadhaarHave itNeed it
Rice cardcopyIf you don't have it: → Rice card (ration card)Have itNeed it
Income certificatecopyIf you don't have it: Ask at the secretariat how to get one.→ Income certificateHave itNeed it
Your husband's death certificatecopyIf you don't have it: → After a death in the familyHave itNeed it
Your husband's Aadhaar numbercopyHave itNeed it
Divorce decree from a court or Adalatcopy · A copy of the decree. The 2022 order (G.O.Ms.No.22) asks for this decree also from women who are separated or deserted.Have itNeed it
Non-marriage certificate from the Tahsildarcopy · The certificate is valid for one year (2022 order).If you don't have it: From the Tahsildar office. Ask at the secretariat how to apply for it.Have itNeed it

Nothing to get ready before these steps.

3Your steps

· Do them in order. Tick each one when it is done.

Do this now
Know the scheme: in Andhra Pradesh, widows and single women get ₹4,000 a month under the "NTR Bharosa Pension Scheme", which SERP runs.
New applications are checked under the rules of the 2019 order (G.O.Ms.No.174): a poor family (the income, land and other limits are in the questions below), age as in Aadhaar, and normally one pension in a family. For the widow’s pension you must be 18 or older and give your husband’s death certificate.
Where
You do this yourself
Sources: 1, 2, 4
I have done this step
Do this now
If your husband was getting an old age, disabled, weaver, fishermen or toddy tapper pension under this scheme, the 2019 order says the pension is then sanctioned to you, his wife, at the widow’s rate (the "Spouse Pension").
Tell the secretariat about his death at once and ask how to get it.
Where
Swarna Gramam or Swarna Wardu office (village or ward secretariat)
Sources: 2
I have done this step
Do this now
Ask at your Swarna Gramam or Swarna Wardu office (village or ward secretariat) whether new pension applications are being taken now.
The government takes applications category by category, in rounds, on announced dates. The last round took them from 7 to 16 September 2026.
Where
Swarna Gramam or Swarna Wardu office (village or ward secretariat)
Not confirmed: We found no official notice of when the next round will be.
Sources: 4, 8
I have done this step
Do this now
When applications are open, give the filled form and copies of your documents at the secretariat to the Digital Assistant (in a village) or the Ward Education and Data Processing Secretary (WEDPS, in a town).
They register it online and give you a computer-generated acknowledgement. Keep it.
Where
Swarna Gramam or Swarna Wardu office (village or ward secretariat)
Not confirmed: The memo does not say whether there is a fee for the application. Ask at the secretariat.
Sources: 4
I have done this step
Do this now
Your application details are checked against your Aadhaar eKYC details.
If they do not match, you are told and asked to bring the correct details. Then go back to the secretariat with them.
Where
Swarna Gramam or Swarna Wardu office (village or ward secretariat)
Sources: 4
I have done this step
Do this now
Wait for the home visit.
Secretariat staff come to your home to check your eligibility and documents, and take your eKYC then if it was not taken before. The Welfare and Education Assistant (WEA) or Ward Welfare and Development Secretary (WWDS) then enters the findings and sends the application on.
Where
You do this yourself
Sources: 4
I have done this step
Do this now
A single woman’s application is first checked by the Tahsildar, who sends it with remarks to the MPDO or the Municipal Commissioner.
If the Tahsildar office calls you, go.
Where
Tahsildar office
Not confirmed: The memo does not say whether the Tahsildar will call you, or what further proof may be asked for.
Sources: 4
I have done this step
Do this now
Wait for the decision.
The MPDO (in a village) or the Municipal Commissioner (in a town) decides whether you are eligible and, if you are, recommends you to the CEO of SERP; they do not sanction the pension themselves. After a further check at state level, SERP sanctions it only with the government’s approval and when budget is available.
Where
MPDO office or Municipal Commissioner’s office
Sources: 4
I have done this step
Do this now
Collect a printed copy of your sanction order from the WEA or WWDS at the secretariat.
If you are found not eligible, they give you an endorsement with the reasons.
Where
Swarna Gramam or Swarna Wardu office (village or ward secretariat)
Sources: 4
I have done this step
Do this now
Collect the pension every month.
It starts only from the month SERP sanctions it; there are no arrears from the month you applied. It is paid on the 1st of the month, and you confirm with your fingerprint or iris when you collect it. People who are bedridden are paid at home.
Where
You do this yourself
Not confirmed: The sanction and arrears rule is from the 2026 memo and ₹4,000 from the 2024 order. Payment on the 1st, the fingerprint or iris check and home delivery come from the SERP website, whose page also gives an old pension amount; ask at the secretariat who pays, where and when now.
Sources: 4, 1, 5
I have done this step

All steps done

If something goes wrong

If it is rejected

If you are found not eligible, get the endorsement with the reasons from the WEA or WWDS at the secretariat. If you think it is wrong, file a grievance on PGRS: at the secretariat, at the Collectorate on Monday, on the PGRS website or in its app. You get the grievance number by SMS. If you are not satisfied with the answer you can re-open it twice (first to a district officer, then to the head of the department).

Public Grievance Redressal System (PGRS) · Open the official page

If it is late

Even if you are eligible the pension may not start at once: new pensions are sanctioned in phases, only with the government’s approval and when budget is available. Ask the WEA or WWDS at the secretariat where your application is. If it is taking very long, file a grievance on PGRS.

Public Grievance Redressal System (PGRS) · Open the official page

Also

If your pension stops, first ask at the secretariat. Then you can call SERP’s social security pensions office in Vijayawada (0866-2410017) or file a grievance on PGRS.

SERP, Social Security Pensions, Vijayawada · Open the official page

08662410017

The 10 official pages and papers this guide is written from

G.O.Ms.No.43, PR&RD (RD.I) Dept., 13-06-2024: Social Security Pensions, enhancement of the pension amounts and restoring the name of the scheme as 'NTR Bharosa Pension Scheme'
G.O.Ms.No.174, PR&RD (RD.I) Dept., 13-12-2019: YSR Pension Kanuka, revised guidelines for sanction of pensions (the eligibility rules the 2026 memo applies to the NTR Bharosa Pension Scheme)
G.O.Ms.No.22, PR&RD (RD.I) Dept., 16-06-2022: YSR Pension Kanuka, revised guidelines for sanction of pension to Single / Deserted Women (amending G.O.Ms.No.174)
Memo No. 3407491/RD.I/A1/2026, 06-09-2026: Process for New Pension Applications under NTR Bharosa Pension Scheme through Swarna Grama and Swarna Wardu, guidelines
NTR Bharosa Pension Scheme website: About (eligibility, sanction, distribution)
NTR Bharosa Pension Scheme website: Contact Us
District Rural Development Agency: NTR Bharosa Pension Scheme (eligibility)
SGSW Department (Swarna Gramam and Swarna Wardu)
Public Grievance Redressal System (PGRS): FAQ’s
Notification S.O. 1050(E), 4 March 2021: rights of an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Cardholder, under section 7B(1) of the Citizenship Act, 1955